Center for Comparative Management Studies

Definitions of Societal Culture

In order for cross-cultural studies to be understandable and meaningful it is necessary to develop an accepted view of the concept of "societal culture", including a workable definition of the term.  This Working Paper describes some of the attempts that have been made by social scientists to define "culture".

Definitions and Significance of Organizational Culture

In addition to their formal organizational structure and the rules and standard operating procedures used to support and operate the structure, organizations also rely heavily on their organizational culture as an important tool in controlling and coordinating the activities of their members (e.g., executive, managers and employees) and providing incentives and reasons for them to act in ways that the leaders of the organization considers to be necessary in order to achieve and sustain organizational effectiveness and comply with the requirements and expectations of the organization’s external environment.  A number of definitions of organizational culture have been offered; however, if managers and employees are consulted they may simply respond that culture is “how we do things around here”.  There is obviously truth to such a statement but it would be a mistake to ignore the breadth and scope of the issues that are influenced by cultural norms and values—how activities within the organization are carried out, how members communicate with one another, who is accepted into the organization and who is ostracized, and what is the organization’s overall morale.  The latest CMS Working Paper summarizes various definitions of organizational culture and the overall significance of the topic for managers.

Value of Comparative and Cross-Cultural Management Studies

Consultants and other professionals have generated a continuous stream of ideas regarding practical applications of the byproducts of comparative and cross-cultural management studies and the latest CMS Working Paper summarizes the value of comparative and cross-cultural management studies in the "real world".  Information regarding cultural differences can be used in a number of ways by managers of global businesses.  For example, knowledge regarding culture and what are considered to be effective and legitimate leadership and management styles and behaviors can be used in operating and managing foreign subsidiaries and in designing orientation and training programs for employees of global organizations.  Another important area in which information from cross-cultural research can be used is training organizational leaders to ensure that they understand and execute behaviors that are culturally appropriate and which are perceived as being positive and effective by their followers.  A related issue is making sure that the management strategies and procedures used by organizational leaders take into account cultural differences. Cultural sensitivity is also essential when negotiating and managing cross-border business relationships with partners from different societal cultures.  Societal cultures are also a key and inescapable part of the external environment for all organizations and thus must be considered when designing and executing organizational strategies.  Finally, comparative management studies provides managers with a rich repository of information regarding managerial styles and processes employed by their colleagues in other countries that can be used to improve their own skills and may identify insights that can be applied in their own organizations.

Elements of Organizational Design

An organization does not simply appear on its own; in fact, organizations are contrived social systems that are created by like-minded groups of persons in order to pursue and hopefully achieve a stated goal or purpose.  This latest CMS Working Paper describes the elements of organizational design, which is concerned with the factors and issues that must be considered, and the rules and processes that must be implemented, with respect to the design, development, implementation and maintenance of a successful and effective organization.  Organizational design is more than simply organizational structure – the boxes and lines that are normally found on a traditional organization chart – and extends outward to include a variety of other factors including information and reward systems; management and decision making processes; organizational culture, including mission, vision, values and norms; strategy, including the goals or purposes for which the organization exists; and the human resources who will do the work necessary for the organization to operate, survive and thrive.  The creativity involved in the design process has led some to refer to the field as “organizational architecture”.

National Business Cultures

The latest CMS Working Paper provides a brief introduction to the national business cultures of the United States, Europe and Asia.

Approaches to Comparative Management Studies

This post introduces the latest addition to our Working Paper Series which summarizes the main approaches that have served as the foundation for comparative and cross-cultural management studies.  Most of these approaches can be categorized as primarily macro models that attempt to explain the overall management systems used by firms; however, several of the approaches are useful in examing micro-level elements such as the behavior of individuals working inside those firms.

An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Management Research Techniques

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Working Paper Series at the Center for Comparative Management Studies.  Each Working Paper is, by definition, a "work in progress" and provides the discipline necessary for us to collect our thoughts about what we have been researching and try to put them down on paper in some sort of order.  Working Papers will change over time and the scope of the Series is hard to determine at the very beginning.  The first Working Paper is a basic summary of some of the most common cross-cultural management research techniques.  A current list of all Working Papers will be continuously posted on the Center’s website.