GLOBAL BUSSINESS

Ch. 3

4 manifestations of culture

Language, Religion, Social structure, Education

Culture

The collective programming of the mind which
distinguishes the members of one group or category of
people from another.

Religion

A set of beliefs about the cause of events, both human and natural, which
cannot be empirically proven.

Social stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social categories (strata) such as classes castes, or divisions within a society

Social mobility

The degree to which members from a lower social category can rise to a higher status.

Education

Can be used to maintain social stratification, or to break down social barriers.

Three ways to understand cultures

Context, Cluster, and Dimension

Context

The underlying background upon which social interaction takes place

Low-context cultures

Communication is usually taken at face value without much reliance on unspoken context

High-context cultures

Communication relies a lot on the underlying unspoken context, which is as important as the words used

Power distance

Extent to which less powerful members within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.

Individualism

Idea that an individual’s identity is fundamentally his or her own.

Collectivism

Idea that an individual’s identity is fundamentally tied to the identity of his or her collective group.

Motivation Towards Achievement and Success (Masculinity)

Achiviement

Femininity

Nurturing

Uncertainty avoidance

Extent to which members in a culture accept or avoid ambiguous situations and uncertainty.

Long-term orientation

How much emphasis is placed on perseverance and savings for future betterment.

Indulgence

Level at which society allows gratification related to enjoying life and having fun