Culture and business midterm flashcards

Context

Information surrounding an event that is inextricably bound up with the meaning of the event; shapes communication styles

High-Context Culture

Communication style where most information is in the context or shared knowledge; indirect, nonverbal, relationship-based (e.g., Asian, Arabic, Latin cultures)

Low-Context Culture

Communication style where most information is explicit in words; direct, precise, detailed, individualistic (e.g., U.S., Canada, Northern Europe)

Metaphor

Figure of speech that makes an implicit comparison; content-rich and culture-specific; used to clarify cultural differences

Cultural Metaphors

Frames of reference that uncover cultural content of a group (e.g., Italian Opera, German Symphony)

Gareth Morgan’s Organizational Metaphors

Eight metaphors for understanding organizations: machine, organism, brain, cultural system, political system, psychic prison, instrument of domination, flux & transformation

The Culture Map (Erin Meyer)

Framework of 8 cultural scales: communicating, evaluating, persuading, leading, deciding, trusting, disagreeing, scheduling

Interview Studies

Research method involving direct questioning; allows flexibility, completeness, observation of nonverbal cues, and spontaneous answers

Informal/Unstructured Interview

Characterized by lack of structure; useful for rapport building and uncovering new topics; no preset questions

Semi-Structured Interview

Uses an interview guide with questions/topics but allows flexibility and probing; generates follow-up questions

Structured Interview

Each respondent answers the same set of questions; often uses questionnaires with open or closed questions

Probing

Interview technique used to stimulate respondents to provide more detail (silent probe, uh-huh probe, tell-me-more probe, long question probe)

Questionnaire Pitfalls

Common mistakes in survey construction: ambiguous wording, jargon, double-barreled questions, lack of exhaustive categories, leading questions

Customer Anthropology

Holistic approach to customer research focusing on values, perspectives, needs, and socio-cultural context

Design Anthropology

Designing and creating products and services that consumers find useful and meaningful; human-centered design

Advertising

Communication tool that informs and persuades consumers; links products with lifestyles, values, and consumption modes

Ethnography

Anthropological method using participant observation, interviews, and cultural immersion to understand customers

Ethnographic Stages

Steps in fieldwork: informed consent, site selection, participant observation, key consultants, data collection, facing challenges, completing ethnography

Participant Observation

Research method involving social observation and/or participation to learn about attitudes and behaviors over time

Field Notes

Narrative accounts of observations, conversations, and experiences collected during fieldwork (methodological, descriptive, analytic)

Positionality

The stance of the researcher during participant observation (peripheral, active, complete)

Etic View

Outsider perspective in ethnography; researcher’s categories and observations

Emic View

Insider perspective in ethnography; understanding participants’ own categories and meanings

Rapport

Trusting relationship between researcher and participants, essential for ethnographic research

Informed Consent

Formal agreement ensuring participants voluntarily take part in research with full understanding of what it entails

Key Consultants

Community members who help researchers interpret and understand cultural practices and meanings

Culture Shock

Difficulty adapting to unfamiliar cultural settings; a challenge in ethnographic research

Participant observation (Ethnography)

The systematic description of a particular culture based on firsthand observation.

Holism

Seeing the big picture; taking into account all perspectives and experiences.

Emic

Insider perspective of a culture.

Etic

Outsider perspective of a culture.

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s own culture is the only proper way of life.

Cultural relativism

Suspending judgment to understand another culture in its own terms.

Culture

The totality of learned, socially transmitted ideas, values, knowledge, material objects, and behavior.

Culture group

A segment of society with a distinctive pattern of values, materials, and behavior.

Culture is Learned

Culture is transmitted by learning, not inherited.

Culture influences biological process

Culture shapes how biological needs are satisfied (e.g., food habits).

Cultural universals

Institutional systems found in all cultures (economic, family, education, etc.).

Culture Change

Cultures continually adapt through discovery, invention, and diffusion.

Culture is Integrated

All aspects of culture function as a whole; changes affect other parts.

Globalization

Worldwide interconnectedness through resources, labor, capital, trade, and information.

Value system

Represents what is expected, judged good/bad, right/wrong in a culture.

Human nature orientation

Character of innate human nature (good, bad, mix).

Man–nature orientation

Relation of man to nature (mastery, harmony, subjugation).

Time orientation

Temporal focus (past, present, future).

Activity orientation

Value of activity (doing vs being).

Relational orientation

Human relationship orientation (individualism vs group obligations).

Individualism

Prioritizing individual goals over group.

Collectivism

Prioritizing group obligations over personal goals.

Equality–hierarchy dimension (Power Distance)

Extent to which people with different levels of power interact equally or unequally.

Hofstede’s six dimensions

Power distance, individualism–collectivism, achievement orientation, uncertainty avoidance, long vs short-term orientation, indulgence vs restraint.

Change orientation dimension

Degree to which cultures tolerate ambiguity and adapt to change.

Change-embracing cultures

Low uncertainty avoidance, comfortable with risk, ambiguity, negotiation.

Change-fearing cultures

High uncertainty avoidance, prefer structure, avoid risks.

Time orientation dimension

Importance of time precision, sequencing, and cultural focus on past, present, or future.

Precise time culture

Time as rigid, scheduled, punctual, "time is money."

Loose time culture

Flexible time, emphasis on relationships over schedules.

Past orientation

High value on tradition, history, elders.

Present orientation

High value on immediate experience.

Future orientation

High value on change and progress.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (Linguistic Relativism)

Language shapes habitual patterns of thought and views of the world.

Sequential time orientation

Doing one thing at a time, serious about schedules.

Synchronous time orientation

Multitasking, long-term relationships, flexible with plans.

Busyness factor

Valuing hard work, multitasking, and constant busyness.