Management Research, International Business, and National Culture: Evaluating Hofstede and GLOBE

Cultural attitudes, values, and behaviors of different groups of people can differ significantly, leading to different approaches to dealing with common challenges. The study of human culture is crucial for understanding human life, and Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE group's models of national culture have been influential in business research. However, this book argues that these measures are of dubious validity and should be viewed with caution by those seeking answers to culture-related questions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Why do different groups of people behave in different ways when dealing with the common challenges of human life? The answer often lies in their cultural attitudes, values, and consequent behaviors. The study of human culture has been deemed a key contribution to understanding human life for many centuries. Explanations and descriptions of cultural characteristics abound, but in the field of business, none have been more influential and warmly embraced than those developed by Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE group. These models of national culture, which characterise Japanese, Americans, French, and many other nationalities in terms of common characteristics such as collectivism, masculinity, and power distance, are most widely cited and applied in business research, teaching, and recommendations for practice.

However, this seminal work needs a careful reality check. The authors of this book point out a range of problems associated with the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures, which bring into question their accuracy and usefulness in meeting the expectations of management culture researchers and students. This book explains in detail why the measures developed by Hofstede and GLOBE are of dubious validity and why they should be viewed with caution by those looking for answers to the complex questions of culture.

The first problem with the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures is that they are based on subjective perceptions and cultural stereotypes. The authors of this book argue that these measures are often influenced by the researchers' own cultural biases and assumptions, which can lead to inaccurate and misleading results. For example, Hofstede's collectivism scale is based on the idea that Japanese culture is more group-oriented than American culture, which is not necessarily true. Similarly, GLOBE's masculinity scale is based on the idea that men are more assertive and competitive than women, which is also not always the case.

Another problem with the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures is that they are often used as a "one-size-fits-all" approach to culture, which is not effective in understanding the complex and diverse nature of human culture. The authors of this book argue that each culture is unique and should be approached on its own terms, rather than being lumped together into broad categories based on superficial characteristics. For example, the Japanese culture is known for its emphasis on group harmony, but this does not mean that all Japanese people are group-oriented. Similarly, the American culture is known for its emphasis on individualism, but this does not mean that all Americans are individualistic.

A third problem with the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures is that they are often used as a tool for making generalizations and predictions about the behavior of individuals and organizations from different cultures. The authors of this book argue that this approach is not only inaccurate but also harmful, as it can lead to stereotyping and discrimination against individuals and organizations from different cultures. For example, if a manager believes that all Japanese people are group-oriented and therefore not good at teamwork, they may be less likely to hire Japanese employees or promote them to leadership positions.

In conclusion, the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures are of dubious validity and should be viewed with caution by those looking for answers to the complex questions of culture. While these measures have been widely cited and applied in business research and teaching, they are based on subjective perceptions and cultural stereotypes, are often used as a "one-size-fits-all" approach to culture, and are often used as a tool for making generalizations and predictions about the behavior of individuals and organizations from different cultures. It is important to approach each culture on its own terms and to avoid making assumptions and stereotypes about individuals and organizations from different cultures.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032116150