1. ENG 192: Seminar Borderless Engineering Cross Cultural Leadership and Communication October 14, 2008 LuAnn Piccard

2. LuAnn Piccard, PMP Instructor Engineering, Science & Project Management (ESPM) Graduate Department at UAA
BS and MS in Engineering, Stanford University
22 years professional experience at Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies and Advanced Energy Industries
R&D
Strategic Marketing
Strategic Alliance Management
Professional Services
Operations
General and Executive Management
Teaching
ESM 613 Managing Technical People
PM 622 Project Communications Management
PM 601 Project Management Fundamentals
PM 610 Project Scope Management
PM 612 Project Time Management (Guest)
PMPP Scope and Integration Modules

3. Outline Culture Quiz Definition of Culture
Aspects of Cultural Differences
Dimensions of National Cultures
Examples of National Culture Rankings
Culture Quiz Answers

4. Culture Quiz Is it important to be on-time for a meeting in China?
In Turkey, what does a hand-shake signify?
Is the gift of a clock appropriate in Japan?
Should you pat a child’s head in India?
Where is a “thumbs-up” gesture considered offensive?
Should you show the soles of your shoes in Russia?
Should you eat all of the food on your plate in Indonesia?
Where does the largest population of Japanese people live outside of Japan?
In Great Britain, what does tapping the side of your nose signify?
In France, what does twisting your hand around your nose signify?

5. Definition of Culture
“The collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another.” *
Culture is learned, not innate
Derived from one’s social environment
“Cultural Relativism affirms that one culture has no absolute criteria for judging the activities of another culture as “low” or “noble”. However, every culture can and should apply such judgment to its own activities because its members are actors as well as observers.” -Claude Levi-Strauss, French Anthropologist
*Geert Hofstede, “Cultures and Organizations, Software of the Mind”

6. Attributes of Culture “Visibility” Symbols Heroes Rituals Practices
Values
Practices
“Visibility”
*Geert Hofstede, “Cultures and Organizations, Software of the Mind”

7. Layers of Culture National level
Regional, ethnic, religious, linguistic
Gender
Generational
Social Class
Work organization

8. Dimensions of National Cultures
Power distance: equality vs. inequality
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Uncertainty avoidance
Long-term orientation

9. Dimensions of National Cultures Power Distance
Degree of equality or inequality between people in a society
High Power Distance:
Inequalities of power and wealth
Likely to follow a caste system
Does not allow for significant upward mobility of citizens
Low Power Distance:
De-emphasizes differences in power and wealth
Equality and opportunity for everyone is stressed

10. Dimensions of National Cultures Individualism vs. Collectivism
Degree to which the society reinforces individual or collective achievement and interpersonal relationships
Individualism:
Individuality and individual rights are paramount in society
Individuals may tend to for a large number of looser relationships
Collectivism:
Close ties between individuals
Reinforce extended families and collectives
Everyone takes responsibility for fellow members in group

11. Dimensions of National Cultures Masculinity vs. Femininity
Degree to which the society reinforces or does not reinforce traditional masculine work role model of male achievement, control and power
High Masculinity:
High degree of gender differentiation
Males dominate large portion of society and power structure
Low Masculinity:
Low level of gender differentiation and discrimination between genders
Females and males treated equally in all aspects of society

12. Dimensions of National Cultures Uncertainty Avoidance
Degree of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity in society (unstructured situations)
High Uncertainty Avoidance:
Low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
Rule orientation: laws, rules, regulations and controls
Low Uncertainty Avoidance:
Less concern about ambiguity
Tolerance for variety of opinions
Readily accepts change, takes more and greater risks

13. Dimensions of National Cultures Long Term Orientation
Degree to which society embraces or does not embrace long-term devotion to traditional forward thinking values.
High Long-term orientation:
Values long-term commitments and respect for tradition
Strong work ethic where long-term rewards are expected as a result of today’s hard work
Business may take longer to develop for “outsiders”
Low Long-term orientation::
Does not reinforce long-term traditional orientation
Change occurs rapidly; long-term traditions and commitments are not impediments to change

14. National Culture Rankings World Average

15. National Culture Rankings: China
High Power Distance:
High level of power and
wealth inequality
Low individualism:
Close “member group”
High LTO: Perseverance will
overcome obstacles

16. National Culture Rankings: India
High Power Distance:
Highest level of all cultures;
Accepted cultural norm
High masculinity:
Third highest
Low uncertainty avoidance:
Open to unstructured ideas
High LTO: Perseverance will
overcome obstacles

17. National Culture Rankings: United States
Low Power Distance
Focus on equality
High Individualism:
Highest of all attributes
Individualistic, self-reliant
High masculinity:
Women shift towards male traits
Low uncertainty avoidance:
Few rules, flexibility
Low LTO:
Meet obligations

18. National Culture Ranking Arab Region
High Power Distance
High level of inequality;
Cultural norm
Low Individualism:
Highly collective member
Group; look out for members
High uncertainty avoidance:
Rules/laws to eliminate or
avoid unexpected

19. National Culture Rankings: Israel
Low Power Distance
Egalitarian
High Individualism:
Independence
High uncertainty avoidance:
Rules/laws to eliminate or
avoid unexpected

20. National Culture Rankings: Mexico
High Power Distance
Power and wealth
differentiation
Low Individualism:
Strong extended family
structure
Low uncertainty avoidance:
Rules/laws to eliminate or
avoid unexpected. Risk
Averse.

21. National Culture Rankings Scandinavian Countries
Low Power Distance
Egalitarian
High Individualism:
Independence
Low masculinity:
Sexual equality
Low uncertainty avoidance:
Flexible, risk taking

22. National Culture Ranking Philippines
High Power Distance
High level of inequality;
Cultural norm
Low Individualism
Collectivism
Low uncertainty avoidance:
Flexible, risk taking
Low long-term orientation
Not bound by tradition

23. National Culture Ranking Japan
High Masculinity
High Uncertainty Avoidance
High Long-term Orientation

24. United States-Japan Comparison

25. Culture and Teamwork No “wrong or right” Build understanding
Respect different perspectives
Value differences
Use unique attributes to enhance problem solving

26. Why is this important? Customers are diverse Teams are diverse
Cross-border engineering becoming norm
Global economy
Understanding can improve and accelerate results
Understanding can help avoid conflicts