Cross culture management. Country case report: India

Résumé du document

India is one of the few countries in the world to have an ancient and diverse culture. Stretching back in an unbroken sweep over 5000 years, India's culture has been enriched by successive waves of migration which were absorbed into the Indian way of life. This variety is the special hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day.
In this paper we are making an attempt to understand the fine intricate threads that have been woven together to form the country's culture. We use Hofstede's classification of national cultural dimensions to analyze the Indian culture. India is categorized as a high power distance culture. Power distance refers to the extent to which the less powerful members of society expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. The high power distance is manifested at different levels-like family, school, workplace and state.

Extraits

[...] Criticism about an individual's ideas or work needs to be done constructively, without damaging that person's self-esteem. As Indians are used to a system of hierarchy in the work-place senior colleagues are obeyed and respected. Supervisors are expected to monitor an individual's work and shoulder the responsibility of meeting deadlines. Therefore, it is important to double-check and keep track of time. Educated Indians have learnt to adapt to Western methods of monitoring one's own work and completing it on schedule. [...]

[...] Beckoning with the palm up and wagging a finger can be considered insulting. Standing with you hands on you hips is seen as an aggressive, angry posture. Never enter, sit, or smoke without first being invited to do so Professional life Indians do not separate their professional life from their personal life, they are intertwined. Perhaps because of this Indians are more interested in establishing a personal relationship with a potential business associate before legal and contractual agreements are met. [...]

[...] The head of the family usually keeps firm control by limiting information, even with his family members. In Indian business culture, any final decision must be in accordance with the family, group, and social structure. Indian negotiators are expected to be shrewd at the bargaining table. Although it's necessary to obtain good legal and tax advice before proceeding with negotiations, you will have to be flexible and not appear too “legalistic” during negotiations. You will have to be prepared to offer competitive technology packages with close technical follow-up, if your business deals with these concerns. [...]

[...] This ‘variety' is the special hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day. In this paper we are making an attempt to understand the fine intricate threads that have been woven together to form the country's culture. We use Hofstede's classification of national cultural dimensions to help analyze the Indian culture Power Distance India is categorized as a high power distance culture. [...]

[...] If you are traveling to New Delhi in northern India during the winter months, bring warmer clothes. During the monsoon season, bring a few extra changes in clothing and an umbrella and large plastic bags if you intend on keeping your things somewhat dry. The damp weather does not allow things to dry properly. A handkerchief or cloth may prove helpful to dry off any wet spots where you must sit. For men, most formal events in hot temperatures require a “safari which consists of a short-sleeved shirt-jacket and matching pants. [...]