Question

1. Explain the five cross-cultural competencies for leaders, give examples.

2. What is ethnocentrism? What is prejudice? give examples

3. What is GLOBE and what are its nine cultural dimensions?

4. Explain the ten clusters of world cultures using GLOBE research on cultural dimensions.

Answer 1

1. The five cross cultural competencies for leaders are

1. Leaders should basically understand the different set up of each country such as business, political and cultural background of the environment.

2. They need to update themselves with the latest trends,tastes and perspectives of the people. It changes from region to region and effective leaders must be aware of it. Technology also play a major part in the learning.

3. Leaders to be effective should learn and practise to work simultaneously with many people of different cultures

4. Effective leaders as a part of cross cultural efficiency should adapt to living and communicating with other cultures.

5. Cultural superiority should not be exposed at any level. Instead equality to all cultures should be learnt and practised.

2. Ethnocentrism is a tendency of people to place themselves and their own ethnic, cultural or racial perspectives in the center while observing other cultures in the world.

For example an Indian would relate toskne of the formalities and culture the other country people follow.

Prejudice can be a thought , a belief or an attitude of an individual thinking that a group or a culture is at fault. This is based on wrong or unsubstantiated data. In simple words judging others based on previous decisions or actions without completely knowing the truth.

For example some people have the tendency to say that their culture is the best ,whatever it is compared to .

3. GLOBE is Global leadership and organizational behaviour effectiveness. GLOBE project investigates on how cultural values are related to organizational practises and also perspectives of leadership.

Its nine cultural dimensions are

Uncertainty avoidance - the degree to which people acknowledge or uncomfortable with aspects like risk, change and ambiguity.

Power distance - is the extent to which people accept the unequal distribution of power and status among them.

Institutional collectivism - is how organizational and societal institutions help in group integration is institutional collectivism.

In group collectivism is how individuals express their gratitude and loyalty to their organization or families.

Gender egalitarianism is to degree to which gender equality is practised.

Assertiveness is as to how much individual are forceful, confrontational and aggressive in many issues.

Future orientation is the objective of how much have they planned for the future and long term gains than a short ones.

Performance orientation is how much people are encouraged with innovation, high standards and total excellent performance.

Humane orientation. - Honesty, fairness, generosity and kindness are practised, valued and encouraged in a country is humane orientation.

4. The ten clusters of world culture according to the GLOBE research are

1. Anglo are more competitive and result oriented.

2. Confucian Asia - They encourage group or team working for individual goals and are result oriented.

3. Eastern Europe - are highly commended in gender equality. They are strong and forceful and supportive of the coworkers.

4. Germanic Europe - are more result oriented and value competition and being aggressive.

5. Latin America is more of family oriented and devoted to similar groups.

6. Latin Europe consider individual autonomy to be the top priority.

7. Middle east is where more gender inequality is common ,where women are considered less important. They consider high of their own race.

8. Nordic Europe is where more importance is given to women and long term goal is more focused on.

9. Southern Asia has a deep concern for their own community and families.

10. Sub Sahara Africa prove strength in family unity and concern and are known to be sensitive.