...Variations In Human Resource Management Based On Cultural Dimensions Tyrone Kelly Saint Leo University We recognize that we exist in a global economy. Advances in telecommunications and Internet technology have literally placed connectivity with the world at our fingertips. This evolution is a catalyst for people of various nations who would not ordinarily interact, to collaborate, work much closer, more intimately and more frequently than ever before. This is a very stimulating time, yet it is also challenging for Human Resource Management teams in administrations all over the world. Questions such as, what are the cultural business norms or taboos that one should be sensitive to, or how to interact in a business setting with someone of another culture will inevitably arise. Thus, learning the people, culture and work ethic of a host nation is just as important, if not more so than learning about its business, finance and engineering infrastructures. The requirements of developing strategies, organizing projects, and motivating individuals to achieve and maintain competitive advantage for joint ventures is essential. Just as important is the development of sincere relations with people from around the world. Understanding key element of cultural diversity will be critical in this endeavor. No matter where you are in the world, people expect to be treated with respect and honor when you are guests in their country. Attempts to change others to fit your paradigm, e.g....
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...and economics DO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES INFLUENCE HRM PRACTICES? A working research paper in Department of Graduate Studies By Sara La - 20020000 July 28, 2013 Abstract This research attempts to examine if the cultural differences would have an impact on the Human Resources Management (HRM) practices. Furthermore, such study would provide guidance and assistance to the HR professionals and for the multicultural institutions as well. With the continuity of the world, the effectiveness of globalization surges and the world becomes much more smaller than before. This globalization accelerates having a cultural engagement. There are some uncommon things in previous years that emerge because of globalization such as: the multicultural organization, branches operates in far countries from the original, etc. Approaching these two phenomena needs good strategies since with the variation of culture, all practices may vary along with the HRM practices. Several literatures are reviewed. All of them reached the same result that foster the claim of: diverse culture will have a huge impact on the HRM practices. This paper applied the Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions theory for exploring cultural dissimilarity across countries. Results reached reinforce the claim: human resources professionals changes their practices with the culture differences in the countries they want to become better at. Keyword: Human Resources Management, Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions theory, culture, globalization ...
Words: 2302 - Pages: 10
...HRM Issues Based on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in Ghana Alison C Holt Saint Leo University Abstract This paper will contain information concerning the challenges human resource management faces when the organization decides to go global. Human resource management faces many global issues; however, this paper will look at Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory in the comparison of Ghana and the United States. We will look at three of Hofstede’s five dimensions and see how Ghana is rated to each of the theories. The first dimension, Individualism verses collectivism, focuses on cultures in terms relationships of individuals, families and extended families (Ivancevich & Konopaske, 2013). The second dimension, Power distance, focuses on power relationships within a culture. The last dimension, Masculinity verses femininity, focuses on gender roles within culture (Ivancevich & Konopaske, 2013). In the 21st Century, many organizations have reached out into the global market due to changes in technology, economics and social responsibility. Therefore, interactions between businesses in different countries have become routine. When a company expands globally, new challenges arise due to different laws, customs and characteristics (Ivancevich & Konopaske, 2013). International laws and customs pose numerous challenges for human resource professionals, for example, HRM must supply an adequate amount of top managers with global experience, which is necessary...
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
... Handling HR issues in Greece In the ever-changing business climate, utilization of global human resources continues. Whether a multinational corporation or a global corporation, cultural complexities play a dominant part in the handling of HR issues. Cultural differences are a factor in the determination of an organization’s fit within the foreign culture and as such, must be closely examined to succeed in the international business market. According to Myloni et al. (2003), “HRM practices are grounded in cultural beliefs that reflect the basic assumptions and values of the national culture in which organizations are embedded.” (Myloni, Harzing, & Mirza, 2003, p. 7) Professor Geert Hofstede‘s 1984 cultural dimensions research established four dimensions of national culture: power distance, individualism versus collectivism, avoidance of uncertainty, and masculinity. The fifth dimension of long-term versus short-term orientation was later added. (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.) These dimensions represent cultural differences between countries and exhibit how culture influences work behavior and the effectiveness of HRM policies and procedures. Utilizing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions information, this paper will examine how HR issues might be handled in Greece. The first cultural dimension, power distance, refers to the emphasis placed upon human inequality and the attitude of the culture towards those inequalities. Greece has a high power distance score, which means that...
Words: 1008 - Pages: 5
...2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter you should be able to •• describe the basic characteristics of culture and explain how cultural dimensions can be used in global HRM, •• describe how the institutions of society can shape HRM policies and procedures, •• discuss the possibility of the convergence of HRM across countries, •• explain how the heritage of state socialism continues to influence the context of HRM in transition economies, and •• discuss the effects of cultural and institutional context on the HRM role and on employee expectations. 23 24 ESSENTIALS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Springtime in Paris As she savored the last bite of her croissant, Martha Pereaux, HR director for C3 Technologies, thought about how she would approach her latest “cross-cultural collision,” as she had come to think of them. In the year since she had moved to Paris from Houston, there had been many, but none quite as bizarre as this one. Martha had taken the big promotion to head up the HR division of the joint venture between Houston-based SuperChem and the French company. C3 developed technology for the oil industry, primarily new types of concrete that formed the barrier wall for offshore oil and gas wells. The joint venture was meant to take on the likes of the giant Schlumberger on its own turf and compete with them for valuable technical staff. Everyone said she was the perfect choice, having grown up in a bilingual family in Canada...
Words: 9323 - Pages: 38
...Assignment # 2 Saint Leo University Dr. Rothrauff November 3, 2013 Abstract Cultural difference is a driving factor in the development of HRM polices. In order for organizations to be effective globally they must take the time and do the homework to understand the culture of the countries they want to do business in. This paper discusses some detail Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions and how understanding the dimensions and as they relate to a specific culture can assist in determining a strategy for designing HRM policies to fit a particular countries culture. Although this paper will focus on India, you will be able to get a good idea of how the theory can be applied to any country with proper research of that countries culture. What is the definition of culture? It sounds like a very simple question, if you search the Internet, read books, talk to different people you will get different responses. However, if you pay close attention the answer is basically the same. To simplify things for the purpose of this paper I will use Merriam Webster Dictionary definition of culture: culture is the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc. a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business). From an HR/operations perspective understanding cultural differences is key to success in a global organization. This paper will focus...
Words: 1310 - Pages: 6
...Management (HRM) as described by Ivancevich & Konopaske (2013) is the function performed in organizations that effectively uses employees to achieve both organizational and individual goals. Throughout the years HRM has evolved domestically influenced by both business and social events leaving behind a renewed emphasis on human capital. Today’s environment requires business leaders to focus on the financial returns of the company as well as the contributions of strategic HRM to that end. Organizations are continuing to scan the business environment looking for opportunities creating value and differentiation. Increased evidence points to an engaged workforce as a competitive advantage for many companies and more than ever these organizations are looking to expand internationally. Successful global organizations have come to understand that western theories of HRM may not apply to other cultures and as a result have found ways to remain strategic with HRM outside of their domestic borders. Russian culture is primary example where HRM practices must be evaluated in the context of Russian culture and values. Global Human Resource Management (GHRM) refers to the policies and practices that relates to managing people internationally and according to Ivancevich & Konopaske (2013) the external environment of the international organization is one of the most important influences on HRM activities and culture. HR professionals no longer question the importance of cultural differences...
Words: 871 - Pages: 4
...labor, established by a career concept that transcends national borders and organizational groups and the emergence of virtual collaboration on international projects requires companies to develop new skills in their employees to be effective in the complexity of today's contexts. The workforces are people, and as we are human, we are all different from various points of view. This paper aims to answer the question: “Is culture really all that International Human Resource Manager is about?” I’ve analyzed the differences between HRM and IHRM based on the concept of diversity, characteristics that influence both topics but in a different way. After this, the next stop is to define IHRM and the concept of culture to reach the conclusion that managing cultural differences in an international team is the major challenge to IHRM. Due to the movement of employees between foreign subsidiaries and headquarters and between foreign locales, HRM professionals are likely to find themselves working on international assignments. Managers working in their home countries but employed by a local subsidiary of a foreign MNE, will have to integrate a local culture and organizational culture into the local operation. The different communication styles, worker motivation philosophies, and organizational structures and frequent lack of understanding of the host country...
Words: 3258 - Pages: 14
...concentrated on examining the HRM issues, problems, strategies, policies and practices which firms pursue in relation to the internationalization of their business. Schuler et al (2009) similarly recently positioned the different views that have existed about the nature of IHRM. IHRM encompasses: ‘. . . the worldwide management of people in the multinational enterprise’ (Poole, 1990; p1) ‘. . . human resource management in an international environment . . . problems created in an MNC performing business in more than one country, rather than those posed by working for a foreign firm at home or by employing foreign employees in the local firm’ (Briscoe and Schuler, 2004; p1) ‘. . .how MNCs manage their geographically dispersed workforce in order to leverage their HR resources for both local and global competitive advantage’ (Scullion, 2005; p5) ‘. . . a branch of management studies that investigates the design of and effects of organizational human resource practices in cross-cultural contexts’ (Peltonen, 2006; p523) ‘. . . all issues related to the management of people in an international context [including] human resource issues facing MNCs in different parts of their organizations [and] comparative analyses of HRM in different countries’ (Stahl and Björkman, 2006; p1) ‘. . . complex relationship between globalization, national systems and companies [which provides us with] three distinct “levels of analysis” for interpreting and understanding HRM strategies and practices...
Words: 11695 - Pages: 47
...Int. J. of Human Resource Management 18:1 January 2007 147– 158 HRM practices in Egypt: the influence of national context? Mike Leat and Ghada El-Kot Abstract In this paper we present the findings of a study which collected data on a range of HRM practices normally used in 58 Egyptian organizations operating in Egypt. The range of practices is concerned with job descriptions, recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, performance appraisal and employment security. We examine and discuss these practices in the Egyptian context. The dimensions of the Egyptian environment which we examine include: the socio-cultural context, Islam, the vocational education and training system and elements of the economic and legal environment. The practices and approaches being used by the sample organizations appear to be the product of both culture bound and culture free influences. The main contributions of the study are that it provides much needed information on the HRM practices and approaches being adopted by Egyptian-owned organizations in the early part of the 21st century and provides support for the influence of national context on the HRM practices pursued by indigenous organizations. Keywords Egypt; HRM practices; Islam; institutional context; culture. Introduction: HRM practices and national context Against a background of the increasing internationalization of business, globalization of markets and cross-national activity by multinational...
Words: 6607 - Pages: 27
...Comparative HRM: China and Australia * Introduction Over the last few decades, as a rising number of globalisation of business transactions and organisations are seeking to develop and operate in foreign markets, the need for comparative human resource management studies are increased (Brewster & Mayrhofer (eds.) 2012), there are a lot of differences in HRM in different countries and regions, such as institutional culture, organisational structures, recruitment and development and relation of employee (Crystal & Iles 2013). The comparative human resource management provides a better understanding of different national settings on the management task (Hollinshead 2010). Two countries from different institutional and legal systems which are China and Australia will be comparatively analysed in this essay. Firstly, the overview of both countries and culture dimensions will be analysed. Secondly, three HR features will be outlined respectively include culture, organisational structures, and the content of Human Resource Management. in addition, a critical evaluation will be given for how and why these features in these two countries developed in the way that they have. Moreover, a comparative analysis of how HRM has developed in each country will be given, as well as that approach to HRM. * Background and Different Culture between China and Australia The study of the influences of culture is a key role in HRM (Brewster & Mayrhofer (eds.) 2012). Moreover, due...
Words: 4835 - Pages: 20
...United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) there are about 63,000 multinational companies (MNCs) in the world and they have 700000 branches in other countries. Looking at the enormous reach of these global entities, one can only agree how critical it is to understand the cultural perspective of different societies. As a global business, it was an attempt by Coca Cola Company to embrace the diversity of multicultural world -- both in the marketplace and in the workplace. Evidently because societal culture has major influence on businesses. Global businesses have to deal with customers/clients, distributors, strategic partners, employees with different background and cultural mindsets. How organizations make decisions, implement policies, recruit workforce or even make strategic choices are affected by these cultural forces, both externally and internally, and impact the way organizations behave and deal with issues affecting society at large. My interest as a student of Gender and Cultural studies and a Human Resource Professional would be to explore the role of cultural forces that contribute towards shaping organizations culture and their identity and study the cultural differences in terms of Human Resource...
Words: 1428 - Pages: 6
...Study the Case of Wolfgang's Balancing Act International HRM ‘Wolfgang’s Balancing Act’ Case Study Task 1 Cultural contingencies that shape employee behavior in Healthcare As the world becomes more interdependent, the business and the process of doing business are exposed to many, continuously changing dimensions, structures and opposing forces. In a global environment, culture is a critical factor whereby the process of advancing cultural intelligence and international cultural competence would be the deciding element for the success of managers and leaders especially those who perform human resource (HR) functions. Within the cultural context, common elements are to be found including shared and dynamic nature surrounding norms, values and beliefs which are expressed through different behaviors, artifacts and interactions. It is necessary then for HR managers like Wolfgang to fulfill profitable relationships vested on the capability to reconcile cultural dimensions of pay systems from the headquarters to subsidiaries. Within Healthcare, there are economic, political and cultural forces that are influencing the operation. As part of the external environment, there is the need forHealthcare to align national cultural values of thesubsidiaries with that of the organizational work culture. There are culturally indigenous and culturally alien practices within any organization that shape the actions and performance of the employees. Culture is considered as the lens through...
Words: 2769 - Pages: 12
...To excel in today’s global market, it is important to understand the cultural differences that exist. A global leader is capable of being flexible and managing across cultures. The Global Human Resource Management (GHRM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) perform similar duties, but are faced with different challenges. “Most HR professionals no longer question that there are important cultural differences between nations that might influence the effectiveness of HRM policies and practices” (Ivancevich & Konopaske, 2013, p. 99). The ability to understand and adapt, has a huge impact on an organization, and its likelihood to succeed when doing international business. Holfstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory Geert Holftsede is a Dutch social psychologist and former IBM employee. Holfstede traveled internationally when working for IBM and was the head of the Personnel Research Department. Holfstede studied differences amongst different cultures. Between 1967 and 1973, he conducted a large survey containing samples from 117,000 IBM employees; he compared value scores from the database. “The data covered more than 70 countries, from which Hofstede first used the 40 countries with the largest groups of respondents and afterwards extended the analysis to 50 countries and 3 regions” (Natural Cultural Dimensions, 2014). Based on Holfstede’s theory there are five dimensions of national cultures: power distance index (PDI), individualism (IDV) vs. collectivism, avoidance of uncertainty...
Words: 997 - Pages: 4
...Coventry university Business school Human Resources Management M47BSS COURSE: MBA Management Best Practice VS Best Fit A Case study of United Bank for Africa (UBA) By Name: Foluso Akintunde Fapohunda Student Id: 5471799 Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 2.1 Human Resources Management (HRM) 4 2.1.1 Best Practice as an Approach in HRM 4 2.1.2 Characteristics of best practice 5 2.1.3 Advantages of Best Practice: 6 3.0 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 9 3.1 Distinct Human Resources Practice: 9 3.2 Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimension: 10 3.2.1 Power Distance: 10 3.2.2 Uncertainty Avoidance: 10 3.2.3 Individualism: 11 3.2.4 Masculinity: 11 3.3 HRM Best Fit Model 11 3.4 Differences between Best Practice and Best Fit 12 3.5 Key Issues in Implementing HRM Strategies 13 4.0 CONCLUSION 14 5.0 RECOMMENDATION 15 REFERENCES 16 1.0 INTRODUCTION The battle for survival among companies such as in the banking Industry in Nigeria has led to the liquidation, amalgamation, merger and acquisition of banks. This in effect brought down the number of banks in Nigeria to 25 solid banks (Gunu, 2009). The manufacturing and aviation industries have also incorporated the adoption of many principles, plans, forecast and strategy practices in the day to day trading activities. So many authors have written different reviews and articles on Best Practice and Best Fit as strategic tools of achieving the...
Words: 3725 - Pages: 15
