Cultural constraints in management theories Essay

Cultural constraints in management theories - Essay Example Despite their popularity, the validity and reliability of many of these models is easily questioned. Hosftede’s and Trompenaars’ dimensions of culture have far-reaching implications for organizations. In China, which has been heavily influenced by a unique combination of collectivism, communism, and Confucianism, these dimensions and their effects on management are extremely pronounced. In China, which has been heavily influenced by a unique combination of collectivism, communism, and Confucianism, these dimensions and their effects on management are extremely pronounced. Motivation exemplifies one of the most challenging aspects of organizational functioning in China. Yet, despite a wealth of literature on the topic, many of these dimensions and established beliefs require future consideration. The goal of this essay is to review the current state of knowledge about culture and motivation in China. The first half of this essay is devoted to the evaluation and criticism of cultural convictions about China through the prism of Hofstede’s and Trompenaars’ models. The second part of the essay talks about motivation within Chinese cultural contexts and the applicability of motivation theories in the Chinese culture. The main finding of this essay is that there is no one universal approach to the study of culture and motivation in cross-cultural contexts: cultures are never static, and it is never possible to predict how future cultural changes will affect organizations and employees in long-term periods. Hofstede, Trompenaars, and China: the culture-management relationship revisited China is rightly considered as one of the most popular objects of contemporary organization research. Much has been written and said about Chinese culture and its implications for business. Nonetheless, numerous aspects of cultural functioning in Chinese organizations remain poorly understood. Therefore, there is a need for reconsidering the role and implicat ions of Chinese national culture for management. It goes without saying that Hofstede’s model has long been the main instrument of management cultural research. This paper is no exception. â€Å"Hofstede’s dimensions of culture will create a foundation for understanding the effects of national culture on Chinese enterprises† (Geert Hofstede 2009). Geert Hofstede explored China along several important dimensions: long-term orientation, individualism and collectivism, power distance and, which was unique for China, Confucianism. China is believed to be a highly long-term oriented culture: the country is ranked the highest among other Asian countries on the long-term orientation dimension. Simply stated, the Chinese are prepared to work hard to achieve their long-term goals (Geert Hofstede 2009). Furthermore, Chinese national culture is characterized by high commitment to collectivist values: on the individualism dimension China is ranked the lowest of all Asian cu ltures (Geert Hofstede 2009). Low individualism in China is usually attributed to the long-standing legacy of communism and the historical values of family and relationships. Not only do the Chinese rely on the collectivist networks, but they tend to assume responsibility for members of their group (Geert Hofstede 2009). Given the role of communism in the Chinese history and culture, it comes as no surprise that the country ranks high on the Power Distance dimension. In other words, China demonstrates a serious gap between those in power and their subordinates (Geert Hofstede 2009). In no way is power distance imposed on the Chinese people; rather, organizations and individuals in China accept this dimension for granted and as part of their culture (Geert Hofstede 2009). Whether or not China is a feminine society Hofstede does not tell. Moreover, there is no universal agreement on this

Business studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business studies - Essay Example As an employer, Mark Quinn looks almost ideal as he does not blast the careless carpenter with expletives for ruining a certain angle in the drawer. In short, RAFT has a working advantage over its competitors. It assumes a humble attitude to business building and not only showcases it in its marketing and human resource management departments, but extends it to the accounting and finance department. RAFT has efficiently attained the balance between attending to challenges in its external environment and conjuring new ideas to create profit. It is important to understand the new business model and ideology to be able to frame the case completely. On undertaking a SWOT analysis of the case, we shall agree with what Mark Quinn has to say. The human resource management department has a couple of interesting strengths like skilled employee base and focused staff who do their work diligently and ensure that orders are churned out at sustainable speeds. The performance can be enhanced in terms of quality and speed through subsequent training. The accounting and finance department would do well with more ecommerce and franchisee centers, although it has been able to tide over the aftermath of Recession and enjoy steady annual profit. The marketing of the brand is sturdy, with a conviction in design and a negation of existing flaws. Its green marketing initiative supercedes its societal marketing initiative in a subtle way. There is also the evergreen scope of improving and creating new product designs using better ideas. But i s this enough? While everything looks so picture perfect, parts of the business that need strengthening are the design, skill, and sustainability aspects. The designs can definitely be much better since customers are likely to tire out of the rugged finish of recycled teak in repeating product cycles, when they find them in stores in the same design over and over again. Designing new models, therefore, is a challenge that