Cross cultural management 3rd chapter 17 (5) conflicts and cultural differences

Slide 17.1 Chapter 17 Conflicts and cultural differences Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross-Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Slide 17.2 Conflict and (cultural) groups • Cross-cultural conflict involves: – Cultural groups protecting their own self-image – Intercultural perceptions coloured by ethnocentrism and stereotypes Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross-Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Slide 17.3 Managing conflict in Malaysia Core values: durability of personal relations, even if a strong divergence of opinion results in conflict •Concern for face: – across all ethnic groups •Concern for others: – generosity, respect, honesty and sincerity, being upright and caring •Respect for seniority: – in some conflicts a third person, a ‘neutral senior’: • clarifies key issues subordinates will never confront their superior, will be uncooperative and eventually resign themselves to the way their boss behaves Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross-Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Slide 17.4 Managing conflict in Thailand • The name Thailand – ‘The Land of Smiles’: – reflects the social harmony in this country – A Thai smiles in pleasant and stress-filled situations • Smile hides feelings in public: – self-discipline to maintain status, prestige and face: • concept of ‘jai yen’ (‘cool heart’) derived from Buddhism • Individualism quite predominant: – but Thais are more ‘relationship-oriented’ than ‘results-oriented’ • Conflict: – rarely regarded as either positive or negative: – if a conflict arises, a third party (traditionally a respected elder) is called upon to mediate Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross-Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Slide 17.5 Managing conflict in (South) Korea Korea: -reflects in a way the differences and similarities between Western and Eastern attitudes to conflict •Koreans: – prefer a non-competitive (or non-dominating) strategy in face-to-face conflict situations – Prefer to use a superior or authoritarian personality to resolve conflict End Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross-Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 ...Slide 17. 2 Conflict and (cultural) groups • Cross- cultural conflict involves: – Cultural groups protecting their own self-image – Intercultural perceptions coloured by ethnocentrism and stereotypes... ethnocentrism and stereotypes Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross- Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Slide 17. 3 Managing conflict in Malaysia... will be uncooperative and eventually resign themselves to the way their boss behaves Browaeys and Price, Understanding Cross- Cultural Management PowerPoints on the Web, 3rd edition, © Pearson