Comparative Management Studies

CHAPTER 2

Cross-Cultural Studies of Management Practices

Introduction

While it has been argued that certain management practices and styles have universal appeal and effectiveness, the reality seems to be that there are real and significant differences between countries with respect to their business and innovation systems and their preferences regarding leadership and management styles. Berry et al. argued that these differences, which they referred to as “cross-national distance,” were likely based on a wide range of factors and suggested and defined the following set of “dimensions of cross-national distance”¹:

• Economic: Differences in economic development and ­macroeconomic characteristics
• Financial: Differences in financial sector development ...