Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 14/e

The Global Context

We considered global cultural values (collectivism–individualism, power distance, and so on) in Chapter 5. Here our focus is a bit narrower: How is organizational culture affected by the global context? Organizational culture is so powerful that it often transcends national boundaries. But that doesn’t mean organizations should, or could, ignore national and local culture.

One of the primary things U.S. managers can do is be culturally sensitive. The United States is a dominant force in business and in culture—and with that influence comes a reputation. “We are broadly seen throughout the world as arrogant people, totally self-absorbed and loud,” says one U.S. executive. Some ways in which U.S. managers can be culturally sensitive ...