ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION AND ASSESSMENT

BBSB4103

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

STUDENT: NGUYEN THI LAN THAO

ID: 161401081

CLASS: Human Resource

Submitted to instructor Vi Tran as

the midterm-examination

Ho Chi Minh City, October 28th, 2019

Table of Contents
I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1

1. Singapore ........................................................................................................................ 1

2. South Korea .................................................................................................................... 1

II. Singapore culture ................................................................................................................ 2

1. Values ............................................................................................................................. 2

2. Communication styles ..................................................................................................... 2

3. Motivation ....................................................................................................................... 2

4. Leadership ....................................................................................................................... 2

5. Organisational structure .................................................................................................. 3

III. South Korea’s cultural .................................................................................................... 4

1. Values ............................................................................................................................. 4

2. Communication styles ..................................................................................................... 4

3. Motivation ....................................................................................................................... 5

4. Leadership ....................................................................................................................... 5

5. Organisational structure .................................................................................................. 6

IV. Comparison of the student’s cultural with the two countries selected............................ 7

V. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 10

VI. References ..................................................................................................................... 12

 I. Introduction
1. Singapore
Singapore came into being as a British trade port in 1819 and continued as one of the three
British "Strait Settlements." In that period, Malays from nearby areas, large numbers of
immigrants from China, and later Indian convict laborers moved into the island. Singapore
gained independence in 1959 and joined the Union of Malaya in 1963 but was expelled in
1965. By the 19th century, Singapore had become the country with the most cultural
diversity, with the presence of many people of national origin in different countries. Since
then, Singapore has become an independent nation. Among them the Chinese make up the
most with 74.2% of the population, Malays - the first residents in Singapore accounted for
just over 13%. The remaining population is of Indian descent, Eurasian, Peranakan and other
ethnic groups.

In Singapore, there are four main government recognized languages including Malay,
Chinese, Tamil and English. The main cause of having four main languages recognized by
the government is the nation's cultural and ethnic diversity.

Singapore economy is a developed economy, following the capitalist economy. Government

intervention in the economy is minimized. Singapore has an open business environment, low
corruption, high financial transparency, stable prices, and is one of the countries with the
highest GDP per capita in the world.

2. South Korea
South Korea is a beautiful country located in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, a
peninsula stretching 1,100km from north to south. Korea is also famous for its rivers,
magnificent mountains and poetic forests compared to the beautiful tapestries.

With a total area of about 99,678 km2, South Korea is the country with the 108th area in the
world. South Korea's largest city is Seoul, which is also the capital of this country with an
official population of over 10 million people in the Northwest.

In many countries around the world, you will find a country that speaks many languages.
South Korea is the only country in the world to speak and write a language, that is, the
Korean language that is typical of Korean culture, which is far apart but the population on
these islands only uses a single language especially Korean, which creates a very Korean
style.

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South Korea has a market economy in which the state plays an important role. The service
sector is growing rapidly in Korea, accounting for about 70% of GDP. People often refer to
Korea's miraculous economic development as the "Han River Legend".

II. Singapore culture

1. Values
Famous for cleanliness: Lion Island Nation is famous all over the world for cleanliness.

Marriage: Polygamy is allowed among Muslim Malays, but otherwise monogamy is the rule.
Interethnic marriages are not common. Divorce is becoming more common.

A society's attitude towards same-gender marriage: Singapore still recognizes a rule

prohibited homosexual sex, same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children.

2. Communication styles
Due to the diverse ethnic mix in Singapore, there are four languages in common usage –
Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and English (widely used as the common language).

As in many Asian cultures, ‘no’ is a difficult word and other ways of expressing
disagreement should be sought. Disagreement can affect the harmony of the situation as well
as possibly making somebody lose face and needs to be avoided. Vagueness and substitutions
are often used to avoid disagreement. Thus no becomes, ‘Yes, but it might be difficult’ and
‘yes’ might merely imply ‘I have understood your point’. Humour can often be
misunderstood or not understood at all and as such is best avoided. It is better to underplay
your personal merits, majoring rather on the merits of your organisation or department.

3. Motivation
Employees in Singapore are more motivated than those in neighboring Asian countries. The
motivation of employees is mostly internal. Organizations need to satisfy the three
psychological needs of their employees' competence, relevance and autonomy by satisfying
their psychological needs, enabling employees to be self-motivated. This reduces the need for
expensive management and bonuses as they make little sense to motivated employees. To
meet those needs, employees who come to work want to do a great job and become a great
ambassador for the company.

4. Leadership
 Position and power

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Most local companies in Singapore are influenced by the working style of the East, especially
China. The reason for this is also easy to understand, the Chinese account for 75.2% of the
total population in Singapore.

Because of the influence of Chinese culture, the gap between employers and employees in
Singapore is often quite high, employees with lower positions often have to respect and obey
the decisions of their superiors. They rarely refute or openly question their superiors'
decisions.

In contrast, the power gap will have little or no existence in large international companies in
Singapore. Superiors often ask their subordinates for advice when making any decision, and
they are also willing to listen to subordinates' opinions when subordinates disagree with their
decisions.

 Individual and collective

Westerners take individualism very seriously, they appreciate the achievements that
individuals achieve. However, most Singaporeans and local companies value the collective
spirit, Singaporeans believe that only working in groups or cooperating with each other will
bring the best effect. However, most young people today in Singapore are inclined to
individualism at work.

 Follow the rules

Singaporeans always obey the rules outlined. Most Singaporeans do not have creativity at
work because the job requires them to follow the right principles rather than bold ideas. To be
able to compete with this global economy, the Singapore government decided to change its
policies, they try to encourage creativity and change in all classes and all industries.

5. Organisational structure
As in all Asian countries, organisational structures tend toward the hierarchical. Many
Singaporean companies originated as family-run businesses and this adds weight to the push
for respect for seniority. The CEO of a family business will tend to be the oldest male family
member working at the organisation with other senior employees also being family members.

Thus, within traditional Singaporean organisations, all key decisions will be made at the very
senior levels with those decisions being delegated down the chain of command for
implementation.

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III. South Korea’s cultural
1. Values
South Korea has long been influenced by Confucian culture, going through the high-speed
industrialization process has made Korean family culture is also gradually changing.

South Korea is a place where Confucian ideology, which considers men to be more important
than women in society, is still deeply influential. Women are considered second-class
citizens, enduring violence, belittling, and unfair discrimination.

Marriage: There are traditional weddings and modern weddings, traditional wedding
ceremonies almost disappear.

2. Communication styles
There is a contradiction at the center of the Korean communication model, Koreans want to
preserve harmony and promote good relationships.

Dissatisfaction and disagreement will often be vague through the use of phrases like 'we will
try' or 'it can be difficult but we will explore the idea'. Nor does 'yes' necessarily mean 'yes'. It
may simply mean 'I have heard you' or 'I realize that you have made a point'.

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Remember that communication is seen as a means to develop good relationships. Therefore,
the way you send a message may actually be more important than the message itself. It is
important to maintain good body posture during meetings. Sleazy body gestures or excessive
expressions can be confusing.

3. Motivation
Employees in collective cultures are less likely to apply fair concepts when distributing
rewards compared to employees in individual cultures. Because Korea is a nation with a
collective culture, Employees in Korea feel more comfortable working in teams. In order to
work in this collective culture, it is better for foreigners to know ahead of time; if not, it will
only cause frustration for foreigners. Team members who have established respect and trust
from team members will intend to work hard to make each other successful, which also
motivates other team members to work hard just over. In addition, in Korean culture,
managers want to see performance or actual achievements from an employee's task.
Therefore, it is a task-driven behavior building that requires employees to demonstrate their
capabilities and performance.

4. Leadership
Leadership style differences arise from the differences between cultures and stage of
development of business organizations. Basically, the role of organizations demanding
more than mere leadership, culture becomes an important factor in terms of leadership
effectiveness (Afiff, 2013). There are several issues which contribute as difficulties in
implementing the cross-cultural leadership, among others, issues of stereotypes tendency
to judge others based on a class or category and the issues of ethnocentrism sense of
superiority shared by members of a particular culture (Luthans, 2006: 392). According to
Chang and Chang (1994: 136) style of leadership in Korea in general management
system is authoritarian and paternalistic. An organization is interpreted as an extension of
the family, and relationships within the organization is the same as that in a family.
Communication between employees of organizations of South Korean business in
general is much more likely to use downward communication rather than communication
is directed upwards. This means a lot of decisions and orders from above than the proposal
from the bottom up. Another trend is for horizontal communication between departments at
the same level that is more common than diagonal communication among managers at the
levels above and below (Lee, 2012).

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 5. Organisational structure
Korean companies have traditionally been characterised by a high degree of both
centralisation and vertical hierarchy. Basic Confucian tenets of respect for age, seniority and
family have ensured an adherence to, and acceptance of, this system. The advent of modern
Western management theories (often introduced by educated South Koreans in the US) has
added impetus to the calls for reform of Korean company structures and dependencies.

As well as the formal hierarchy which often stresses specialisation of function and task, those
dealing with Korean companies would do well to try to gain some insight into the informal
structures which are often the real internal power mechanisms.

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IV. Comparison of the student’s cultural with the two countries selected.
Country
VIETNAM SINGAPORE SOUTH KOREA
Aspects
Value The Vietnamese value Singaporeans value Core Value of South
system is based on four harmony, and Korea: Koreans have
basic tenets: allegiance respect cultural significantly high
to the family, yearning diversity. The interests in
for a good name, love foundation of education; Koreans
of learning, and respect society is the family, prefer to belong in
for other people. These where children and groups and pursue
tenets are closely the elderly are cared harmony among
interrelated. for. The following members; Koreans
core values are are goal-oriented; To
shared with the next love and respect
generation as part of parents is vital value
personality and civic for Koreans; Having
education in schools: been called the
Respect, Mission, country of the
Resilience, Integrity, courteous people;
Care. respecting elderly is
an important
character of
Koreans.
Communication Regarding attitudes Singaporeans tend to Like most Asian
styles towards lean towards an countries, South
communication, it can indirect Korea is high
be seen that the communication context country. One
characteristics of style. As part of this, should figure out
Vietnamese people are they will not overtly speaker’s genuine
both like to say "no"; likewise, intention by non-
communicate and very their "yes" does not verbal cues. To save
timid, the coexistence always signify other’s face,

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 of these two opposite agreement. Koreans prefer
personalities stems Singaporeans give a indirect and
from two mechanical respectful pause of ambiguous way of
characteristics up to 15 seconds speaking. Degrees of
Vietnamese villages are before answering a respect are
communal and question. If you are complicated form of
autonomous. In terms signing a contract communication and
of communication with ethnic Chinese, it represents that
relations, agricultural the signing date may Koreans are
culture with a special be determined by an considerate of being
trait has led the astrologer or a polite and modest.
Vietnamese to take geomancer.
affection as the
principle of conduct.
Motivation In Vietnam, the way to The motivation for South Korea is a
create motivation with Singaporean staff is nation with a
money is not mainly internal. collective culture,
necessarily effective. Organizations that motivates employees
Managers have satisfy the to work harder or
designed and assigned psychological needs pay more attention,
jobs in accordance with of their employees, as their managers
competencies, enabling allowing employees want to see their
employees to to advocate for work results and
participate in activities themselves. abilities.
so that they can identify
themselves as an
important member of
the business.
Leadership The leadership style in In Singapore, as in Managers expect
Vietnam is assertive, other hierarchical that their
expressed through the societies, managers instructions will be
qualities of dare to may take a followed and
listen and dare to do, somewhat expectations of this

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 dare to take paternalistic attitude obedience are often
responsibility, be to their employees. fulfilled. Although
confident, make timely They may leadership is
decisions in difficult demonstrate a hierarchical and
situations. Create concern for paternalistic, it is
favorable conditions for employees that goes also transmitted into
subordinates to bring beyond the the Korean concept
into full play their workplace and of inwha, which
energies, creativity, strictly professional emphasizes the
enthusiasm in work, concerns. This may necessary harmony
system of timely and include involvement between people of
appropriate in their family, the same rank and
remuneration, reward housing, health, and position.
and discipline regimes. other practical life
issues.
Organisational The organizational The organizational Korean companies
Structure structure grows with structure in have traditionally
convenience, so the Singapore tends to been characterised
different parts of an be hierarchical, all by a high degree of
enterprise often stand important decisions both centralisation
alone, peer-to-peer will be made at a and vertical
communication does senior manager with hierarchy.
not seem to exist, and those decisions
everyone receives assigned to the
instructions directly command chain for
from the director. implementation.
With the two national cultures of Singapore and South Korea, I will choose Singapore as my
workplace. Because I am a thorough, strong and perfectionist in every job. Singapore has a
free trade economy and a high quality workforce. Singapore has really gotten a very solid
position in the world. With a complex population of culture, cuisine, art and architecture,
Singapore is a dynamic city, rich in color and contrast. It is not wrong to say that Singapore is
the intersection of the most quintessential beauty from the East and the West.

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Working in Singapore is surely the desire of many young people who love to explore and
learn new things. Living and working in a new country is not easy because you need time to
get used to the environment and the people culture there.
Here are the things we need to know when working in Singapore:
 Say "Let me check" instead of "I don't know"
Singaporeans always have the plan available, though they do not need to know right and
wrong. They proactively search and check to find out the unknown. So, be proactive even in
the most passive situation, because no one wants to be left behind. So remember never to say
"I don't know" but "Let me check".
 Smart in the smallest things
When working with Singaporeans, you must understand that they are very perfectionist and
often very demanding because from an early age, they have been taught to do well from the
smallest things. They calculate wisely, wear solid clothes, groomed, only cooperate when
they see the benefits clearly.
 Apply presentation skills, teamwork, essay writing at work
In Singapore, it is not uncommon to present an issue in public or at a meeting. Once you have
arrived in Singapore, you should be ready to fully exploit these skills. In Singapore, the
training programs are combined essays, group exercises, final exams and theses to train these
skills for students, helping them to be more confident later in the process.
 After-work life is more than just shopping malls
Working in Singapore, you will be able to easily explore nearby destinations such as Batam
(Indonesia), Johor (Malaysia), or take a longer long trip with friends and colleagues in
Southeast Asian countries, Asia or further with cheap non-stop flights. The fact is that in
Singapore it is easier to apply for a visa to go to other countries (compared to applying in
Vietam).

V. Conclusion
In general, both countries have similarities in culture, quality of education, quality of life.

Although Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia, the Republic of Singapore still
contains many unique cultural features unmistakable with neighboring countries. In addition
to the dynamism and modernity of a leading economy city in Asia, along with the friendliness
and openness of the people, a colorful, diverse culture is one of the reason attracts travelers'
footsteps to this beautiful Lion Island.

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As we know, Korea at the present time is one of the four small dragons of Asia, a very
modern country and a thriving economy, but a country with a strong national identity.
Therefore, the Korean people still maintain quite intact and firmly maintain the habits, views,
ideas, customs and habits of their people.

Words: 2850

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