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CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE IN

UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP

Day 2
Story of a Button
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What are the dynamics that shape
leadership?
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Dynamics = Forces that appear from


different directions that shape
Managing Culture...
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Three perspectives. (Martin,1992)


Integration
Differentiation
Fragmentation
Perspective

Integration Differentiation Fragmentation


Orientation to Organization Subcultural Lack of
consensus wide consensus consensus consensus
Relation Consistency Inconsistency Not clear
among
manifestations
Orientation to Excludes Channel it Acknowledges
ambiguity outside to the it.
subcultures

Integration Perspective Harmony & Homogeneity


Differentiation Perspective Separation & Conflict
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Fragmentation Perspective Multiplicity & Flux
Leadership and Culture
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Definition: A pattern of shared basic assumptions


that the group learned as it solved problems of
external adaption and internal integration that has
worked well enough to be considered valid and
therefore to be taught to new members as the correct
way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those
problems.
Edgar Schien (1996)
Understanding culture
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Culture: a system and process of shared


assumptions, values, and beliefs, which
governs human and organization behaviour.
The common and shared values influence

peoples acts and behaviour in society or in


organization.
Culture comes down to a common way of
thinking, which drives common way of acting
Goffee and Jones, 1998
10/5/2017
Culture ...
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All embracing phenomenon


Determined through leadership vs defines

leadership
Becoming anthropological and

understanding culture
Unitary approach vs multiplicity

Change is attained through the formation


and implementation of coherent values
World views: actor vs structure
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Structure-oriented views
Actor-oriented views

Synthetic views

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Culture and personal interaction
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Leaders own and people

Leaders own and people

Source: Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov, 2010, pp 467


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How often do we ask questions?

Crushing
stones

Gavin-ware wall 10/5/2017


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Extracting stones

Road Crushing stones


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Resting most of the time!
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Hofstedes dimensions explained
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Power distance
Individualism

Masculinity / Femininity

Uncertainty avoidance

Long Term orientation.


Power distance
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This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals


in societies are not equal it expresses the attitude
of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us.
Power distance is defined as the extent to which the
less powerful members of institutions and
organisations within a country expect and accept that
power is distributed unequally.
Individualism
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The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is


the degree of interdependence a society maintains
among its members. It has to do with whether
peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or
We.
In Individualist societies people are supposed to look
after themselves and their direct family only. In
Collectivist societies people belong to in groups that
take care of them in exchange for loyalty
Masculinity/ Femininity
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A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that


the society will be driven by competition, achievement
and success, with success being defined by the winner /
best in field a value system that starts in school and
continues throughout organisational behaviour.
A low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the
dominant values in society are caring for others and
quality of life. A feminine society is one where quality of
life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what
motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or
liking what you do (feminine).
Uncertainty avoidance
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The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the


way that a society deals with the fact that the future can
never be known: should we try to control the future or just
let it happen?
This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures
have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways.
The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have
created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is
reflected in the UAI score.
Long-Term Orientation
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The long term orientation dimension is closely related


to the teachings of Confucius and can be interpreted
as dealing with societys search for virtue, the extent
to which a society shows a pragmatic future-oriented
perspective rather than a conventional historical short-
term point of view.
Johnson and Scholes Culture Map
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Symbols
Symbols Power
StoriesStories
Structures
Power Structures

Paradigm

Rituals
Rituals and
Routines Structures

and Control Systems


Structures
Routines Control
Systems
Johnson and Scholes Culture
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Map

Symbols

Power
Stories Structures

Paradigm
Rituals
and Structures
Routines
Control
Systems
Becoming anthropological...
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Awareness of the group dynamics


Observation.
Interpretation of the data.
Two dimensions
Face value
Critically.

What influence do you find cultures have in our understanding and


actions.
What evidence can we use in order make claims about the way
cultures influence our world.
What will you do in the leadership process do to establish/sustain
performing organizational culture.

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