China and India Cultures

8/12/2019 China and India Cultures

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INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND

RESEARCH, BHOPAL

PGDM Trimester-V

Batch 4th

(2012-2014)

Cross Cultural Management

Assignment-I


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India

[1]Power distanceThe dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal i.e. it

shows the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. India has high

score in this dimension, which shows that the Indian follow hierarchy pattern and a top

down structure in society and organizations. If we talk about the Indian attitude, it shows

that Indian people are dependent on the boss or the power holder for direction,

acceptance of un-equal rights between the power-privileged and those who are lesser

down in the pecking order, immediate superiors are available for communication but one

layer above less so, paternalistic leader, management directs, gives reason to ones work

life and rewards in exchange for loyalty from employees. Real power is centralized andalso employees expect to be directed clearly as to their functions and what is expected of

them is clearly defined to them. Control is familiar, even a psychological security, and

attitude towards managers are formal even if one is on first name basis. Communicationis top down and directive in its style.

[2]IndividualismThe fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence that

a society maintains among its members. In Individualist societies people are supposed to

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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. India, despite an

intermediate score of 49, is a society with clear collectivistic traits. This means that there

is a high preference for belonging to a larger social framework in which individuals are

expected to act accordingly for the development of once own defined groups. In India,

the actions of a person is influenced by various concepts such as the opinion of ones

family, extended family, neighbors, work group and other networks that one has some

affiliation toward. For a collectivist, to be rejected by ones peers or to be thought lowly

of by ones extended and immediate in-groups, leaves him or her rudderless and with a

sense of intense emptiness. In India the employer/employee relationship is one of

expectations based on expectations Loyalty by the employee and almost familial

protection by the Employer. Hiring and promotion decisions are often made based on

relationships which the Indian people have with each others.

[3]MasculinityIndia scores 57 on this dimension and is thus considered a masculine society. Even

though it is mildly above the mid-range in score, India is actually very masculine as they

have willingness to display the power they have and the success they have achieved. The

designer brand label, the flashiness that goes with advertising ones success, is widely

practiced. However, India is also a spiritual country with millions of deities and various

religious philosophies. It is also an ancient country with one of the longest surviving

cultures which gives it ample lessons in the value of humility and abstinence. This often

reigns in people from indulging in Masculine displays to the extent that they might be

naturally inclined to.

[4]Uncertainty avoidanceIndia scores 31 on this dimension and thus has a medium low preference for avoidinguncertainty. In India, there is acceptance of ambiguity & imperfection as Indian people

can handle them in appropriate manner. India is traditionally a patient country where

tolerance for the unexpected is high. People generally do not feel driven and compelled to

take action-initiatives and comfortably settle into established rolls and routines without

questioning. Rules are often in place just to be circumvented and one relies on innovative


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methods to bypass the system. A word used often is adjust and means a wide range

of things, from turning a blind eye to rules being flouted to finding a unique and

inventive solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem. It is this attitude that is both

the cause of misery as well as the most empowering aspect of the country. There is a

saying that nothing is impossible in India, so long as one knows how to adjust.

China

[1]Power distanceAt 74 China sits in the higher rankings of PDI i.e. a society that believes that

inequalities amongst people are acceptable. The subordinate-superior relationship tends

to be polarized and there is no defense against power abuse by superiors. Individuals are

influenced by formal authority and sanctions and are in general optimistic about peoples

capacity for leadership and initiative. People should not have aspirations beyond their

rank.

[2]IndividualismAt a score of 16 China is a highly collectivist culture where people act in the interests of

the group and not necessarily of themselves. In-group considerations affect hiring and

promotions with closer in-groups (such as family) are getting preferential treatment.

Employee commitment to the organization (but not necessarily to the people in the

organization) is low. Whereas relationships with colleagues are cooperative for in-groups

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they are cold or even hostile to out-groups. Personal relationships prevail over task and

company.

[3]MasculinityAt 68 China is a masculine society success oriented and driven. The need to ensure

success can be exemplified by the fact that many Chinese will sacrifice family and leisure

priorities to work. Service people (such as hairdressers) will provide services until very

late at night. Leisure time is not so important. The migrated farmer workers will leave

their families behind in faraway places in order to obtain better work and pay in the

cities. Another example is that Chinese students care very much about their exam scores

and ranking as this is the main criteria to achieve success or not.

[4]Uncertainty avoidanceAt 21 China has a low score on uncertainty avoidance. Truth may be relative though in

the immediate social circles there is concern for Truth with a capital T and rules (but not

necessarily laws) abound. None the less, adherence to laws and rules may be flexible to

suit the actual situation and pragmatism is a fact of life. The Chinese are comfortable

with ambiguity; the Chinese language is full of ambiguous meanings that can be difficult

for Western people to follow. Chinese are adaptable and entrepreneurial. At the time of

writing the majority (70% -80%) of Chinese businesses tend to be small to medium sized

and family owned.

Comparison between China & India


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In power distance dimension, both the countries are on a similar condition. In bothsocieties in-equalities are acceptable.

In individualism, both the countries have low score. Both countries are collectivist innature but the degree of collectivism is much higher in China as compared to India.

In masculinity dimension, both societies are masculine but they China is having higherdegree of masculinity and also China in comparison to India are more success oriented

and also leisure time for Chinese people is not that important but in case of Indian people

it is important for them.

The Uncertainty avoidance index of China in comparison to India is much lower whichshows that Chinese people are more stable and they are more adaptable to unexpected

situation. Uncertainty avoidance index of India is low which shows that they can handle

unexpected situation and are also stable but in comparison to China, India is having less

stability when dealing with uncertain situations.

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Documents

China and India Cultures