Continuing values explorations

There are many ways to compare cultures. Scholars each have their vantage point, but you also have yours. Here we provide links for further exploration so you can consider which ideas seem most relevant to your experiences.

Many new ideas about how cultural differences can be framed or compared have been presented this week. To help you sort some of that out, we encourage you to select one or two for further enquiry.

1. Though dated, many still find the Kluchkohn Values orientation framework helpful for considering value differences or values shifts within cultures. Tom Gallagher’s (2001) or Michael D. Hills’ (2002) articles provide helpful summaries: http://www.joe.org/joe/2001december/tt1.php
   http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol4/iss4/3/
2. If you would like to better understand the widely-used Hofstede dimensions, compare national scores, or use his questionnaire in training, we recommend his web page: https://geert-hofstede.com

   A consulting company also offers explanations and applications based on the Hofstede model. This can be a good starting point for national comparisons, though these are not sanctioned and may not updated with the latest research (please not this is NOT his website, only an application. See Prof. Hofstede’s and his son’s own site above): http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html
3. If you found that the domains highlighted by Trompenaars make some intuitive sense, we recommend you look further at what they mean and how they can be applied: http://sevendimensionsofculture.wikispaces.com/Trompenaars%27+Seven+Dimensions+of+Culture
4. Similarly, if you are interested in more specific business leadership applications of culture, you might find information on the “Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness” (GLOBE) study helpful. Cornelius Grove’s overview is a good starting point, or for those more interested in the research process or published resources, you can visit the GLOBE project webpage: http://www.grovewell.com/wp-content/uploads/pub-GLOBE-intro.pdf
   https://globeproject.com
5. The World Values Survey (WVS) may be interesting for other learners, especially regarding how traditional values vs. secular-rational values compare to survival vs. self-expression values. The following site that provides comparative “cultural maps” of the world and other information on this ongoing project is a good starting point: http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSContents.jsp

Whichever sites you explore, keep considering what types of dimensions make the most sense to you, and comment if you like. If you find other helpful links, please share those with us and fellow learners!