Examining cross-cultural compatibility of high performance work practices

This paper examines the relationship between high performance work practices (HPWPs) and cross-cultural dimensions to debate the effectiveness of HPWPs in cross-cultural settings. Using systematic review, 140 articles were identified on HPWPs and cross-cultural human resource management. Synthesizing the two literature areas results in four key findings. Many HR practices labelled as HPWPs are affected by national cultural dimensions. Also, several practices labelled as HPWPs have not been a part of the cross-cultural HR literature, and that limited studies in both area focus on the impact of cultural compatibility on outcomes. Finally, a few selected cultural dimensions have dominated the cross-cultural HR literature. Thus, more work is needed to: understand the role of national culture on effectiveness of HPWPs; increase coverage of HPWPs in the cross-cultural HR literature; understand the impact of cultural compatibility of HR practices and HPWPs on outcomes; and, incorporate additional cultural dimensions in future work.     

消费文化变迁测量及其对冲动购买的影响研究

随着市场经济的快速发展,中国消费文化也在变迁。尽管越来越多的学者和企业已关注到了消费文化变迁的重要作用,但是目前多数对于消费文化变迁的相关研究还停留在理论描述的定性研究阶段。文章基于霍夫施泰德的文化模型并结合中国消费文化变迁的研究成果严谨地开发了消费文化变迁构念的测量量表,并系统地研究了中国消费文化变迁对冲动购买的影响。研究结果显示消费文化的五个维度,即权力距离、个人主义、不确定性规避、社会的男性化程度和长期导向的变迁都与冲动购买正相关。文章的理论贡献在于首次系统开发并形成了关于消费文化变迁的量表,从而实现了对中国消费文化变迁的定量测量,并进一步系统地研究了消费文化变迁对冲动购买的影响。     

What Is Personalization? Perspectives on the Design and Implementation of Personalization in Information Systems

In e-commerce and mobile commerce, personalization has been recognized as an important approach element in customer relationships and Web strategies. However, there are wide differences in how this concept is defined, characterized, and implemented in the literature. In this article we present a high-level framework for classifying approaches to personalization that delineates fundamental assumptions about personalization in the literature and relates them to strategies for developing personalization systems. The framework consists of 2 parts: (a) a set of perspectives on personalization that guide the design of personalization systems at a general level and (b) a scheme for classifying how personalization can be implemented. The personalization perspectives represent 4 distinct schools of thought on the nature of personalization distilled from the literature of several fields. These perspectives are ideal types and we discuss them in terms of the motivation they supply for personalization, the goals and means of personalization, and the ways in which they conceptualize and model users. The implementation classification scheme is constructed on 3 dimensions of implementation choices. These 3 dimensions pertain to what to personalize (content, interface, functionality, channel), to whom to personalize (individuals or categories of individuals) as well as who does the personalization (implicit or explicit personalization). The personalization perspectives represent particular concepts of personalization that guide general design choices; these choices are implemented via the options described in the implementation classification scheme. The framework contributes to the development of a common theoretical basis for the study of personalization. We discuss implications of the framework for design of personalization systems and future research directions.     

Analyzing and Managing the Impact of Cultural Behavior Patterns on Social Capital in Multinational IT Project Teams

This paper contributes to a better understanding and to mitigate negative consequences of cultural diversity in multinational IT project teams. Our research explores how culture-specific behaviors impact social capital among team members and how firms can manage the strains. In the existing IS culture literature, culture-specific behaviors are – if at all – traced back to single culture dimensions. In contrast, the approach proposed in this article goes one step further suggesting that it is necessary to combine several culture dimensions to better understand a certain culture-specific behavior and consequently be able to better manage resulting relationship problems in multinational settings. Conducting exploratory case studies in six multinational IT projects, two exemplary cultural behavior patterns (face maintenance in India and post-communism in the Czech Republic) are identified, and management actions to avoid project performance problems are derived. The results contribute to a better understanding and management of the negative impact of culture-specific behaviors in IT project teams and corroborate that research based on culture dimensions, such as those conceptualized by Hofstede or House et al., is valuable for understanding multi-country IS projects. The findings in particular suggest that aggregating these dimensions to cultural behavior patterns improves their explanatory power and consequently the management’s capability to mitigate the negative consequences of cultural diversity.     

Do cultural orientations moderate the effect of online review features on review helpfulness? A case study of online movie reviews

The perceived helpfulness of online product reviews plays a critical role in consumers’ decisions in e-commerce. In this context, based on the literature on information processing and cultural effects, this study explored the role of review features in the perceived helpfulness of online movie reviews. A cross-cultural investigation (i.e., China cf. the United States (US)) was employed to identify high-vs. low-context cultural orientation and uncertain avoidance orientation as moderators. The results reveal that review length, timeliness, title sentiment, and emotional expressions are significant predictors of helpfulness for consumer reviews in China and the US. In addition, cultural differences between the two countries, that is, high-vs. low-context culture and uncertainty avoidance, moderated the relationships between review length, timeliness, title sentiments, and review helpfulness.     

A Paradigm for Development and Promulgation of a Global Code of Marketing Ethics

This paper provides a paradigm for evaluating the factors that affect the development of a global code of ethics in marketing. Based on a review of the literature pertaining to global codes of ethics, we examined the potential for the development and acceptance of a universal code of ethics in the international marketing arena. Towards that end, we suggest that any global code of ethics in marketing should consider two levels – normative guidelines and specific behaviors. A discussion detailing the factors that can impede the development of such a two-tiered code is included as well. Those factors being moral reasoning, organizational ethical climate, level of economic development and cultural dimensions. Finally, the feasibility and the possible outcomes of a global code of ethics in marketing is examined.     

The Interplay of Project Control and Interorganizational Learning: Mitigating Effects on Cultural Differences in Global,Multisource ISD Outsourcing Projects

Research into global, multisource, information systems development outsourcing projects has uncovered management challenges, including cultural differences on multiple levels. While control mechanisms and interorganizational learning have been shown to contribute to the mitigation of cultural differences in such projects, a gap persists regarding the effect of the interplay between these mechanisms. This study employs an exploratory single-case study design to analyze how formal and informal control mechanisms and interorganizational learning interact and thus contribute to the mitigation of cultural differences in global, multisource, information systems development outsourcing projects. With the key finding that the influence of informal controls and interorganizational learning on formal controls changes over time, this research helps expand the domain of control dynamics in global IS projects. This study also contributes to literature on ways to handle cultural differences in global, multisource, IS outsourcing projects.     

Methods to Manage Information Sources for Software Product Managers in the Energy Market

The German energy market is facing several challenges due to changes in regulation, technical advancements as well as increasing energy costs and climate achievements like CO₂ reduction. This results in changing requirements for companies in the energy market and thus business information systems, which support their core tasks and processes. Software product managers in energy and software developing companies in charge of driving the functional development of information systems have to deal with these challenges and need to develop new information systems or enhance existing ones. Conceptual models proved helpful to design and implement information systems within several industries. However, identification and management of models as well as impact analysis of model changes results difficult. This contribution describes methods to construct, use and maintain a domain specific reference model catalogue to support requirements analysis for software product manager in the German electricity and gas market.     

历届全运会会徽的文化学释义

采用文献资料、逻辑分析等方法研究我国历届全运会会徽,对其所蕴含的文化学意义进行系统解读。主要结论:历届全运会的承办省份对会徽的设计理念不尽相同;会徽的文化内涵与奥林匹克精神、主办省份及城市文化有关;会徽的来源可分为人与运动类、制度文化类、精神文化类;会徽向着精神理念综合发展;建议:会徽的设计应基于奥林匹克体育精神;会徽不应脱离运动主题和以人为本的精神;会徽的设计理念应与时俱进。     

“旅游文化地产”为驱动力的小城镇文化构建研究——以贵州松桃县为例

小城镇文化构建是对小城镇文化传统、历史文脉、民族文化和人文素质的综合打造。通过提升小城镇文化品位,能促进旅游业的发展,并提高小城镇经济实力和生活水平。贵州松桃县具有独特的地理位置与鲜明的苗族文化传统,虽然在城市更新及城市文化构建方面也面临着资金不足、文化冲击等问题,但松桃构建以＂傩文化＂为核心的苗文化体系,并用北绘的城市文化构建理念从城市个性塑造、提升发展动力、满足公众文化需要、依托城市发展实际和以＂旅游文化地产＂为驱动力,走出了一条以＂旅游文化地产＂为驱动力的小城镇文化构建之路。     

Developing e-service quality scales: A literature review

This study reviews the literature on e-service quality (e-SQ), with an emphasis on the methodological issues involved in developing measurement scales and issues related to the dimensionality of the e-SQ construct. We selected numerous studies on e-SQ from well-known databases and subjected them to a thorough content analysis. The review shows that dimensions of e-service quality tend to be contingent on the service industry. Despite the common dimensions often used in evaluating e-SQ, regardless of the type of service on the internet (‘reliability/fulfilment’, ‘responsiveness’, ‘web design’, ‘ease of use/usability’, ‘privacy/security’, and ‘information quality/benefit’), other dimensions are specific to e-service contexts. The study also identifies several conceptual and methodological limitations associated with developing e-SQ measurement such as the lack of a rigorous validation process, the problematic sample size and composition, the focus on functional aspects, and the use of a data-driven approach. This is the first study to undertake an extensive literature review of research on the development of e-SQ scales. The findings should be valuable to academics and practitioners alike.     

促进文化企业发展的对策思考——以安徽省为例

文化企业作为文化产业发展的基础和主体,是文化体制改革的重点和难点.以安徽省为例,从分析文化企业发展现状和存在的问题着手,探讨现阶段文化企业发展的基本目标与重点,并分别对国有文化企业和民营文化企业两个主体的发展提出了相应的对策.     

Understanding Café Culture: Toward a Dynamic and Holistic Research Framework

Based on a critical interpretive literature review, this article introduces a holistic and dynamic research framework for café culture analysis. Drawing on the constructivist view of culture and glocalization theories, we proposed a framework that highlights the impact of different cultural resources (i.e., values, norms, schemas, artifacts, and practices) on café culture development and the role of three dyads (brand-consumer, global-local, and historical-present) in the formation process. The framework underscores the dynamic and holistic nature of consumer culture research and emphasizes the cultural practices of different entities that collectively transfer the symbolic meanings embedded in the global cultural artifacts to the localized cultural reproductions. We hope to extend the discussions of café culture and, more generally, global products to a broader context.     

Commentary on “Co-creating stakeholder and brand identities: A cross-cultural consumer perspective”

This commentary raises awareness for the relevance of other cultural dimensions—besides individualism and collectivism—and alternative approaches to cross-cultural research for exploring cultural variations in stakeholders' co-construction of brand identity and their own identities. The author suggests replacing the value-centered approach to culture by an understanding of culture as something dynamic and unsettled, more than cognitive, disjunctive, and not necessarily bounded to geography. Culture includes other important aspects such as habits, rituals, practices, heroes, language and symbols. Abstract variables fail to capture the rich cultural content of social factors and, as such, are uninformed by and uninformative about concrete social life and the subtleties of local culture. Considering multiple aspects of cultural difference, interactions between these aspects, and the continuous influence of various cultures on each other can provide additional, relevant insights into reciprocal identity co-construction processes between brands and stakeholders.     

文化距离会阻碍文化服务输出吗？ ——基于2006~2012 年跨国数据的检验

本文利用2006~2012年216个国家间的文化服务贸易数据检验了文化距离对国家间文化服务贸易的影响。研究显示,以Hofstede国家文化维度测量的文化距离会显著阻碍国家间总体文化服务贸易的发展;互联网的普及和国家间说同种语言人口比例的上升会部分抵销文化距离带来的负向作用。具体来看,文化距离对文化信息服务存在显著负向作用,对文化产品再生产或分配许可贸易会产生正向作用;不同维度的文化距离对文化服务贸易的影响也存在显著异质性。     

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Ethical Attitudes of Business Managers: India Korea and the United States

Culture has been identified as a significant determinant of ethical attitudes of business managers. This research studies the impact of culture on the ethical attitudes of business managers in India, Korea and the United States using multivariate statistical analysis. Employing Geert Hofstede's cultural typology, this study examines the relationship between his five cultural dimensions (individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and long-term orientation) and business managers' ethical attitudes. The study uses primary data collected from 345 business manager participants of Executive MBA programs in selected business schools in India, Korea and the United States using Hofstede's Value Survey Module (94) and an instrument designed by the researchers to measure respondents' ethical attitudes (attitudes toward business ethics in general and toward twelve common questionable practices in particular). Results indicate that national culture has a strong influence on business managers' ethical attitudes. In addition to national culture, respondents' general attitudes toward business ethics are related to their personal integrity; their attitudes toward questionable business practices are related to the external environment and gender, as well as to their personal integrity. A strong relationship exists between cultural dimensions of individualism and power distance and respondents' ethical attitudes toward certain questionable practices. The analysis of the relationship between cultural dimensions of masculinity, uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation and respondents' ethical attitudes toward questionable practices produced mixed results, likely due to the lack of notable differences in cultural dimension scores among the countries surveyed.     

The opportunity to improve psychological competences of project managers in international businesses

Many projects are currently conducted in international businesses in which cultural issues play an important role. In‐depth analysis of the risks associated with the unknown of this type of issues offers companies a better understanding of how to focus their marketing tools to be more effective, and provides project managers with strategies to improve customer relationships. Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Meyer's Culture Map have demonstrated that every society possesses distinguishing features. These cultural theories serve as foundation for including the category of culture in a proposed Cultural Risk Breakdown Structure. Through a literature review, risks associated with cultural differences are identified in projects executed in Africa, China, and the Middle East. By linking these risks to cultural dimensions, it is possible to identify the psychological competences framework in international businesses. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to create not only a comprehensive record of these risks but also a list of the new skills and competences that project managers must possess to improve client satisfaction and make decisions in a cross‐cultural environment. By considering the association between psychological aspects and cultural issues, this analysis will be of considerable benefit for improving relationships in international contexts.     

The Effects of Cultural Dimensions on Ethical Decision Making in Marketing: An Exploratory Study

As more and more firms operate globally, an understanding of the effects of cultural differences on ethical decision making becomes increasingly important for avoiding potential business pitfalls and for designing effective international marketing management programs. Although several articles have addressed this area in general, differences along specific, cultural dimensions have not been directly examined. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in ethical decision making within Hofstede's cultural framework. The results confirm the utility of Hofstede's cultural dimensions and place ethical decision making within an overall theoretical framework. Sales agents from a high power distance, uncertainty avoidant, Confucian, collectivist culture (i.e., Taiwan) placed more value on company and fellow employee interests (vis-à-vis self interests) than did managers from a masculine, individualistic culture (i.e., the United States). American and Taiwanese managers did not differ in their deontological norms or on the importance that they placed on customer interests. The theoretical and managerial importance of these findings are also discussed.     

Technostress from a Neurobiological Perspective

Despite the positive impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on an individual, organizational, and societal level (e.g., increased access to information, as well as enhanced performance and productivity), both scientific research and anecdotal evidence indicate that human-machine interaction, both in a private and organizational context, may lead to notable stress perceptions in users. This type of stress is referred to as technostress. A review of the literature shows that most studies used questionnaires to investigate the nature, antecedents, and consequences of technostress. Despite the value of the vast amount of questionnaire-based technostress research, we draw upon a different conceptual perspective, namely neurobiology. Specifically, we report on a laboratory experiment in which we investigated the effects of system breakdown on changes in users’ levels of cortisol, which is a major stress hormone in humans. The results of our study show that cortisol levels increase significantly as a consequence of system breakdown in a human-computer interaction task. In demonstrating this effect, our study has major implications for ICT research, development, management, and health policy. We confirm the value of a category of research heretofore largely neglected in ICT-related disciplines (particularly in business and information systems engineering, BISE, as well as information systems research, ISR), and argue that future research investigating human-machine interactions should consider the neurobiological perspective as a valuable complement to traditional concepts.