Download File - Eric Chavez MD MMI

Eric Chavez
Leaders 481, Northouse Chapter 15
8/17/14
Due to globalization and ever increasing diversity in the workforce, it is beneficial for
leaders and workers to have an understanding of their own cultures and of other cultures in order
to improve communication, cooperation, and success. The GLOBE study surveyed managers in
62 different countries to assess views on leadership and classified how different regional clusters
of the world rated various dimensions of culture (Northouse, 2012). The ways that various
regional clusters rated cultural dimensions offer insight for leaders and followers. For example, a
female leader from a Nordic European culture where gender egalitarianism is very important
may have difficulty with a subordinate who is a male from the Middle East where gender
egalitarianism is not important. As Northouse (2012) summarizes from the GLOBE study, in the
culture of the Middle East, gender differences are distinct and women are usually given less
opportunity for positions of leadership and authority, while in the culture of Nordic Europe, men
and women are generally treated equally and given equal opportunities for leadership and
authority. Both the leader and the subordinate in this example would benefit from understanding
the culture of the other to avoid conflict and lack of understanding and cooperation.
I took the Dimensions of Culture Questionnaire (Northouse, 2012, Chapter 15,
Leadership Instrument) and calculated my mean scores for each cultural dimension. Below I
have reproduced Table 15.4 Cultural Dimensions and Mean Scores for Selected Cultural Clusters
from the textbook (Northouse, 2012, Chapter 15, Leadership Instrument, Table 15.4) and
inserted my own mean scores into the table for comparison. According to the GLOBE study, my
culture is Anglo since I was born and raised in the United States. My personal mean scores for
the cultural dimensions align fairly well with mean scores in the Anglo cluster for uncertainty
avoidance, institutional collectivism, gender egalitarianism, and humane orientation. This means
Eric Chavez
Leaders 481, Northouse Chapter 15
8/17/14
that my ideas about these cultural dimensions are about the same as those of other people in my
culture group.
Cultural Dimensions and Mean Scores for Selected Cultural Clusters (Northouse, 2012, Chapter
15, Table 15.4)
Mean Scores of Selected Cultures
Global Cultural Dimensions
My Score
Anglo
Latin America
Middle East
South Asia
Latin Europe
GLOBE overall
Uncertainty Avoidance
3.5
4.42
3.62
3.91
4.10
4.18
4.16
Power Distance
4.5
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
5.71
Institutional collectivism
4.0
4.46
3.86
4.28
4.35
4.01
4.25
In-group collectivism
6.0
4.30
5.52
5.58
5.87
4.80
5.13
Gender egalitarianism
3.0
3.40
3.41
2.95
3.28
3.36
3.37
Assertiveness
6.0
4.14
4.15
4.14
3.86
3.99
4.14
Future orientation
5.0
4.08
3.54
3.58
3.98
3.68
3.85
Performance orientation
6.0
4.37
3.85
3.90
4.33
9.94
4.10
Humane Orientation
4.5
4.20
4.03
4.36
4.71
3.71
4.09
My mean scores are higher than those for the Anglo group in the dimensions of in-group
collectivism, assertiveness, future orientation, and performance orientation. This means that I
differ from the average opinion of the Anglo group in that I see my own culture as having more
loyalty and pride in their families and organizations, as being more assertive and confrontational
in their relationships, as planning more for the future rather than enjoying the moment, and as
being more highly focused on receiving rewards for performance and achievements. I think my
higher score in in-group collectivism stems from the fact that I grew up in a Hispanic family and
I am heavily influenced by that culture. I think that my higher scores in assertiveness, future
orientation, and performance orientation come from another culture of which I am a member
which is healthcare providers. Throughout my education and practice as a physician I have been
Eric Chavez
Leaders 481, Northouse Chapter 15
8/17/14
surrounded by very assertive peers who are performance driven and who plan for the future and
for solving future problems rather than living in the moment. This has become part of my
culture.
In my opinion, one’s culture can be derived from a complex mixture of country,
ethnicity, family, and profession. All of these factors have certainly had a role in influencing my
thoughts, beliefs, and values, and in defining my culture.
Eric Chavez
Leaders 481, Northouse Chapter 15
8/17/14
Reference:
Northouse, P (2012). Leadership: Theory and Practice [Kindle for iPad version 4.3]. Retrieved
from Amazon.com