Working in a Multicultural Environment “National Influences” part 4

by rictownsend

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Culture on a national level: Individualist and Collectivist Societies

What are the differences between individualist and collectivist societies? Well it is “I” v.’s “We”. In individualist societies the wife and kids need me to support them v.’s in collectivist, the ‘extended’ family, parents, uncles, aunts etc., who will protect me in exchange for my loyalty. Individualism is also about speaking our mind, regardless of the situation as honesty counts and leads to respect v.’s think before you speak, harmony is imperative, what I say may bring shame and loss of face to my group, I must show respect. In individualistic societies employees contract their services to achieve a common goal based on aligned visions and they are promoted primarily on competence. In collectivist societies employees build relationships with their organizations based on the moral worth of the employer along similar lines to the family concept and expect to be promoted due to their overall connections and associations. Managers in the first case manage individuals and the task rules the relationships whereas in the second case they manage (or control) groups in which the relationships are more important than the task.

In individualistic societies education is about learning how to learn and ‘academic degrees’ signify economic worth and create self-respect v.’s an the attitude that education is to learn how to do things and the value of a degree is its power to provide a way into higher status groups. Also in individualistic societies personal rights, such as the right to privacy and personal freedom prevail; whereas in collectivist societies group interests prevail to the point where groups are likely to invade our privacy as equality overrides the rights of the individual. In these collectivist societies individuals are expected to join a state of ‘groupthink’. Finally in individualistic societies self-fulfillment (almost at any cost) is the ultimate goal v.’s that of a collectivist society where harmony and consensus are the ultimate goals.

So what do you do if you’re and individual in a collectivist society… spend time, build relationships, see business as a long-term partnership, think total group… and most of all… be prepared to do it their way!