5 Basic Cultural Orientations:  Summary

 
Orientation
Range of Responses
A activity being becoming doing
B group (social relations) linearity collateral individualism
C human nature (self) evil mixture good
D world (man-nature) subjugated by harmony with mastery over
E time past present future
                    Based on Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1960)

A.  Activity Orientation
Basic Question:  What is human orientation to activity?
How do people define activity?
        Doing -------- becoming -------- being
        Striving ---------------------------- fatalistic
        Compulsive ---------------------- easygoing
How do people evaluate activity?
        techniques -------------------- goals
        procedures -------------------- ideals

How do people regard and handle work?
        an end it itself ------------ a means to an end
        separate from play------- integrated with play
        challenge ------------------ burden
        problem solving --------- coping with situations


B.  Social Relations Orientation

C.  Self Orientation
Basic Question:  What is the nature of human beings?
How should people form their identities?
        By themselves ------------------------- with others

How changeable is the self?
        changeable ------------------------------- unchangeable
        self-realization stressed ---------------- self-realization not stressed

What is the source of motivation for the self?
        reliance on self --------------------- reliance on others
        rights --------------------------------- duties

What kind of person is valued and respected?
        young -------------------------------- aged
        vigorous ----------------------------- wise
        innovative -------------------------- prominent
        material attributes ---------------- spiritual attributes


D.  World Orientation
Basic Question:  What is the relationship of people to the natural world?

What is the nature of humans in relation to the world?
        separate from nature --------------------- integral part of nature
        humans modify nature ------------------- humans adapt to nature
        health natural ------------------------------ disease natural
        wealth expected ---------------------------- poverty expected

What is the world like?
        spiritual-physical dichotomy ------------------ spiritual-physical unity
        empirically understood ------------------------- magically understood
        technically controlled --------------------------- spiritually controlled


E.  Time Orientation
How do people define time?
        future ---------------- present ----------------- past
        precisely measured --------------------------- undifferentiated
        linear ------------------------------------------- cyclical

How do people value time?
        scarce resource ---------------- unlimited
        fast pace ------------------------ slow pace


BSAD 560 Intercultural Business Relations
Fall 1999
Uploaded:  14 October 1999