Title: Cross-cultural analysis of comfort with foreign cultures in multinational firms

Authors: Vijesh Jain; Rahul Singh

Addresses: Faculty of International Business, Institute of Technology and Science, Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – 201 007, India ' Birla Institute of Management Technology, 5, Knowledge Park-II Greater Noida, National Capital Region, UP-201 306, India

Abstract: Hofstede (1980) contributed to the theory of cross-cultural behaviour with the four dimensions and fifth was added by a study in China. The multi country manpower metrics are influencing the variables of the existing models and also introducing new facets. Level of comfort with foreign cultures (CFC) is a new framework which attempts to read the comfort level of local employees of the country with respect to foreigners and vice versa. This paper attempts to profile the level of comfort of local employees with foreign employees in culturally diverse work places of multinational firms. This study is based on samples from ten countries using comfort with foreign cultures (CFC) questionnaire. The results indicate the nature and level of differences among nations/regions on the comfort level of local employees with foreign employees and they vary. This study also pinpoints specific differences among nations in this respect.

Keywords: Hofstede's model; culture; comfort levels; foreign cultures; cultural distance; cross cultural analysis; cross cultural competence; cross cultural management; cultural diversity; multinational enterprises; MNEs; local employees; foreigners.

DOI: 10.1504/EJCCM.2014.065165

European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, 2014 Vol.3 No.2, pp.136 - 157

Received: 01 Mar 2013
Accepted: 14 Jan 2014
Published online: 24 Oct 2014 *

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