Title: Misconceptions of culture in cross-cultural business and management studies

Authors: Aliakbar Jafari

Addresses: Department of Marketing, University of Strathclyde Business School, Stenhouse Building, 173 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RQ, UK

Abstract: In this paper, I critique the cliched representations of culture in the general context of cross-cultural business and management studies. My primary objective is to demonstrate how a lack of conceptualisation of culture has resulted in the proliferation of misconceptions and cultural stereotypes. I identify some possible causes for the creation and acceleration of these cliches. Then, using the example of |global culture|, I seek to question some of the underpinning assumptions about the very essence of culture. I intend to create awareness about the potential risks of oversimplification of certain terms and concepts and call for more in depth treatment of culture in the broad area of business and management context.

Keywords: culture misconceptions; stereotypes; cross-cultural business; cross-cultural management; global culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2009.027616

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.349 - 361

Published online: 04 Aug 2009 *

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