Title: Crossing the bridge from sameness to narrative understanding: a proposed model for interpreting cross-cultural comparisons

Authors: Muayyad M. Jabri

Addresses: School of Business, Economics and Public Policy, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia

Abstract: This paper proposes a model for understanding culture based on combining cultural narrative and voice narrative. In attempting to achieve this purpose, I draw on insights from the domain of interpretive studies and hermeneutics. I highlight my use of the two types of narratives, not only as a method of inquiry, but also as a concept of social ontology. This is where both types of narratives are argued to inter-animate each other, hence giving way to changes in tradition and the formation of identities. I distinguish my work from that of cross-cultural models by relying on the relationship between the two types of narratives, rather than on a singular treatment of cultural narrative of the nation where only cultural narrative is used as the basis for the identification of people|s value orientations. Implications of the model as constituting an ontological condition useful for understanding cross-cultural management are presented.

Keywords: identity; cultural narrative; voice narrative; cross-cultural management; interpretive studies; hermeneutics; social ontology.

DOI: 10.1504/EJCCM.2010.031997

European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, 2010 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.197 - 211

Published online: 03 Mar 2010 *

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