Title: Managing intercultural differences: the relationships between cultures, values and personality

Authors: Vesa Routamaa, Tiina M. Hautala, Yukie Tsutzuki

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland. ' Department of Management, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland. ' Department of Psychological and Sociological Studies, Seijo University, 6-1-20 Seijo, 157-8511 Setagaya, Japan

Abstract: Along with globalisation, the knowledge of cultural differences and their association with people|s values and behaviour have become important. It is also important to recognise that each individual personality has its own ranking of values. Knowing the relationship between personality, values and cultures can assist expatriates in better understanding the intercultural differences within regions. Personality has an association with the expatriate|s adjustment to a new culture. This paper compares the relationships between personality preferences and values in the Japanese and Finnish contexts. Japan and Finland had certain highly-ranked values and correspondingly three lowest ranked values in common. There were also some values contingent on certain personality types, more so in Finland; Japanese culture tended to equalise the value rankings a little more. Anyone attempting to adjust to a new culture and seeking success at work may find it useful to develop knowledge of the relationships between culture, values and personality.

Keywords: intercultural differences; culture; cultural dimensions; values; leadership; expatriates; personality; Myers-Briggs type indicator; cultural adjustment; expats; behaviour; Japan; Finland; Japanese culture; Finnish culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSS.2010.033494

International Journal of Society Systems Science, 2010 Vol.2 No.3, pp.269 - 284

Published online: 02 Jun 2010 *

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