Comparing and contrasting the culture in two different countries.

Answer

Introduction

This essay is based on the comparison of the national cultures of the United States (US) and China. The basis for selection of the two countries is that each is a world super power in its own respect and that their national cultures may have resonate around the world and may have significant influence in other countries. Besides, the two countries have significant large populations that provide a large market base for commercial products and services. China and the US are the two largest powers globally (Lin & Zhu, 2017).

Wang and McBeath (2017) referred to China as the third largest nation-state while United States was mentioned as the fourth largest. Major differences between the two national cultures will also be identified and discussed. Theories and frameworks will be employed for drawing comparisons and similarities between the two national cultures.

Comparison/ Similarities between US and China National Cultures

Hofstede's Dimensions of the National Cultures

The Hofstede framework was developed for the purpose of analyzing national cultures and their influence on business and work.  Hofstede’s study that gave birth to the Hofstede theoretical framework is by far the most widely accepted and comprehensive analysis for national cultures (Chen, 2012). The Hofstede’s framework comprise of four dimensions that have significance for examining and understanding national cultures and their implication to the business world and work culture. The four dimensions include power distance, individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity (Chen, 2012). The four dimensions is employed, as follows, for performing a cross-cultural examination of the US and China.

Power Distance

            Power distance is the extent of approval or acceptance by the members/citizens to unfair distribution of power and authority in an organization or a society (Chen, 2012). Chinese culture scores higher in terms of power distance (a score of 80) and lower for the US (a mark of 40) (Chen, 2012).  The Chinese people are considered loyal people based on the power distance scores (Chen, 2012).

Comparatively, the US citizens enjoy a great deal of liberty and equality provided by the constitution. However, too much liberty and freedom in the US opens way for many problems such as high incidences of gun shootings compared to China in which freedom and liberty is tightly controlled by those. In addition, descent is treated harshly and sometimes with fetal consequences (Lin & Zhu, 2017).

Individualism

            The countries or nations, which are associated with a strong and entrenched level of individualism, are perhaps instable in group settings or scenarios that require teamwork. In an individualistic society, individuals are concerned about their own interests and issues or put forwards the concerns of her/his family above that of everyone, the organization, or the nation at large (Chen, 2012). On the other hand, those nations that are characterized by weak individualism are associated with strong cooperation and cohesive forces in a group setting. In this way, individuals are likely to integrate into small or large groups with significant cohesive forces from the moment of group inception and throughout the length of its existence. In weak individualistic societies, group associations are sustained and protected by member’s loyalty (Chen, 2012).

China is an openly collectivist culture whereas the US is an openly individualistic society (Jackson & Wang, 2013). Chinese culture ranks lower in terms of individualistic value (a mark of 20) of compared with the average value of other Asian countries (average mark of 80); while the US individualism score is 91 (Chen, 2012; Loiacono & Lin, 2005). In that manner, the Chinese culture is associated with high spirit of collectivism (Chen, 2012). The Chinese managers are associated with stronger sense of collectivism and attributes success as a product of teamwork and vital contribution of each member. Conversely, the US managers are individualistic in nature are attributes success to individual contribution and effort and each significant contributor like to see himself or herself as a genius (Chen, 2012). 

Personal success is a key motivator among US managers and employees whereas; the success of a family, colleagues, the organization, or the nation is a strong motivator among the Chinese managers and employees (Chen, 2012). It has also been established that the US employees are likely to rate their own performance higher than how their supervisors may rate them. However, the Chinese workforce is likely to rate their work performance lower compared with how their superiors may view them (Chen, 2012).

The collectivism spirit is strong in the China. It can be portrayed by a large number of families in China than continue to live together; three to four generations down the line. In this living arrangement, the Chinese people value and respect the elderly (Chen, 2012). 

Uncertainty Avoidance

            Uncertainty avoidance indicates the extent in which threat perception by members or citizens of a given culture about uncertain circumstances. It includes situations in which no one or any entity has an idea about the presenting threat (Chen, 2012). China is regarded as a medium low scorer (a score of 30) in matter relating to uncertainty avoidance.  In that respect, the Chinese people are patient (Chen, 2012). The US uncertainty score is 46 thus higher than that of China (30) (Chen, 2012; Loiacono & Lin, 2005).

            Entrepreneurs who are influences by Chinese culture seem to view state uncertainty in terms of contextual factors; whereas, the US influenced entrepreneurs tend to take it as a pivotal change event.  In addition, the effect uncertainty is analyzed beyond the work setting in China but analyzed via a caused-effect analytical manner in the US within a work setting. Furthermore, perceived uncertainty is addressed via engagement of the wider community and connection of various factors in a holistic manner in China but addressed via an analytical thinking approach in the US (Liu & Almor, 2016).

Masculinity 

            Masculinity dimension refers to a country or social organization in which it is dominated by masculinity. In such as society/ social setup, gender roles are well defined and that males are expected to decisive, assertive and concentrates in the success of their carriers.  In addition, females are expected to be docile and devoted towards enhancement of the quality of life (Chen, 2012). Conversely, a nation or society in which masculinity is regarded as relatively weak is characterized by overlapping gender roles. Both females and males are expected to be docile and modest about life, but not career (Chen, 2012).

Chinese culture is rated as a medium high (with a mark of 66) in matters relating to masculinity (Chen, 2012). On the contrast, the US ranks lower in terms of masculinity scores (57) (Loiacono & Lin, 2005). It implies that the Chinese people portray the spirit of tenacity and toughness (Chen, 2012). Based on the masculinity scores the both the Chinese society and the US Society are characterized by employees who are relatively masculine in nature with a live to work philosophy. However, feminine influences can be detected in the US in which some employees possess a work to live philosophy (Loiacono & Lin, 2005).

Confucianism

            China is a high Confucian dynamic society; hence perceived as tough, self-controlled, tensile, frugal, stubborn, harmonious, and secure. A long history of China’s adherence to the Confucian system is attributed as a key factor that made her to rank high in terms of power distance dimension of the Hofstede framework (Chen, 2012). The Confucian system might have influenced Chinese culture to independently develop and form gradual without due influence from other foreign cultures. In that way, the Chinese culture is perceived as founded on its system and unique from other foreign cultures. However, China has gain contact to various foreign cultures along her history but was not swayed or influenced by foreign cultures (Chen, 2012).

            Confucianism, capitalism and socialism are the three key cultural forces which influence management practices and theories in the People Republic of China. The US culture is predominantly influence by capitalism systems and less by socialism and Confucianism (Yang, 2012). Despite the fact that Capitalism culture is entrenched in the US culture, Confucianism has had an intense impact in the transformation of work ethics in the US and in almost the entire Western world (Baumann & Winzar, 2017).

            Western cultures, including the US culture concentrated more on science and religion as opposed to promoting morality and arts (Chen, 2012). Chinese culture focused more on arts and morality; whereas, science and religion were the external matters of concern for the Chinese people. The Chinese people perceived matters such as God and heaven as well as (science) all things on earth and nature as existing or occurring outside a human being and accorded such matters with less concern as compared to morality and arts. The Chinese people valued arts and morality as aspects which stemmed from inside the human being; hence they pursed them with passion. With this in mind, the Chinese culture was motivated by internal human factors while that of the US was influenced by the external factors (Chen, 2012).

Cultural Cognition Theory

            The cultural theory puts forward the idea that different worldviews determines soci0-cultural processes. There is a controversial argument which blames the Judaic-Christian tradition as the seed to current environmental crisis. The Judaic-Christian tradition is dominant in the US. On the other hand, Buddhism (practiced in China and other countries), Hinduism, and Islam harbor environmental friendly views that include conservation of nature and natural state of balance (Jain, 2012).

Apart from diverging religious and spiritual views there are different reasons for environmental degradation in China and the US. In China, overexploitation of natural resources is the primary cause of insect, animal and plant population loss, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystems (Wang & McBeath, 2017). On the contrast, habitat destruction is the primary cause of insect, animal population loss, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystems (Wang & McBeath, 2017).  Both countries have approximately same proportion of land area set aside for refuges, parks, and reserves. However, China lacks in policy implementation and protection of the environment and nature at large (Wang & McBeath, (2017).

Cultural theorists acknowledge that the culture is a key element of a state, as social group or an organization. The culture can be transformed from the top to the bottom (Cooke, 2009). The cultural theory in this case is used to explain the influence of the Chinese and the US top leadership on matters relation to environmental protection and energy conservation. Perceptions on climate change risk may vary from one culture or nation to another. Different perception may have different impacts on energy use and conservation behaviors. The communitarian and the egalitarian worldviews are associated with high risk perception on climate change. High risk perception is associated with the improvement of energy conservation behaviors (Lacroix & Gifford, 2017).

How the National Cultures Could Impact Analysis of an Overseas Market

            The work-life culture in the US and China may be dissimilar to some extent. For instance, the Chinese workforce may be driven or motivated by a range of intrinsic rewards, predictability of morality and work, and the degree of routines at work. But little focus is placed on the balance of work-life culture as the case in the US. Comparatively, the US workforce, are driven and motivated by flexibility at work, freedom of work, and basic extrinsic rewards such as  competent monetary compensations (Chen, 2012). It is therefore, important for investors who would like to invest in the US or China to understand work culture and human behaviors in both countries. For instance, external rewards will be exploited for motivating a US workforce; while, intrinsic reward systems should be employed for successful motivation of a Chinese workforce.

            The Chinese market is characterized by a strong culture of collectivism. For instance, a given government unit or company can purchase products in bulk so as to distribute them to their employees. There is also a strong emphasis on building of interpersonal relationships as well as various social intercourse activities. Thereof, Chinese managers put more emphasis on human relationships, harmony, face and leadership. The above strategies are likely to increase the likelihood of profit realization among the team (Chen, 2012). 

            Both the China and the US recognize copyrights and intellectual property rights. In this case, a company or organization can freely operate in the two countries. It motivates organizations to conduct research in order to develop innovative and new products and services that could be patented and protected. It is a product of long terms negotiations that has been held by the US and China as from 1970S till 2007. In recent times China has industrialized to a significant extent characterized by innovation and creativity thus the growing need for recognition and protection of copyrights and intellectual properties (Chen & Maxwell, 2010).  Besides, the rapid rise of China and deterioration of Japan in the recent times has made the US to treat China as an equal partner (Dreyer, 2013).

Conclusion

Both China and United States have large population sizes and can provide good market for both goods and services. In terms of power distant, the power and control seem to be poorly distributed but the US citizens enjoys a great deal of freedom, liberty and equality. In matters relating to uncertainties, the Chinese handles uncertainty in a holistic, contextual and broader perspective while in the US uncertainties are handled though critical thinking, looking inside, and in a cause-effect approach.  Individualism is a leading value in the American culture while the collectivism spirit is highly valued in the Chinese culture. Both China and the US are considered are masculine societies although China is relatively more masculine than the US. Besides, the feminine influences are stronger in the US than in China.

The Chinese culture is characterized by overexploitation of natural resources which have resulted in population loss (flora and fauna), loss of ecosystems and biodiversity; while the main cause of environmental degradation in the US is habitat destruction. The US market is dominated by the capitalist system whereas the Chinese market is greatly influenced by Confucianism beliefs but also influenced by socialism and capitalism. On the other hand, both countries recognize and protect copyrights and intellectual rights and hence organizations should not shy away from introducing innovative and unique products and services to either US or Chinese market.