Work CultureWork Culture

QuestionQuestion

“All men [and women] were created equal.” (American Constitution)

But American society has:– bosses and workers– teachers and students– political leaders

How can Americans believe in equality?

Company structureCompany structure

General Manager

Department Manager Department Manager

Worker Worker Worker Worker

Hierachy

Different social status? Or just different jobs?

America: Managers do not deserve any special ben

efits. Example: if the company gives her a car (f

or work purposes), it should be an average one.

China: The manager’s car is a status symbol.

ManagersManagers

Power distancePower distance

Power: higher positions in the hierarchy have more power.

Social distance: respect, formality, etc

Large power distance Small power distance

(China, Arab countries, France) (America, Australia, Germany)

Hierarchies are natural, because people are considered basically unequal.

Hierarchies are just a convenient way of organising activities.

Workers usually don’t criticise the boss.

Workers are more likely to give the boss criticism or advice.

The boss gives specific instructions to workers.

The boss gives the workers general goals or guidelines.

Only the boss makes decisions. Everyone should use their initiative and deal with unexpected situations.

Zhang Ying:• often writes reports for her boss• decides who to give appointments to• tells her boss about important events he should know about• (her boss often has to go away to attend meetings)

Dai Yun:• (her boss schedules his own appointments)• her boss gives her instructions day by day• she passes on messages and questions to her boss

Lu Yan:• (at first, no one knew how to handle international marketing)• helped her boss by using knowledge learnt in university• feels that her boss and her are like colleagues