Culture-Based Values and Management Style of Marketing Decision Makers in Six Western Pacific Rim Countries

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between management style and cultural values of decision makers in six Western Pacific Rim countries. Surveys were conducted with marketing managers in the six study countries using data collection techniques appropriate to the country, including mail and personal interview. Obtained sample sizes ranged from 67 to 216; samples were either judgment or convenience samples. Values were measured by Hofstede's (1980, 2001) original four dimensions. Results show that substantive differences in management style exist between managers from different countries and that cultural values have some explanatory power. Although statistically significant relationships between management style and cultural values were found, substantive significance was low. The research has implications for strategic alliance formation and for formation of cross-cultural management teams, as it is linking styles of decision making to cultural values of decision makers.

KEYWORDS:

• Management style
• cultural values
• Pacific Rim
• marketing decision making

Notes

^aScores can vary from 4 to 20.

^bScores can vary from 2 to 10.

^cScores can vary from 3 to 15.

^aThe range of values for masculinity, individualism, and uncertainty is 2 to 10. The range of values for power distance is 3 to 15.

∗p < .001.

∗p < .001;

∗∗ p < .01;

∗∗∗p < .05.

^† This article is published posthumously for contributing author Brian Murphy.