Is there a distinct Asian management culture?

Abstract

In this article, we ask ‘is there an Asian management culture?’. This question is of significant practical and methodological relevance. Our conclusion, based on a wide review of the literature at hand, is quite unequivocal: we argue that there is no one single Asian management culture that distinguishes the Asian countries from those of the rest of the world.

Keywords::

• Asia
• clusters
• culture
• management
• sources of guidance
• values

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Minkov

Michael Minkov holds a PhD in social anthropology from Sofia University. He is an Associate Professor of cross-cultural awareness on the University of Portsmouth (UK) programmes at International University College, Sofia, Bulgaria. His main research interest is dimensions of national culture. He is an author of a number of books on cultural differences and a co-author of the third edition of Cultures and Organizations; Software of the Mind (originally written by Geert Hofstede).

Vesselin Blagoev

Vesselin Blagoev is an Associate Professor of International Marketing at International University College, Sofia, Bulgaria. He has published handbooks on marketing, as well as journal articles and book chapters on societal culture and its implications for management.