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Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business
The bestselling guide to leading effectively in a global business environment—now updated to address radical changes in politics, society, economics and tech
There’s so much more to the role of culture in business than etiquette and local customs. Recognizing its importance—and providing a clear-eyed look at how it works in real-life scenarios—is why Riding the Waves of Culture became essential reading when it was first published in 1997.
While knowledge of customs and etiquette can help you avoid gaffes in other locales, it doesn’t explain why pay-for-performance works some places but not in others. Or how organizational methods that don’t “fit” locally will slowly and silently break down—even if there was no pushback from the local managers or employees.
Riding the Waves of Culture, Fourth Edition retains its in-depth exploration of the underlying cultural frameworks that affect leadership, effectiveness and innovation across cultures. With new information and evidence-based insights on critical business matters, it offers insight on the effects of immigration, generational differences to the development of multi-cultural societies, and more. Also new in this edition: access links to more information and online tools—including country culture scores for research purposes.
The most thoroughly researched and highly respected resource of its kind, Riding the Waves of Culture does more than help you stay afloat in today’s diverse work environment; it provides the knowledge you need to seize the advantage and compete for the long run.
There’s so much more to the role of culture in business than etiquette and local customs. Recognizing its importance—and providing a clear-eyed look at how it works in real-life scenarios—is why Riding the Waves of Culture became essential reading when it was first published in 1997.
While knowledge of customs and etiquette can help you avoid gaffes in other locales, it doesn’t explain why pay-for-performance works some places but not in others. Or how organizational methods that don’t “fit” locally will slowly and silently break down—even if there was no pushback from the local managers or employees.
Riding the Waves of Culture, Fourth Edition retains its in-depth exploration of the underlying cultural frameworks that affect leadership, effectiveness and innovation across cultures. With new information and evidence-based insights on critical business matters, it offers insight on the effects of immigration, generational differences to the development of multi-cultural societies, and more. Also new in this edition: access links to more information and online tools—including country culture scores for research purposes.
The most thoroughly researched and highly respected resource of its kind, Riding the Waves of Culture does more than help you stay afloat in today’s diverse work environment; it provides the knowledge you need to seize the advantage and compete for the long run.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
78 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 15, 2017
I understand the point of this book, but I think this whole concept of grouping all members of a specific culture into one group just leads to unnecessary stereotyping. This book is useful in identifying and navigating the differences on an individual level with the various people you may need to work professionally with - globally or just within your local office - but "all" Chinese/Danish/Italian/etc. workers do not think the same way any more than all American workers think the same way - or "all" of any group, for that matter.
February 17, 2016
The authors have collected analysed data from 50+ nationalities along 7 "dimensions" of thought & behaviour, and their findings are presented in easily digestible form here, using a "case study" of an American HR officer trying to understand why an American-style bonus programme isn't received favourably in other parts of the world.
A lot of the insight and advice seems believable, and about what you would expect: maybe we've all become a bit more attuned to national characteristics in the nearly-20 years since the book was written, or maybe because their analysis seems to agree with common stereotypes of various nationalities.
The first dozen chapters cover all their analysis, and the last couple are a fairly superficial race through a couple of other examples - post-apartheid South Africa and gender/ethnic differences in an American HR conference. All of these are pretty interesting and well argued.
In between, there are two pretty poor chapters that summarise the first portiion of the book and then make some vague prognistication over where this may lead in terms on international understanding.
Overall, pretty good, but I have a couple of caveats. 1) most of the coverage is superficially about 50+ countries, but it only covers about a dozen in any more depth; 2) I'm slightly nervous about them drawing conclusions from their database, which they trumpet as holding 30,000 sets of responses - but which is only an average of ~600 per country, mostly taken from 30 large companies, which seems like an awfully small sample size from which to draw such sweeping conclusions.
A lot of the insight and advice seems believable, and about what you would expect: maybe we've all become a bit more attuned to national characteristics in the nearly-20 years since the book was written, or maybe because their analysis seems to agree with common stereotypes of various nationalities.
The first dozen chapters cover all their analysis, and the last couple are a fairly superficial race through a couple of other examples - post-apartheid South Africa and gender/ethnic differences in an American HR conference. All of these are pretty interesting and well argued.
In between, there are two pretty poor chapters that summarise the first portiion of the book and then make some vague prognistication over where this may lead in terms on international understanding.
Overall, pretty good, but I have a couple of caveats. 1) most of the coverage is superficially about 50+ countries, but it only covers about a dozen in any more depth; 2) I'm slightly nervous about them drawing conclusions from their database, which they trumpet as holding 30,000 sets of responses - but which is only an average of ~600 per country, mostly taken from 30 large companies, which seems like an awfully small sample size from which to draw such sweeping conclusions.
April 5, 2020
Like his fellow Dutchman Geert Hofstede, Trompenaars has dedicated his life to understanding differences in national cultures as they impact the workplace. In this short book Trompenaars presents a 7-dimension classification of culture similar in ways to that of Hofstede’s better known and more widely accepted 4-dimension model. While there are significant similarities between the two models including over dimensions such as ‘the group and the individual’ and ‘how we accord status’ (Hofstede’s power distance), there are several distinct elements of the Trompenaars model which are unrecognised by Hofstede including cultures’ relationships with time and with nature.
The book begins by discussing where culture comes from and makes some interesting points regarding the learned nature of culture and how often it may be a response to a particular natural environment. Trompenaars nicely differentiates ‘mores’ as how one should behave in a society versus values which is how one aspires or desires to behave. The point is made that culture can be seen as a ‘normal distribution’ rather than a single measure which leads to stereo-typing. The second chapter is self-explanatory under the title ‘the one best way of organising does not exist’, Trompenaars calls into question particularly American management academics who present a single best-approach to managing which he points out does not work in every culture.
Chapters 4-10 go through each of the seven dimensions of culture:
4. Relationships and rules
The extent to which cultures follow universal rules versus particular interpretations of rules. The extent to which relationships determine actions rather than rules. The author presents his famous example of whether people would report a friend who had knocked down a pedestrian (universalist) cultures versus those who would remain silent over the issue (particular cultures). The point is made that in particularist cultures there is a much greater need to extend the ‘getting to know you’ period for successful business relationships to be fostered.
5. The group and the individual
Similar to Hofstede’s collectivist-individual dimension.
6. Feelings and relationships
The difference here is between affective versus neutral cultures. This is probably more familiarly known as high versus low context societies. Despite the importance of this issue to inter-cultural communication there is no direct mention of this issue in Hofstede’s work. Good examples are provided of how this would influence both management and the formation of business deals in each of the cultures.
7. How far we get involved
One of the more interesting chapters in the book this dimension differentiates ‘specific’ and ‘diffuse’ cultures. This dimension reflects the extent to which relationships made at work extend into other areas of social contact. Whether for example a person’s manager at work would automatically be accorded equal respect outside of the workplace environment or not. In specific cultures business relationships can be easy to form but don’t necessarily spread into other areas. On the other hand in diffuse relationships making friends can be seen as harder but when they are established they extend into all areas of life. From my own experiences in Europe, the U.S. and Asia I have come across difficulties in understanding this dimension a number of times. As an example the author suggests that in a ‘particularist’ culture such as the U.S. although you know somebody and are friendly in a particular situation that friendship doesn’t necessarily extend into other areas.
8. How we accord status
Similar to Hofstede’s power distance dimension. Trompenaars differentiates between ascribed versus achieved status. Points out that in ascriptive cultures the word of an employee in a contract negotiation may not be binding until it has been passed up the chain whereas achievement based cultures normally see any commitment as binding.
9. How we manage time
Another of the interesting chapters differentiating between cultures with either sequential or synchronic views of time. Having stayed in the Philippines for many months I can immediately recognise the synchronous view as being very different from my own sequential culture and fully understand the author’s comments on how frustration can arise when business dealings are conducted between the two cultures. The British belief in queuing is an extreme example of sequential thought and the author provides some excellent examples of how serving people in a delicatessen would differ in the two cultures. Many examples of the impact of time orientation on management are raised and again it is interesting to note that this dimension is absent from Hofstede’s original model (although perhaps included under his later addition of ‘long-term orientation).
10. How we relate to nature
The final dimension draws a distinction between cultures that either go against or go with nature. Basically this impacts the extent to which individuals and firms think that they can dictate their own environment.
The next chapter then goes on to describe four different types of corporate cultures (the family, the Eiffel tower, the guided missile and the incubator). Unfortunately this section of the book is less than convincing and it is unclear at times how this formulation was developed an indeed the links between the dimensions of culture and the organisational types. The chapter concludes with an attempt to assign different countries to the different organisational types but this too is unconvincing. There is no evidence for example of the cultural clustering found by Ronen or other cross-cultural researchers.
The concluding chapter ‘towards international and transnational management’ looks at issues of problems for the cross-cultural manager and issues of centralisation or decentralisation. Suggests that the modern role of the HQ in a transnational has evolved from a policeman into that of a consultant. As an example Trompenaars suggests national subsidiaries be given freedom to prioritise their own employment values.
The book has much to commend it. As mentioned the sections on time and cultures and levels of involvement are well worth re-reading. There are scores of good examples and it is clear that the author has worked with and in a wide range of cultures.
However, equally there are a number of significant drawbacks to the book. First with the dimensions themselves it is unclear that they are mutually exclusive and although correlations between the dimensions between them are never identified. The book is supposedly based on the Trompenaars data bank which is outlined in the book’s Appendix but this data bank is questionable and the specific procedures used to develop the dimensions are unspecified.
Secondly the book is carried along on the back of a running case study of Mr Johnson and MCC a fictional organisation. This case study never really adds much and is more of a distraction. Another recurring feature of the book are charts and tables that present a single question to represent each of the dimensions and then the results for each country. Unfortunately the questions do not seem to tie up directly in every case with the dimension being presented and are in some instances themselves culturally loaded. All of this again calls into question the overall credibility of the more interesting discussion.
So a good book, short but a welcome addition to the dominant model of Hofstede’s. Not without its faults but thought-provoking in many ways.
The book begins by discussing where culture comes from and makes some interesting points regarding the learned nature of culture and how often it may be a response to a particular natural environment. Trompenaars nicely differentiates ‘mores’ as how one should behave in a society versus values which is how one aspires or desires to behave. The point is made that culture can be seen as a ‘normal distribution’ rather than a single measure which leads to stereo-typing. The second chapter is self-explanatory under the title ‘the one best way of organising does not exist’, Trompenaars calls into question particularly American management academics who present a single best-approach to managing which he points out does not work in every culture.
Chapters 4-10 go through each of the seven dimensions of culture:
4. Relationships and rules
The extent to which cultures follow universal rules versus particular interpretations of rules. The extent to which relationships determine actions rather than rules. The author presents his famous example of whether people would report a friend who had knocked down a pedestrian (universalist) cultures versus those who would remain silent over the issue (particular cultures). The point is made that in particularist cultures there is a much greater need to extend the ‘getting to know you’ period for successful business relationships to be fostered.
5. The group and the individual
Similar to Hofstede’s collectivist-individual dimension.
6. Feelings and relationships
The difference here is between affective versus neutral cultures. This is probably more familiarly known as high versus low context societies. Despite the importance of this issue to inter-cultural communication there is no direct mention of this issue in Hofstede’s work. Good examples are provided of how this would influence both management and the formation of business deals in each of the cultures.
7. How far we get involved
One of the more interesting chapters in the book this dimension differentiates ‘specific’ and ‘diffuse’ cultures. This dimension reflects the extent to which relationships made at work extend into other areas of social contact. Whether for example a person’s manager at work would automatically be accorded equal respect outside of the workplace environment or not. In specific cultures business relationships can be easy to form but don’t necessarily spread into other areas. On the other hand in diffuse relationships making friends can be seen as harder but when they are established they extend into all areas of life. From my own experiences in Europe, the U.S. and Asia I have come across difficulties in understanding this dimension a number of times. As an example the author suggests that in a ‘particularist’ culture such as the U.S. although you know somebody and are friendly in a particular situation that friendship doesn’t necessarily extend into other areas.
8. How we accord status
Similar to Hofstede’s power distance dimension. Trompenaars differentiates between ascribed versus achieved status. Points out that in ascriptive cultures the word of an employee in a contract negotiation may not be binding until it has been passed up the chain whereas achievement based cultures normally see any commitment as binding.
9. How we manage time
Another of the interesting chapters differentiating between cultures with either sequential or synchronic views of time. Having stayed in the Philippines for many months I can immediately recognise the synchronous view as being very different from my own sequential culture and fully understand the author’s comments on how frustration can arise when business dealings are conducted between the two cultures. The British belief in queuing is an extreme example of sequential thought and the author provides some excellent examples of how serving people in a delicatessen would differ in the two cultures. Many examples of the impact of time orientation on management are raised and again it is interesting to note that this dimension is absent from Hofstede’s original model (although perhaps included under his later addition of ‘long-term orientation).
10. How we relate to nature
The final dimension draws a distinction between cultures that either go against or go with nature. Basically this impacts the extent to which individuals and firms think that they can dictate their own environment.
The next chapter then goes on to describe four different types of corporate cultures (the family, the Eiffel tower, the guided missile and the incubator). Unfortunately this section of the book is less than convincing and it is unclear at times how this formulation was developed an indeed the links between the dimensions of culture and the organisational types. The chapter concludes with an attempt to assign different countries to the different organisational types but this too is unconvincing. There is no evidence for example of the cultural clustering found by Ronen or other cross-cultural researchers.
The concluding chapter ‘towards international and transnational management’ looks at issues of problems for the cross-cultural manager and issues of centralisation or decentralisation. Suggests that the modern role of the HQ in a transnational has evolved from a policeman into that of a consultant. As an example Trompenaars suggests national subsidiaries be given freedom to prioritise their own employment values.
The book has much to commend it. As mentioned the sections on time and cultures and levels of involvement are well worth re-reading. There are scores of good examples and it is clear that the author has worked with and in a wide range of cultures.
However, equally there are a number of significant drawbacks to the book. First with the dimensions themselves it is unclear that they are mutually exclusive and although correlations between the dimensions between them are never identified. The book is supposedly based on the Trompenaars data bank which is outlined in the book’s Appendix but this data bank is questionable and the specific procedures used to develop the dimensions are unspecified.
Secondly the book is carried along on the back of a running case study of Mr Johnson and MCC a fictional organisation. This case study never really adds much and is more of a distraction. Another recurring feature of the book are charts and tables that present a single question to represent each of the dimensions and then the results for each country. Unfortunately the questions do not seem to tie up directly in every case with the dimension being presented and are in some instances themselves culturally loaded. All of this again calls into question the overall credibility of the more interesting discussion.
So a good book, short but a welcome addition to the dominant model of Hofstede’s. Not without its faults but thought-provoking in many ways.
January 12, 2024
Interessante verklarende denkwijze van goeroe Trompenaars. Eerste stap is dit boek, tweede de implementatie ervan. Wat nog andere koek is.
May 23, 2012
This is a Book that will Expand your Horizons
This book was used as the core text in a Master Level course I took in Global Leadership.
It frankly is one of the best books I have ever read which surprises me even, given that it was used in this context from a primarily academic point of view. I did not expect this book to be as readable and as practical as I found it to be.
First, it's important to note the book's own disclaimer from the earliest pages. This is not a book that assumes nor is it designed to explain to the reader how other culture's think and function to where a reader will come away with a complete grasp of other cultures. Frankly, that is a nearly impossible task. If you're looking for a book on cultural etiquette that will catalog and recount all the possible missteps and misunderstandings that can occur when different cultures meet, this is not your book.
What this book does is break cultural elements into general categories and through the use of an extensive database of about 50,000 managers from around the world, it demonstrates how different cultures, defined primarily by national boundaries, approach universal challenges and compares them by use of a sliding scale between two identified extremes.
This is done for 7 different cultural elements. An example and the first element explored, would be the tendency toward Universalism versus Particularism. Universalism is the tendency of people within a specific culture to appeal to concepts of social justice, absolute values or the like and guide their individual decisions on that basis. This is a fairly high tendency with the United States for example. Particularism, on the other hand, is the tendency to define such choices more on the basis of one's relationship to the people involved rather than principles that apply in every situation. Russia and Venezuela (interestingly enough, both nations which seem perpetually at odds with the US and criticized by Americans for being "corrupt") are examples of nations that score higher in this realm.
While it can be a little dry to read through these elements, the authors do a good job of balancing data and theory with illustrations from real life and a continuing scenario that is returned to several times illustrating these elements in the context of a multi-national firm's managers meeting.
The primary value of this book for me has been the ability to suspend and step outside of my own biases, prejudices and stereotypes and from a more objective position, see and understand how different cultures approach situations. When that can be achieved then there is a better chance of coming up with a solution that will make sense and achieve a desired end, than when the noise common to cross-cultural or multi-cultural situations is left to reign free.
The authors are European and management consultants in the field. As a revision to a prior edition, this most recent book has expanded the value of the base concepts by including 2 additional chapters. One looks at South Africa which is a case study of multiculturalism within a single nation and it helps to identify what is no doubt true in other nations as well, namely that even with the measurements and objective evaluations of the earlier chapters, it is still important to do your homework and recognize that cultural nuances exist within the country by other factors such as ethnic group.
Illustrating this point even further is the final chapter which focuses upon the differences found within management task roles in the same firm and the same country. This is a little anticlimatic in some ways as it serves to diminish the value of the generalizations drawn earlier in the book, but it does serve to reinforce the warning of assuming too high a level of familiarity and thus moving from confidence into arrogance.
This book should be required reading not only for the business community moving toward multi-nationalism or transnationalism, but also for diplomatic personnel, world travellers or anyone wanting to raise their cultural IQ and sensitivity to different situations.
5 Stars. Buy this one to keep in your professional reference library.
Bart Breen
This book was used as the core text in a Master Level course I took in Global Leadership.
It frankly is one of the best books I have ever read which surprises me even, given that it was used in this context from a primarily academic point of view. I did not expect this book to be as readable and as practical as I found it to be.
First, it's important to note the book's own disclaimer from the earliest pages. This is not a book that assumes nor is it designed to explain to the reader how other culture's think and function to where a reader will come away with a complete grasp of other cultures. Frankly, that is a nearly impossible task. If you're looking for a book on cultural etiquette that will catalog and recount all the possible missteps and misunderstandings that can occur when different cultures meet, this is not your book.
What this book does is break cultural elements into general categories and through the use of an extensive database of about 50,000 managers from around the world, it demonstrates how different cultures, defined primarily by national boundaries, approach universal challenges and compares them by use of a sliding scale between two identified extremes.
This is done for 7 different cultural elements. An example and the first element explored, would be the tendency toward Universalism versus Particularism. Universalism is the tendency of people within a specific culture to appeal to concepts of social justice, absolute values or the like and guide their individual decisions on that basis. This is a fairly high tendency with the United States for example. Particularism, on the other hand, is the tendency to define such choices more on the basis of one's relationship to the people involved rather than principles that apply in every situation. Russia and Venezuela (interestingly enough, both nations which seem perpetually at odds with the US and criticized by Americans for being "corrupt") are examples of nations that score higher in this realm.
While it can be a little dry to read through these elements, the authors do a good job of balancing data and theory with illustrations from real life and a continuing scenario that is returned to several times illustrating these elements in the context of a multi-national firm's managers meeting.
The primary value of this book for me has been the ability to suspend and step outside of my own biases, prejudices and stereotypes and from a more objective position, see and understand how different cultures approach situations. When that can be achieved then there is a better chance of coming up with a solution that will make sense and achieve a desired end, than when the noise common to cross-cultural or multi-cultural situations is left to reign free.
The authors are European and management consultants in the field. As a revision to a prior edition, this most recent book has expanded the value of the base concepts by including 2 additional chapters. One looks at South Africa which is a case study of multiculturalism within a single nation and it helps to identify what is no doubt true in other nations as well, namely that even with the measurements and objective evaluations of the earlier chapters, it is still important to do your homework and recognize that cultural nuances exist within the country by other factors such as ethnic group.
Illustrating this point even further is the final chapter which focuses upon the differences found within management task roles in the same firm and the same country. This is a little anticlimatic in some ways as it serves to diminish the value of the generalizations drawn earlier in the book, but it does serve to reinforce the warning of assuming too high a level of familiarity and thus moving from confidence into arrogance.
This book should be required reading not only for the business community moving toward multi-nationalism or transnationalism, but also for diplomatic personnel, world travellers or anyone wanting to raise their cultural IQ and sensitivity to different situations.
5 Stars. Buy this one to keep in your professional reference library.
Bart Breen
May 15, 2018
Completely changed my understanding of management of diversity in a cultural context. I find the examples he provided in this book to be very practical to understanding the nuances of national, regional and cultural dimensions. He also explores various management styles that could be suitable to various cultures.
August 28, 2017
For the entrepreneur and manager working with cross cultural teams this book is a must read. It offers really great insights on culture and helps you put out some of the assumptions and stereotypes we tend to form.
June 29, 2018
The cultural dimensions has provided me with a good understanding of working in a highly diverse organisation and provided me with the insights of how to managed teams with diverse background and most importantly how to effectively produces the desired outcome and manage cultural tensions.
April 8, 2019
A pretty intense book about cultures in global businesses...I found myself skimming rather than intensely reading...
April 3, 2026
For me, this book was really interesting because I think I love books about sociology that try to create a framework to explain things that are using diagrams, and for me this triggered the examination of my own workplace and trying to figure out what culture we have, and in this process, I figured out some surprising things by talking to my coworkers that I did not really expect, and I think it has also helped me be a better interviewer by understanding our culture and also has revealed to me that culture is something real that you should take seriously, and I was thinking about specific questions. I could ask that chauffeur instance somebody’s Italian versus hierarchical mindset. I also think the four different types of companies which are the guided missile, the Eiffel Tower, the family, and the startup is very interesting and applicable. For me, this was a very easy read. It was incredibly fascinating. I love seeing the comparisons of different countries and trying to understand what different cultures value, and also surprised about the classification of French culture, which doesn’t have the “best attributes” that the Netherlands than the United States have, for instance, in terms of pure business optimization and innovation.
Any case, for me, this was a very enlightening read, and I think it makes me want to read about culture more.
Also, I think one of the takeaways is that precisely because culture is so hard to define, it is crucial because it is actually only present in any interaction in any decision that you make implicitly. There is a shadow of culture that permeates your value judgment and explains why you go one way versus the other, and when I ask culture questions and I see people that answer wrongly according to me or according to my company, it is baffling, and I don’t understand this mindset precisely because I have been immersed in it for so long that it has become second nature.
Any case, for me, this was a very enlightening read, and I think it makes me want to read about culture more.
Also, I think one of the takeaways is that precisely because culture is so hard to define, it is crucial because it is actually only present in any interaction in any decision that you make implicitly. There is a shadow of culture that permeates your value judgment and explains why you go one way versus the other, and when I ask culture questions and I see people that answer wrongly according to me or according to my company, it is baffling, and I don’t understand this mindset precisely because I have been immersed in it for so long that it has become second nature.
March 9, 2023
A very mixed bag this book, very likely due to to fact it is severely outdated!
The basic premise of the book, explaining the different ways in which cultures look at the world and its inhabitants has stayed the same and offers some interesting insights.
The way it is being described however is needlessly complex and intellectual. Having read Erin Meyer her Culture Map before, I struggled ploughing through this book. I would have wished for the authors to have a better editor, or a new one, to ensure the relevant content is brought in a digestible way. Does not have to be bite sized chunks for in between social media breaks, yet this was too much.
Especially the chapter on reconciling cultural dilemma’s, how is that way of reconciling going to work in a business environment?
I would therefore recommend any future readers to skip the last few chapters, unless you want to travel in a Time Machine (chapter on South Africa and gender, that last one was actually nice to read since it made me realize how much progress has been made, very nice!), focus on chapters 4-10 and be ready for a heavy dose of theory.
For me the silver lining was how they linked the theory of complementarity from Niels Bohr with the representation of different cultural dimensions, there is no one form “out there,” it depends on how we see and measure them. That one I will use, so good to have read it.
The basic premise of the book, explaining the different ways in which cultures look at the world and its inhabitants has stayed the same and offers some interesting insights.
The way it is being described however is needlessly complex and intellectual. Having read Erin Meyer her Culture Map before, I struggled ploughing through this book. I would have wished for the authors to have a better editor, or a new one, to ensure the relevant content is brought in a digestible way. Does not have to be bite sized chunks for in between social media breaks, yet this was too much.
Especially the chapter on reconciling cultural dilemma’s, how is that way of reconciling going to work in a business environment?
I would therefore recommend any future readers to skip the last few chapters, unless you want to travel in a Time Machine (chapter on South Africa and gender, that last one was actually nice to read since it made me realize how much progress has been made, very nice!), focus on chapters 4-10 and be ready for a heavy dose of theory.
For me the silver lining was how they linked the theory of complementarity from Niels Bohr with the representation of different cultural dimensions, there is no one form “out there,” it depends on how we see and measure them. That one I will use, so good to have read it.
May 29, 2022
Enjoyed reading about the cultural differences and the processes in which they can be reconciled. Not the typical book I would read, but the authors write in a simple and direct manner, without too much jargon.
Sometimes, Belgium and the Netherlands are given as examples of two extremes for the same cultural trait. To me, a south european, this is quite funny because looking up from here, the north of Europe is indistinguishable.
The last two chapters try to provide explanations for the cultural differences inside a country (South Africa), and across genders in the USA. Did not convince me, I got the sensation that the conclusions are written before the data analysis was done.
Sometimes, Belgium and the Netherlands are given as examples of two extremes for the same cultural trait. To me, a south european, this is quite funny because looking up from here, the north of Europe is indistinguishable.
The last two chapters try to provide explanations for the cultural differences inside a country (South Africa), and across genders in the USA. Did not convince me, I got the sensation that the conclusions are written before the data analysis was done.
January 15, 2020
I've read this book for academic purposes. The book covers Trompenaar's model of cultural dimensions, starting from a general point of view and then looking from a business perspective.
The reading process was feasible, however, it gets hard because of the several examples he's giving.
I recommend this book to everyone (not only those in the business field) who are constantly in contact with people from other cultures.
The reading process was feasible, however, it gets hard because of the several examples he's giving.
I recommend this book to everyone (not only those in the business field) who are constantly in contact with people from other cultures.
June 23, 2019
3.5 stars, maybe. There were a handful of potentially useful (if very broad) heuristics in here, but a good amount of the cultural commentary in the original chapters felt a bit dated. The latter chapters also felt a bit tacked-on, as a response to feedback about specificity in the earlier half of the book, I presume.
April 29, 2026
Phenomenal book.
Unbelievable.
Neutral - displays a deep understanding of misunderstandings between culture from a business perspective - and how and why these misunderstandings take place.
But the business perspective I feel gives more accuracy and genuinity - because it explains these differences as very cause and effect rather than anything moralistic.
Recommend to everyone.
Unbelievable.
Neutral - displays a deep understanding of misunderstandings between culture from a business perspective - and how and why these misunderstandings take place.
But the business perspective I feel gives more accuracy and genuinity - because it explains these differences as very cause and effect rather than anything moralistic.
Recommend to everyone.
February 23, 2021
For me, this book was an eye-opener. Not only when dealing with people from different countries, but even in the nearby environment, it suddenly becomes much clearer why people react one way or another. It changes the way one deals with other people.
October 5, 2022
I read /Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business/, by Fons Trompenaars.
I keep thinking I've read all of these books so was surprised to find another about international business culture.
I keep thinking I've read all of these books so was surprised to find another about international business culture.
December 20, 2017
I still think about culture and use these models...
August 16, 2018
Another must read for anyone seeking to understand cultural context, differences and how to work this out.
May 24, 2019
A good book full of interesting ideas, but could've been written in half of the pages.
Poor readability and poor graphics do not contribute much.
Poor readability and poor graphics do not contribute much.
November 7, 2022
i would much rather eat a block of cheese
February 17, 2017
Interesting analysis and supporting examples/ statistics, but if you look at it critically then it's all built upon dichotomies, eg. East-West, black-white, etc.
July 8, 2024
The authors developed two fantastic models that they present in this book:
(1) First, they have seven dimensions of culture that are AWESOME for understanding the differences between how people view the world. They present it strictly in the international business sense (for example, how meetings can go astray if they include one person from America and another person from Japan). But, I find the model helpful in explaining any cultural differences between any two people (even beyond the business sense, and even domestically). My wife and I are both white, able-bodied people from middle/upper-class families in the United States, but we still see the world in vastly different ways, and this book helps explain some of the differences.
(2) Equally as importantly, they stress that it isn't enough to just understand the differences. That alone can actually lead to MORE prejudice. For example, "Ugh! Now I see why the French are so dumb! They view things as XYZ." Instead, they present a model that I need your differences and you need mine. It's a very asset-based approach. Don't judge people for approaching the world differently than you do, and - in fact - seek out those differences to balance yourself out and learn.
(1) First, they have seven dimensions of culture that are AWESOME for understanding the differences between how people view the world. They present it strictly in the international business sense (for example, how meetings can go astray if they include one person from America and another person from Japan). But, I find the model helpful in explaining any cultural differences between any two people (even beyond the business sense, and even domestically). My wife and I are both white, able-bodied people from middle/upper-class families in the United States, but we still see the world in vastly different ways, and this book helps explain some of the differences.
(2) Equally as importantly, they stress that it isn't enough to just understand the differences. That alone can actually lead to MORE prejudice. For example, "Ugh! Now I see why the French are so dumb! They view things as XYZ." Instead, they present a model that I need your differences and you need mine. It's a very asset-based approach. Don't judge people for approaching the world differently than you do, and - in fact - seek out those differences to balance yourself out and learn.
August 18, 2007
very informative read. had to read it for a class (and subsequently conform all of my academic output to the models outlined in the book) but i still got a lot out of it. just as helpful for the homebody as for the international jet-setter.
January 21, 2008
Cultural diversity adds an extra dimension to doing business.
March 24, 2008
This was really interesting -- I ran out of time b/f B-school but plan on picking it up again. Lots of stats re. how different people from difference countries operate. Lots of "aha's".
April 15, 2018
Very interesting look at how culture affects how business is done. While pointing out the differences, the author explains how those can be strengths that can complement each other.
June 21, 2012
I read this book more than 15years ago after having met the author. He was remarkable in his insights into why various cultures think the way they do, and how that impacts business.
April 6, 2013
The exploration of business overseas is the purpose of this book. Feels a bit outdated and I felt the content was more common sense than anything. Information and content is good.
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June 18, 2024Required reading for HOL 6747
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