An Interview-Based Assessment of the Influence of Ethnocentrism in Business Cover Image

An Interview-Based Assessment of the Influence of Ethnocentrism in Business
An Interview-Based Assessment of the Influence of Ethnocentrism in Business

Author(s): Alexandra Pocovnicu, Simona Vasilache
Subject(s): Business Economy / Management, Culture and social structure , Social differentiation, Sociology of Culture, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: EDITURA ASE
Keywords: ethnocentrism; national culture; organizational culture; multicultural environment; business performances;

Summary/Abstract: Although it is natural for the individual to judge other cultures primarily relative to his own culture and social community, frequently this tendency translates into the disparage of other people‟s values, perspectives, behaviors and lacking acceptance of cultural diversity, while promoting intolerance for out-groups. Cultural narrowness discourages intercultural and inter-group understanding. Taken to its limits, ethnocentrism can take many negative forms, resulting in discrimination, hostility, prejudice and even aggressiveness, and has many commonalties with stereotyping, racism and xenophobia which later can lead to deep ethnic conflicts, political conflicts, war, terrorism, even genocide. The paper deals with the investigation of ethnocentrism in business and how this attitude impact different areas of the organization’s life. It’s also shows the importance of cultural differences and similarities awareness and the role of management in taking advantage of a multicultural environment. For instance, the manager-subordinate communication may be affected by ethnocentrism. If an ethnocentric manager has out-group members as subordinates, he may view them as less credible than other in-group subordinates. Also, the same thing is likely to happen when the ethnocentric subordinate has as manager a member of the out-group.

  • Issue Year: 13/2012
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 478-492
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: English