Cultural Differences and Improving Performance: How Values and Beliefs Influence Organizational Performance

by Bryan Hopkins

Overview

Managers, and the organizations for which they work, need to be able to understand the influence of cultural expectations and behaviours on performance and adapt their problem solving accordingly; strategies appropriate in one part of the world may be ineffective or even counter-productive in another. Bryan Hopkins' ground breaking book is for managers struggling to equate their desire to develop the business globally with the challenge of achieving consistent performance across borders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409458623
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	09/28/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Bryan Hopkins is an independent consultant who specializes in performance analysis and the design of information and learning materials. He has developed and delivered solutions for a large number of clients from both the private and public sectors, including several international organizations. His previous books, How to Design and Post Information on a Corporate Intranet and e-HR were also published by Gower.

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; Part I The Theory; Chapter 1 How Do Cultures Differ?; Chapter 2 Analysing Performance; Chapter 3 Culture and Workplace Activities; Chapter 4 The Systems Approach; Chapter 5 Solving Workplace Problems; Part II The Practice; Chapter 6 Step 1: Define the Problem; Chapter 7 Step 2: Collect Data; Chapter 8 Step 3: Analyse the Problem; Chapter 9 Step 4: Generate Ideas; Chapter 10 Step 5: Select Solutions; Chapter 11 Step 6: Implement Solutions; Chapter 12 Step 7: Evaluate Effectiveness;

Editorial Reviews

'...packed with models, examples and steps and results in a very practical approach to workplace performance in a culturally diverse environment. This book does not put forward solutions to particular cultural-related performance problems; it gives people and performance managers the tools to analyze performance and identify any problems that may exist in a way that takes cultural differences into account. It is an informative and practical read for HR professionals and line managers working in a multi-cultural organization.' Strategic HR Review ’...this book should appeal to a wide audience: those who need the theories of culture and performance engineering, or those who want the practical side of understanding performance measurement, analysing problems and identifying appropriate solutions, or those who prefer to learn about both...This is a valuable book for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the seven-step problem-solving methodology that Hopkins outlines resonates with those who have attempted to move from the values typology that has defined cultural differences and behaviours for the last thirty years...In fact, this may be a book for everyone working in organisations that have a diverse cultural environment, be they involved in education, training or business.’ - Peter van Gelder, Dialogin: The Delta Intercultural academy

From the Publisher