Page 278 - Cultures and Organizations

Yesterday, Now, or Later? 251

coordinated toward a common goal. Japanese management, especially with
Japanese employees, is famous for this pragmatic synthesis.
Table 7.3 summarizes the differences between societies having a
short- versus long-term orientation based on CVS data from the past two
sections.

TABLE 7.3 Key Differences Between Short- and Long-Term Orientation
Societies Based on CVS Data: Business and Ways of Thinking

SHORT-TERM ORIENTATION LONG-TERM ORIENTATION
Main work values include freedom, Main work values include
rights, achievement, and thinking for learning, honesty, adaptiveness,
oneself. accountability, and self-discipline.
Leisure time is important. Leisure time is not important.
Focus is on the “bottom line.” Focus is on market position.
Importance of this year’s profi ts Importance of profi ts ten years from
now
Managers and workers are Owner-managers and workers share
psychologically in two camps. the same aspirations.
Meritocracy, reward by abilities Wide social and economic differences
are undesirable.
Personal loyalties vary with business Investment in lifelong personal
needs. networks, guanxi
Concern with possessing the Truth. Concern with respecting the demands
of Virtue.
There are universal guidelines about What is good and evil depends on the
what is good and evil. circumstances.

Dissatisfaction with one’s own Satisfaction with one’s own
contributions to daily human relations contributions to daily human relations
and to correcting injustice and to correcting injustice
Matter and spirit are separated. Matter and spirit are integrated.
If A is true, its opposite B must be If A is true, its opposite B can also
false. be true.
Priority is given to abstract Priority is given to common sense.
rationality.
There is a need for cognitive Disagreement does not hurt.
consistency.
Analytical thinking Synthetic thinking