Collectivist
cultures is a culture where the members are concerned more with the well being of the group
than their own well being.
In collectivistic societies, on the other hand, the needs of
the group are considered more important than those of the individual. In these
societies, kinship ties are much stronger and may take precedence over
expertise in matters of appointments and promotions. Generally, collectivist
countries tend to be poor. Countries high on collectivism include: Guatemala,
Equador, Panama, Venezuela, Columbia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Peru,
and Taiwan.
The Characteristics of Collectivist Cultures:
Ø
The
pivotal unit is the group
Members
of collective cultures see themselves as elements in a closely knit network
with others: they are part of a strong cohesive unit (family, clan, profession,
corporation, religion) that protects and supports them throughout their lives
in exchange for their loyalty.
·
Group decisions: The individual consults other before making
decision. Relies on the group for a broader perspective and give priority to
group over individual needs. Focusing on purely individual need is considered
selfish, egotistical and myopic.
·
Collective values: The “We” is emphases over the “I” and
group rights and needs dominate. Values cherished by collective cultures are
harmony. Personal dignity or “face” filial piety and respect for elders, equitable
distribution of rewards among the group and fulfillment of the needs of others.
In the collectivist Indian culture. The Hindi will first
give you his or her caste identity then his or her village name and finally his
or her name signaling the importance of family over personal identity.
Ø
Space
and privacy are less important than relationship
Collective
cultures generally need less space than cultures that value individualism.
After all, if the group u are part of is import to you. You may well want to be
physically close to its members.
The Javanese live in small bamboo walled houses that have no
interior walls or doors. Except for the bathroom there are no private areas.
Several anthropologists theorize that because the Javanese have no Physical
privacy. They have developed a kind of psychological privacy in their everyday
behaviors and communication. They speak softly conceal their feelings are
emotionally restrained and are Indirect in their verbal and nonverbal
communication.
Tolerance
for shared space in collective cultures occurs in both business and personal
environments:
·
In the home: many members of collective cultures have homes
that contain one large living area where members eat, sleeps and interact as a
group. They often live together in extended family groups, tribes, or clans,
and seem to prize personal space less than members of individualist cultures.
·
In the office: private offices are far less common and are
normally reserved for meetings with clients. Members of collective cultures
often work together at large tables in an open plan office set-up. They spend a
great deal of social time with work mates and professional colleagues: in fact,
it is often during this social time that new ideas are discussed, conflicts are
resolved and decisions are facilitated.
·
In crowds: the following example shows how people from
collective cultures view crowding.
Business travelers often comment with amazement on how
people sit in Chinese airplanes. The plane may be virtually empty, yet most
Chinese travelers will sit very close together in a tightly knit group.
Invariably, Western travelers will spread themselves out; even people traveling
together and conversing during the flight will leave at least one seat between
them.
Ø
Communication
is intuitive, complex, and impressionistic
Explicit
and direct communications is less important in collective cultures.
·
Indirect, ambiguous messages: meaning is often implicit,
inferred, transmitted ”between the lines” When a definite messages is required
it is subtle, rendered indirectly or ambiguously. The underlying belief is that
communication should not be used merely to deliver content: it should nurture
the relationship. Maintain harmony and prevent loss of face (personal identity
or dignity) by diffusing personal responsibility.
·
Circuitous logic: because reality is considered complex. The
logic that is employed is seldom linear or cause/effect. Situations or problems
are presented holistically, within a larger context. Thus communicators from
collective cultures may seem to favor rambling or metaphorical statement.
The other in which information is presented in Japanese
sentences is different. In English important tend to be given first with less
important items tacked on the end. In Japanese less important items are gotten
out of the way first. Setting the stage for the important information, this
comes at the end. The Japanese hint at what has to be done and even the hints
are softened by using impersonal statements in passive constructions.
Ø
Business
is relational and collaborative
Most
collective cultures believe that relationship, rather than deals or contracts,
facilitate results.
·
Subordination of data: although facts are not ignored and
extensive information gathering and research are common, this of hard data is
not considered objective or impersonal because word and arguments are not spate
from the personal expressing them.
·
Relational interpretation of data: collective cultures do
not see facts as outside and part from the relationship. Statistical information
and analytical measurement are not as important to existing relationship as
trust and loyalty. Logic and reasoning by themselves may not persuade; the
context of the relationship gives them meaning and weight.
·
Impassion the long term: the focus is on the relationship,
the process, growth over time and building equity. Decisions are not hurried as
consensus is considered desirable.
Where relationships are paramount the consensus of the group
is important; after the entire group will be involved in maintaining and
growing an exiting relationship. Thus, the Japanese “ringi-seido” method of
obtaining consensus stresses “nemawa-shi” a word that means carefully shaping
the roots of a plant to produce the desired result. The belief is that
successful implementation of a decision (the plant) regress buy-in from all
members in the group (the roots).
See also:
Individualistic Cultures
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