COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING IN THE CULTURAL-CONTEXT

The label ''complex problem'' is used to describe situations where peo ple have to act under conditions of uncertainty, conflicting goals, in complete Knowledge, and time pressure. The paper explores into the cul tural relativity of strategies in complex problem solving. Following a discussion of the theoretical framework within which problem solving behaviour is analyzed and possible relations to cultural factors, the problem used in this study is described. MANUTEX is the dynamic and in teractive computer simulation of a small garment factory, located in K uala Lumpur, Malaysia. Participants have the task to manage this compa ny over a period of 24 simulated months. Data were collected in India and Germany. In both cultures, groups of student participants (with th ree members in each group) and senior managers from different companie s had to work on the MANUTEX problem. Exploratory data analyses yield clear differences between the student groups. German groups are more s uccessful and employ more decisive strategies whereas the Indian group s, although being very active, tend to avoid risks. No such difference s are found between the manager participants. In the discussion sectio n, these results are related to more general decision making styles wi thin each culture and it is argued that more attention should be paid to the interaction between cultural factors and styles of problem solv ing.