INDIVIDUALISM - COLLECTIVISM AND THE HANDLING OF DISAGREEMENT - A 23 COUNTRY STUDY

The relationship of espoused values and the handling of disagreement i n work settings was explored at the cultural level. Managers and super visors from a variety of organizations within 23 countries completed a questionnaire about the handling of disagreement in their work unit. Responses were compared with value measures derived from Hofstede (198 0) [Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's consequences: international differe nces in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA. Sage.]. Country means for power distance predicted the frequency of occurrence of disagreeme nt between but not within work groups. In the handling of disagreement s, there was stronger reliance on subordinates and co-workers in low p ower distance nations and on one's own experience and training in indi vidualist nations, whereas in collectivist nations reliance on formal rules and procedures was stronger. It is concluded that Hofstede score s for collectivism and power distance have continuing predictive valid ity in relation to this aspect of social behavior. It is suggested tha t the preference for in-group harmony within collectivist cultures may be less than universal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.