An international perspective on
culture
by Toronto Training and HR
March 2011
3-4 Introduction to Toronto Training
and HR
Contents 5-7 Definitions
8-12 Understanding cultural differences
13-14 Drill A
15-17 Characteristics of cultures
18-21 Impacts on culture for joint
ventures
22-23 Drill B
24-25 Four major cultures
26-27 Three major drivers
28-33 Hidden individual needs
34-35 Drill C
36-47 An example-Netflix
48-49 Drill D
50-51 Conclusion and questions
Page 2
Introduction
Page 3
Introduction to Toronto Training
and HR
• Toronto Training and HR is a specialist training and human
resources consultancy headed by Timothy Holden
• 10 years in banking
• 10 years in training and human resources
• Freelance practitioner since 2006
• The core services provided by Toronto Training and HR are:
- Training course design
- Training course delivery
- Reducing costs
- Saving time
- Improving employee engagement & morale
- Services for job seekers
Page 4
Definitions
Page 5
Definitions 1 of 2
Tylor’s definition
Page 6
Definitions 2 of 2
What is culture?
Culture is…
Forces shaping individual culture
Dangers around culture
Page 7
Understanding cultural
differences
Page 8
Understanding cultural
differences 1 of 4
Eating habits
Religion
Family and gender
Communication and body language
Dress code
Traffic
Time
Page 9
Understanding cultural
differences 2 of 4
Building cultural awareness
Host country’s culture
Cultural shock
The adaptation stages
Page 10
Understanding cultural
differences 3 of 4
STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION
Excitement;
First exciting
Curiosity;
Honeymoon contact with Observe
Slight
new culture
concern
Confusion;
First
Solve Mystified
Initial intensive
problems in about;
confrontation feeling with
familiar ways Others
new culture
behaviour
Page 11
Understanding cultural
differences 4 of 4
STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION
Frustration;
Experimentation
Adjustment Problems Anger;
with new
crisis intensify behaviours
Confusion
about
New
Sense of New culture is
strategies to
belonging to understandable
Recovery help one
culture Enjoying many
function aspect of it
emerges
effectively
Page 12
Drill A
Page 13
Drill A
Page 14
Characteristics of cultures
Page 15
Characteristics of cultures 1 of 2
ALL CULTURES HAVE AT LEAST FIVE
CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON:
Culture is learned
Culture is based on symbols
Culture is shared
Culture is patterned or integrated
Culture is usually adaptive
Page 16
Characteristics of cultures 2 of 2
Cultures are learned and the product of symbols,
especially language
They comprise groups from 40-50 to millions that
share common languages and customs
In more complex societies, subcultures may develop,
like the Amish
They are generally integrated and adaptive
Exceptions occur when resources become exhausted
or they are forced into rapid changes
Page 17
Impacts on culture for
joint ventures
Page 18
Impacts on culture for joint
ventures 1 of 3
Power distance
Individualism/collectivism
Uncertainty avoidance
Long term orientation
Cultural intelligence
Linguistic intelligence
Spatial intelligence
Interpersonal intelligence
Page 19
Impacts on culture for joint
ventures 2 of 3
Joint venture success
Individual success
Organizational success
Page 20
Impacts on culture for joint
ventures 3 of 3
Cultural
Intelligence
Application: Improving
Joint Cultural Diversity Cultural
Venture Intelligence
Hofstede’s
5
Dimensions
Page 21
Drill B
Page 22
Drill B
Page 23
Four major cultures
Page 24
Four major cultures
Command and control
Competitive
Collaborative
Innovative
Page 25
Three major drivers
Page 26
Three major drivers
Hidden individual needs
Lived values
Agreements-tacit, conscious
Page 27
Hidden individual needs
Page 28
Hidden individual needs-
canaries
Need to feel safe
Look for concerns
Self preservation focus
Flight or fight
Address their needs and
everyone is better off
Culture of paranoia
Page 29
Hidden individual needs-
penguins
Safety is in the rules
Obedience is to be
praised
Respect authority
Creativity is suspect
Revert to Canaries if
scared
Culture of stability
Page 30
Hidden individual needs-eagles
Love control
Want to WIN
Creatively get their own
way
Insist on obedience
Need to be recognized
Culture of competition
Page 31
Hidden individual needs-barn
swallows
Love teams
Work for the group
Learning is key
Diversity is a way of life
Emotions are important
Culture of collaboration
Page 32
Hidden individual needs-swans
Creativity and self-
expression are key
Self-directed
Love to achieve goals
and make you happy -
their way
Personal satisfaction
over status and stuff
Culture of innovation
Page 33
Drill C
Page 34
Drill C
Page 35
Example-Netflix
Page 36
Example-Netflix 1 of 11
ASPECTS OF THE NETFLIX CULTURE
Values are what we Value
High Performance
Freedom and Responsibility
Context, not Control
Highly Aligned, Loosely Coupled
Pay Top of Market
Promotions and Development
Page 37
Judgment Communication Impact
You make wise decisions (people, technical, You listen well, instead of reacting fast, so You accomplish amazing amounts of
business, and creative) despite ambiguity you can better understand important work
You identify root causes, and get beyond You are concise and articulate in speech and You demonstrate consistently strong
treating symptoms writing performance so colleagues can rely upon you
You think strategically, and can articulate You treat people with respect independent of You focus on great results rather than on
what you are, and are not, trying to do their status or disagreement with you process
You smartly separate what must be done You maintain calm poise in stressful You exhibit bias-to-action, and avoid
well now, and what can be improved later situations analysis-paralysis
Curiosity Innovation Courage
You learn rapidly and eagerly You re-conceptualize issues to discover You say what you think even if it is
practical solutions to hard problems controversial
You seek to understand our strategy,
market, subscribers, and suppliers You challenge prevailing assumptions when You make tough decisions without excessive
warranted, and suggest better approaches agonizing
You are broadly knowledgeable about
business, technology and entertainment You create new ideas that prove useful You take smart risks
You contribute effectively outside of your You keep us nimble by minimizing complexity You question actions inconsistent with our
specialty and finding time to simplify values
Passion Honesty Selflessness
You inspire others with your thirst for You are known for candor and directness You seek what is best for Netflix, rather than
excellence best for yourself or your group
You are non-political when you disagree with
You care intensely about Netflix' success others You are ego-less when searching for the best
ideas
You celebrate wins You only say things about fellow employees
you will say to their face You make time to help colleagues
You are tenacious
You are quick to admit mistakes You share information openly and proactively
Page 38
Example-Netflix 3 of 11
VALUES ARE WHAT WE VALUE
Judgement
Communication
Impact
Curiosity
Innovation
Courage
Passion
Honesty
Selflessness
Page 39
Example-Netflix 4 of 11
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Keeper test
Honesty
Loyalty
Hard workers
Brilliant jerks
Great workplace is stunning colleagues
Page 40
Example-Netflix 5 of 11
FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY
Rare responsible person
Curtailing freedom
Impact of growth and complexity growth
Talent density
Necessary rules
Good v bad processes
Inhibiting chaos
Need for flexibility
Page 41
Example-Netflix 6 of 11
CONTEXT NOT CONTROL
Exceptions
Good context
Page 42
Example-Netflix 7 of 11
HIGHLY ALIGNED, LOOSELY COUPLED
Three models of corporate teamwork
Goal is to be big and fast and flexible
Page 43
Example-Netflix 8 of 11
PAY TOP OF MARKET
Three tests
Takes great judgement
Titles are not very helpful
Annual compensation review
No fixed budgets
Compensation not dependant on success of company
Bad ideas
When it is done right…
Page 44
Example-Netflix 9 of 11
PAY TOP OF MARKET
Bad ideas
Versus traditional model
Employee success
Good for each employee to understand their
market value
Efficiency
Optional options
Page 45
Example-Netflix 10 of 11
PROMOTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
Baseball analogy
Netflix does not have to be for life
Two necessary conditions for promotion
Timing
Development
Page 46
Example-Netflix 11 of 11
Why is culture important?
What is our culture trying to support?
Page 47
Drill D
Page 48
Drill D
Page 49
Conclusion & Questions
Page 50
Conclusion
Summary
Questions
Page 51