Collective Versus Individualist National Cultures: A Comparison of Employee Attitudes in the United States and Taiwan

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ARTICLE SUMMARY
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Article Summary 2
ARTICLE SUMMARY
The article, a publication of Sage created in 2009 by Randi Sims surrounds its
knowledge on Collective Versus Individualist National Cultures. The text brings a
comparison of the United States and Taiwan employee attitudes related to unethical business
practices. The study therefore examines the different cultural views from a survey sample of
252 employees working in Taiwan and the United States. The literature looks into the effects
of socialization and the culture of a nation towards the ability to independently or collectively
allow an unethical behaviour for the sake of an organization. The difference between cultures
depends on the sets of beliefs and attitudes that guide behaviours among individuals.
The review outlines differences in the cultures with the collective side citing
characteristics such as compliance, harmony in carrying out activities, interdependence,
duties, shame for going against group activities or beliefs, and a close knit relationship. The
culture displays the nature of compliance with the overall thoughts and activities of a group
as opposed to having an independent nature of thought (Triandis 2018). People would rather
do activities or behaviours that resonate with many in the society despite the ethical nature or
result of their activities.
On the other hand, the individualist culture remains characterized by pushing self-
interest, independence nature of carrying out activities, following ones rights, assertive nature
in activities, acceptance of conflict among parties, and rational nature of thought (Ang &
Leong 2000). Here, people act independently and become responsible of their acts as opposed
to acting according to a group. People are allowed to air their view and act ethically as a
person as opposed to the group format experienced in the previous state.
As such, the differences among the individualism and the collectivism result in the
different ethical decision making among the employees in the separate countries. According
to Abbasi, Tarhini, Elyas, and Shah, (2015). People in collectivism cultures would make