Article Summary: A Study of Collective vs Individualist Cultures

This article summary focuses on a study comparing employee attitudes in Taiwan (collective culture) and the United States (individualist culture) regarding unethical business practices. The study examines how socialization and national culture influence the acceptance of unethical behavior for organizational benefit. Collective cultures prioritize compliance, harmony, and interdependence, while individualist cultures emphasize self-interest, independence, and individual rights. The research suggests that employees in collectivist cultures are more likely to engage in unethical decisions that benefit the organization, whereas those in individualist cultures prioritize truth and ethical conduct. The survey results support these findings, highlighting the importance of cultural awareness for managers to effectively handle employees from diverse cultural backgrounds and mitigate potential conflicts.

Article Summary 1
ARTICLE SUMMARY
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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

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unethical decisions that may not resonate well with the individualist culture but find it in
favour as long as it pleases the rest of the organization’s interests.
The article cites several evidence of literature from a varied number of scholars that
supports the case as supported by Ali, Lee, Hsieh, & Krishnan (2005). Furthermore, it
presents the hypothesis for the study which supports the fact that individualist culture
encourages truth and ethical acts where truth is expected at all times as people’s acts are held
accountable whereas workers in the collectivism culture compromise acts to avoid
confrontation in pursuit for harmony between people within collectivism culture.
In strengthening the facts, the article produces figures, and methods of carrying out
the survey all of which justify the literature being projected on the same. The survey results
justify the study findings and affirm the fact that the several differences would inform the
acts of employees to satisfy the cultural demands and in remaining true to one’s culture.
Collectivism nations would always work in harmony towards what the majority demand and
thus lack independence and open mind. On the other hand, the results indicate that the
individualist cultures allow workers to have independent thoughts and present the truth. As
such, managers in organizations ought to have the information at hand to easily handle people
from the respective cultures to avoid conflict of interest and confrontation among parties.

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References
Abbasi, M.S., Tarhini, A., Elyas, T. and Shah, F., 2015. Impact of individualism and
collectivism over the individual’s technology acceptance behaviour: A multi-group analysis
between Pakistan and Turkey. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 28(6),
pp.747-768.
Ali, A. J., Lee, M., Hsieh, Y., & Krishnan, K. 2005. Individualism and collectivism in
Taiwan. Cross Cultural Management, 12(4), 3-16.
Ang, S. H., & Leong, S. M. 2000. Out of the mouths of babes: Business ethics and youth in
Asia. Journal of Business Ethics, 28(2), 129-144.
Triandis, H.C., 2018. Individualism and collectivism. Routledge.