Cultural Hierarchies Research Articles

Exploring organisational culture: assessing readiness for lean production implementation – an empirical study

Purpose Studies emphasise the critical role of a suitable organisational culture (OC) in successfully implementing lean production (LP) and argue that failure to consider OC can hinder organisations from fully benefiting and sustaining the success of LP. It is also observed that consensus regarding the suitable OC required for implementing LP remains elusive, with existing research predominantly theoretical and in developed economies. Using a systematic approach, this study aims to evaluate organisational readiness for LP implementation from the OC point of view by identifying the suitable OC for LP implementation, examining the existing OC to determine the most dominant (primary OC) and evaluating the suitability of the current OC for LP implementation. The paper uses empirical data collected from Pakistan’s textile sector as a case study. Design/methodology/approach The study used the competing values framework of OC and a quantitative approach. The data was collected by surveying 162 textile professionals, including first-level supervisors, middle managers and top management. Data analysis included quantitative techniques such as testing of hypotheses and multiple regression analysis techniques. SPSS, Minitab and SmartPLS 4.0 were used for data analysis. Findings The study revealed that characteristics of developmental and rational culture profiles are the most suitable for implementing LP in Pakistan’s textile industry. However, the group and hierarchy culture profiles do not significantly impact the implementation of LP. Moreover, the group culture profile (GCP) is the most dominant (primary OC) within the selected sector and the hierarchy culture profile is the least dominant. As a result, the current prevailing OC profile i.e. GCP is unsuitable for lean deployment. Research limitations/implications Although this study provides valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. Data could not be collected from the employees with low education. Its applicability to other countries or industries may be limited due to its specific context. However, the approach used to assess organisational readiness regarding OC is both innovative and practical. Additionally, this research fills a gap in the literature by including a case study from a developing economy. Despite these contributions, future research could further validate and refine the proposed framework through comparative studies across diverse contexts. Practical implications The study’s findings emphasise the significance of OC in driving lean transformation and offer valuable recommendations and approaches for management, consultants and academicians to enhance lean deployment. By realising the significance of OC, stakeholders can effectively tailor strategies and interventions to align OC with lean principles. Originality/value This research is novel in terms of the structured approach and the selected case for evaluating the preparedness of organisations concerning OC for implementing LP. This approach can be used for other sectors and contexts.

The Evolution of Minangkabau Elite: Modernization and Cultural Shifts in Nagari Kurai, 19th-20th Century

The problem addressed in this research focuses on the socio-cultural transformation of the Minangkabau elite during the colonial period, particularly in Nagari Kurai. Using the historical research method, the study traces the evolution of the local elites through archival analysis and ethnographic records. The key finding reveals that the establishment of Bukittinggi as a colonial center and the spread of modernity in the early 20th century prompted the rise of a new urban elite, distinct from traditional authorities. In conclusion, the study suggests that colonial modernity played a pivotal role in reshaping cultural and political hierarchies in Minangkabau society.

Organizational culture and leadership style in Spanish Hospitals: Effects on knowledge management and efficiency

Hospital culture and leadership style have attracted considerable attention in research, with compelling evidence indicating their potential competitive advantages, including their crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of knowledge management and its impact on hospital efficiency. The aim of this paper is to identify the effects of organizational culture and leadership style on knowledge management and hospital efficiency. Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) are relational models that can be used to represent the opinions and knowledge of expert to infer cause-effect relationships among different concepts. The use of FCMs as a simulation tool enables the evaluation of potential scenarios based on different organizational cultures and leadership styles in hospitals. Developing an FCM for this study involved several steps. Firstly, data were collected through interviews with 21 experts in hospital management. The interviews were conducted between May and September 2023 either face-to-face or via videoconference. Once individual cognitive maps had been created, consensus among them was achieved through a multicriteria decision-making process, wherein the expert opinions were averaged. The separate cognitive maps of each expert were then integrated to produce a single FCM using the augmented FCM approach. Reflecting expert insights from the FCM, hospitals with a hierarchy culture exhibit diminished levels of knowledge creation, management, and overall hospital efficiency, whereas those with an adhocracy culture show improvements in knowledge creation, knowledge exploitation, and overall hospital efficiency in comparison to alternative ones. From the experts' FCM perspective regarding leadership style, transformational leadership achieves the highest level of knowledge management and hospital efficiency in hospitals with an adhocracy culture. Finally, this paper offers a reference for practising knowledge management and improving hospital efficiency through adhocracy culture and transformational leadership.

The relationship between corporate culture of SMEs and crisis response ability under the cross-cultural background

This research explores the critical influence of corporate culture on small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) crisis response abilities under varied cross-cultural environments. Amid the disruptive backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEs globally have faced unprecedented challenges. This study addresses a gap in the existing literature by conducting a cross-cultural analysis of SMEs in China, Thailand, and Germany to understand how corporate culture affects crisis management. Utilizing a competitive cultural value model, the research categorizes corporate culture into four dimensions: group culture, development culture, hierarchy culture, and rational culture. These cultural dimensions are investigated in relation to their impact on crisis response abilities. Additionally, national cultural dimensions such as individualism and uncertainty avoidance are examined as moderating variables. The findings reveal that group and development cultures positively influence crisis response abilities, enhancing organizational resilience and adaptability. Conversely, hierarchy culture negatively affects crisis management, hindering flexible response strategies. Rational culture supports structured crisis response through goal-oriented practices. National culture significantly moderates these relationships, with individualism and high uncertainty avoidance impacting the effectiveness of organizational cultural dimensions in crisis scenarios. This study offers theoretical advancements by integrating cultural dimensions with crisis response strategies and provides practical implications for SMEs striving to enhance their resilience and adaptability in a globalized business environment.

Exploration of Organizational Culture on Employee Well-Being: A Survey-Based Study on Workplace Culture Dimensions

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that organizational culture has on employee well-being within a case-study organization. The study employed a quantitative research design and adopted the use of a questionnaire to collect the necessary data from the 20 participants. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the organization operates mainly on a hierarchy culture with the elements of other culture types of notably culture clan and market culture mixed into the overall organizational culture. It was inferred that these culture types exist as a subculture within the overarching culture of the organization. The findings suggest that employee well-being is not a point of critical concern for the organization. This suggests that within the case study organization, employee well-being is perceived as a moral obligation as against a strategic factor that can yield considerable benefits to the organization. The findings also indicated that organizational culture exerts a degree of influence on employee well-being. Organizational culture has an impact on employee well-being, therefore improving employee well-being can ensure optimal productivity and performance of employees.

Analysing the Influence of Organizational Culture on Supply Chain Outcomes: Structural Model Analysis

Employee behavior, decision-making, and cooperation across the supply chain network are all greatly influenced by organizational culture (OC). In supply chain outcomes (SCO), an understanding of the effect promotes efficiency overall, improves coordination, and maximizes performance. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was initially applied to experimentally analyze data from a survey of 85 enterprises using a quantitative approach. The relationships between cultures such as OC, market culture (MC), clan culture (CC), Hierarchy culture (HC), Professional culture (PC), Adhocracy culture (AC), and supply chain outcomes are analyzed in this research. The findings are evaluated using the combination of a reliability and validity test, multiple regression analysis. The SEM approach is employed to investigate the intricate correlation that exists between these cultural aspects and SCO. A more detailed comprehension of these linkages is provided by the simulation technique, which enables a thorough investigation of the ways in which each cultural feature affects SCO. Positive correlations between the independent variables (OC, AC, MC, HC, PC, and CC) and the dependent variable (SCO) are predicted. The majority of these relationships exhibit statistically significant positive impacts(p < 0.05), signifying noteworthy and substantial benefits for SCO. Furthermore, although OC, AC, MC, PC, and CC have substantial positive impacts, HC has a relevant but invisible effect. OC has a major influence on SCO, according to the study, with some cultural characteristics having a considerable impact on performance measures. Improved efficacy and efficiency in supply chain operations are fostered by a well-aligned culture.

Mediating role of relational capital in the influence of organizational culture on international project performance for construction enterprises

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of market and hierarchy organizational cultures on international project performance and examines the mediating role of relational capital.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews and a cross-sectional questionnaire survey were conducted to collect primary data within international projects. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses based on data collected from 62 respondents.FindingsThe results reveal that both market and hierarchy cultures affect international project performance positively. Additionally, communication, cooperation and trust help enhance project performance; however, commitment is not. This study also proves the mediating role of relational capital between organizational culture and project performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study selected only two types of organizational culture represented by Chinese construction enterprises. Future studies can explore the mediating role of relational capital between other varieties of organizational culture and project performance.Originality/valueGiven the high complexity and risks faced by projects abroad, both organizational culture, the internal environmental factor and relational capital being the external resource, are crucial for project success. This study clarifies the relationship between organizational culture, relational capital and project performance overseas. Empirical evidence to enhance international project performance for construction enterprises is provided. This study also makes contributions to international contractors who want to implement projects in developing countries.

Exploring Japanese Cultural Representation In Anime: A Linguistic Analysis Of One-Piece Wano Kuni Arc

This research aims to identify the use of the traditional Japanese language in the popular anime One Piece, especially the Wano Kuni arc by Eiichiro Oda. The research method used is descriptive analysis, which aims to examine the use of Japanese honorifics, ancient samurai terms (samurai terminology), and dialect in dialogue in the Wano Kuni arc. Data collection will be carried out by direct observation and note-taking techniques with an emphasis on sociolinguistic elements. Based on the results, there are several sociolinguistic elements that Eiichiro Oda uses to convey the story in his anime, namely, traditional Japanese honorifics, dialects, speech patterns, and samurai terminology. This shows that the plot of Wano Kuni presents the use of the traditional Japanese language accurately and depicts the cultural hierarchy and traditional values of Japanese society.

Extraversion Diversity, Helping Behavior and Performance: The Moderating Role of Hierarchy Culture

Extraversion Diversity, Helping Behavior and Performance: The Moderating Role of Hierarchy Culture

Disentangling autonomy-supportive and psychologically controlling parenting: A meta-analysis of self-determination theory's dual process model across cultures.

Self-determination theory's (SDT) dual process model claims that parental autonomy support relates positively to child well-being, while psychologically controlling parenting is linked positively to child ill-being. We tested these claims using a combination of one-stage and univariate meta-analytic structural equation modeling with moderation (k = 238; n = 1,040, N = 126,423). In the univariate models, parental autonomy support was linked positively with child well-being, r = 0.30, 95% CI [0.26, 0.33], whereas parental psychological control was positively linked with child ill-being, r = 0.26, 95% CI [0.23, 0.28]. Consistent with SDT's dual process model, the one-stage model that controlled for the intercorrelations between predictors showed that parental autonomy support and psychological control had distinct links to child wellness outcomes. Parental autonomy support was linked positively with child well-being, even when accounting for psychological control, r = 0.26, 95% CI [0.20, 0.31], and parental psychological control was positively linked to child ill-being, controlling for autonomy support, r = 0.20, 95% CI [0.17, 0.23]. Crucially, the beneficial effects of parental autonomy support and the costs of psychological control applied across regions, degrees of national individualism and cultural hierarchy, as well as child developmental periods and sexes. These results help move the field beyond debates about whether autonomy is beneficial toward questions about manifestations of autonomy across groups and variations in its optimal support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PARENTAL AUTONOMY SUPPORT AND CHILD PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF CULTURAL HIERARCHY

The studies described in this paper investigated whether cultural hierarchy plays a moderating role in the association between parental autonomy support and child psychosocial adjustment, employing samples presenting a wide range of cultural variability (parents born in 71 different nations). The participants’ cultural backgrounds, based on the parents’ birth country, were rated in terms of emphasis on hierarchical power using Schwartz’s dimensional coding system. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed no moderation effect of cultural hierarchy on the relation between parental autonomy support and child outcomes, with the exception of the relation between parental autonomy support and adolescents’ autonomous self-regulation. As expected, parental autonomy support and cultural hierarchy were significantly and negatively correlated. Parental autonomy support was often associated with indicators of youth psychosocial adjustment, whereas cultural hierarchy was generally unrelated to adjustment. These results support self-determination theory’s position on the universal benefits of autonomy support.

Unveiling the Heartbeat of Healing: Exploring Organizational Culture in a Tertiary Hospital's Emergency Medicine Department and Its Influence on Employee Behavior and Well-Being.

This study examined the organizational culture of an emergency medicine department (EMD) in a tertiary hospital in Karnataka, India, using a prospective cross-sectional design from January to February 2024. It aimed to identify the predominant and supporting organizational cultures within the EMD and their influence on employee behavior and well-being, including job satisfaction, burnout, stress levels, and coping strategies. A total of 82 participants, including physicians, emergency medical technicians, and nurses, completed the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) and a self-designed questionnaire. Ethical clearance was obtained (IEC2-656). Clan culture emerged as the dominant culture (73.17%), emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, correlated with lower stress levels and high job satisfaction (90.78%). Emotional exhaustion was the most common burnout symptom (53.66%). The coping strategies varied, with employees in Clan cultures seeking social support, while those in Hierarchy cultures sought guidance from superiors. This study highlighted the significant role of organization culture in employee well-being and EMD effectiveness, influenced by social values like respect for authority. The limitations included single-setting analysis, an uneven subgroup representation, and a lack of qualitative insights. Future research should involve multiple hospitals and qualitative methods for a comprehensive understanding.

A decision framework for Chinese-style cruise ship design based on informativeness weight method and group consensus reaching model

In recent years, the European cruise ship design style has failed to meet the cultural needs of Chinese users, leading to a growing demand for cruise ships incorporating Chinese elements. The richness and uniqueness of Chinese culture make most existing cruise ship design decision-making methods inapplicable for Chinese-style cruise ship design. This article introduces a decision-making framework for Chinese-style cruise ships to address this gap based on the informativeness weight method and the group consensus achievement model. This framework determines decision criteria based on the characteristics of Chinese-style cruise ships and Cultural Hierarchy Theory (CHT), and it employs trapezoidal fuzzy set theory to manage the fuzziness of the decision-making environment, resulting in decision matrices. Furthermore, a bilateral negotiation model for group consensus achievement is introduced to reach group consensus among decision-makers (DMs), adjust the decision matrix, and calculate the weight of each expert. The informativeness weight method is used to determine the weight of each criterion, and the TOPSIS method is applied to establish option scores and rankings. By analyzing three Chinese-style cruise ship design options, the paper validates the effectiveness of this decision-making method. A comparative analysis of the informativeness weight method and the bilateral negotiation consensus achievement model further demonstrates the superiority of this decision-making framework.

Examining Organizational Culture with OCAI

Abstract This research aims to analyse organizational culture mapping at the Faculty of Economics, University of Borneo, Tarakan. It employs a descriptive quantitative approach and utilizes the Stratified Random Sampling method for sampling. The research sample consists of 93 respondents from the Faculty of Economics, including students, alumni, lecturers, and staff. The analytical method employed is the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI), with the assistance of Microsoft Excel 2010. The research findings reveal that the current dominant organizational culture profile is the Clan culture, emphasizing HR development, loyalty, and the organization's familial function. Additionally, the Hierarchy culture, characterized by a structured work environment and stringent controls, also holds prominence. Conversely, the anticipated organizational culture profile underscores maintaining the Clan culture while embracing new cultural shifts in the future, particularly towards an Adhocracy culture. This culture emphasizes fostering a dynamic work environment that encourages members to freely explore and express creative ideas, fostering innovation. JEL classification numbers: J43. Keywords: Organizational culture, OCAI Mapping.

‘O! awa wi sic sangs as aft hae been sung’: radical songwriting and the rethinking of Chartism

ABSTRACT Chartist songs, and the movement’s culture more generally, have received growing scholarly attention in recent decades. This article uses a case study of the many Chartist songs written to the tune of Robert Burns’s ‘Scots wha hae’ to explore the ways in which Chartist songwriters participated in the reworking of radical culture and ideas taking place in the 1830s and 1840s. These Chartist versions of ‘Scots wha hae’ – new words to an old tune – engaged in a conscious and creative dialogue between the Chartist present and the radical past. As such, they are an ideal source for exploring continuity and change in nineteenth-century radicalism, a topic of sustained historical controversy since the 1980s. Rather than indicating continuity, these re-writes of ‘Scots wha hae’ reveal how the Chartists saw themselves as a new phase of radicalism, facing novel political and economic challenges, appealing to broader constituencies of nationality, class and gender, and foregrounding working-class, rather than gentlemanly, leadership. Moreover, the act of showcasing this plebeian musical creativity on a scale unmatched by previous radical movements illustrates Chartism’s commitment to songwriting as both a key form of democratic activism and an innovative challenge to the cultural hierarchies of Victorian society.

Value intelligence as a means of installation of theoretical axiology in the modern social and cultural space and in education

The purpose of the presented work is to reveal the scientific and methodological potential of a new concept of “value intelligence”. Achieving this goal caused necessity to solve a number of problem tasks: 1) to outline the content of value intelligence, 2) to demonstrate the theoretical prerequisites for conceptualizing this type of intelligence, 3) to substantiate the meaning of value intelligence for modern axiology; 4) to present the interdisciplinary nature of value intelligence.The methodological basis of the research is determined by its theoretical nature and predicts the use of general theoretical and analytical methods of scientific research in combination with historical and systemic approaches that provide the opportunity to solve the formulated scientific tasks.The first part of the article indicates that value intelligence is a characteristic of human consciousness and appears as a specific cognitive quality of the individual. At the same time, value intelligence, which implies the presence of certain skills and abilities, is a dynamic phenomenon and correlates with a certain social and cultural space, its values and value hierarchies in its development. In accordance with the logic of our research, the second part of this research is focused on the philosophical and theoretical connection of value intelligence with important concepts of modern science: “social intelligence” and “emotional intelligence”. The article also determines the importance of value intelligence for modern axiology and substantiates the position that ideas developed within the limits of axiological knowledge can be implemented in various fields precisely with the help of the concept of “value intelligence”. This position is based on the thesis about the normative and constructive content of values for the personality and society. At the final stage of the research, the specific status of value intelligence and its belonging to the spheres of axiology and pedagogics are shown, since the specified type of intelligence is a complex integral formation, the important elements of which are cognitive, motivational and activity components.As a result, the research states that (1) the phenomenon of intelligence and its various forms as a trend of modern social and humanistic knowledge deserves special attention, (2) it is possible to introduce the concept of “value intelligence”, which is based on the idea of the multiplicity of manifestations of the phenomenon of intelligence, (3) the importance of value intelligence for adequate and effective response to the challenges of the social and natural environment, (4) the need for the synthesis of axiological knowledge and pedagogical practice for the effective formation of value intelligence.

'They don’t really know what they’re getting into': the impact of neoliberal and colonial policies within Israeli institutions of higher education on Palestinian Jerusalemite students

ABSTRACT This study presents the case of Palestinian students from East Jerusalem studying at the education department at a major Israeli University. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with nineteen Palestinian students. The study found that the government’s neoliberal and colonial policies in East Jerusalem influence the students’ motivation, available options and the ability to compete within Israeli institutions of higher education. Furthermore, once the students manage to penetrate Israeli institutions of higher education, they are disillusioned with the experiences they are offered, they do not manage to study the fields that they desire and they are not offered sufficient support within the institution. We contend that this failure on the institutional level to address issues of multiculturalism and Indigenous populations’ unique needs makes the university complicit in maintaining a cultural and epistemic hierarchy.

Hierarchy and Typology of Political Culture

This article discusses political structure and culture with a focus on several key dimensions, namely the physical structure of politics, the social structure of politics, and various types of political culture. The physical structure of politics refers to the formal institutions and political mechanisms that influence the process of political action. The socio-political structure includes the distribution of power and social hierarchies that influence political dynamics in society. Furthermore, this article outlines the different types of political culture, including a political parochial culture that shows minimal involvement in national political affairs, a political subjective culture that reflects individuals' political attitudes and orientations towards power and political participation, and a political participatory culture that encourage active participation in the political process. Through an analysis of the physical and socio-political structures, as well as various political cultures, this article provides a more accurate understanding of the complexity of politics in modern societies. The implications of this understanding for public policy development and political system development are also discussed in depth.

“Some kind of peace will follow”: Archivism and Anarchivism in Shakespearean Appropriations of Rome (HBO/BBC/RAI, 2005–2007)

This article explores the appropriation of Shakespeare’s works in Rome (Heller, MacDonald and Milius 2005-2007). Drawing on archive theory, it looks into the use of Shakespeare’s archive in this TV series by examining gender variables. The results of this research show that the traces of Shakespeare’s archive in Rome form different assemblages for female and male characters. This fact reflects the cultural hierarchies of the TV seriality of the period in which Rome was aired. Nonetheless, the appropriations of different Shakespearean dramatic genres —mainly tragedy and romance— raise transformative possibilities for those gender politics in Rome’s narrative world.

Cultural hierarchies in health: Does inherited sociocultural position (biraderi) shape diet and nutrition among British Pakistani children? Protocol for a mixed-methods study.

This study aims to explore links between biraderi-a form of identity-based social grouping and stratification which cuts across religions among South Asians-and infant and child nutrition among British Pakistanis using data from the Born in Bradford cohort study. The study will entail a mixed-methods approach to (i) develop an operational framework of biraderi for epidemiologic analyses and apply it to longitudinal data from the Born in Bradford cohort study, (ii) quantify and describe child nutrition and dietary patterns for biraderi sub-groups, and (iii) investigate whether known mechanisms of identity-based segregation, graded inequality, and network effects operate through diet and nutrition in the UK. Using Krieger's ecosocial theory as an integrative framework we will (iv) re-conceptualise and interpret the role of biraderi / caste in the social construction and embodied experience of how infants and children eat in the UK. Following a literature review on biraderi and health, we will convene and consult a lay consultation group in Bradford through focus groups and academic experts through a Delphi study to guide planning, implementation, interpretation and dissemination of our secondary data analysis. In addition to being the first study to look at biraderi-based nutritional inequalities in the UK, our study is innovative in that we will formally involve experts and users in the design and interpretation of our quantitative analyses. Findings will be applicable in any part of the world where children experience disadvantage linked to sociocultural hierarchy and identity. Our findings will be of particular use in (i) identifying women and children at particular risk of suboptimal breastfeeding practices, poor complementary feeding, and unhealthy diets in primary school in the UK, and (ii) elucidating the sociocultural pathways through which inequalities in population health nutrition outcomes are expressed.