Large Power Distance Research Articles

Enhancing and Explaining Energy Management in Smart Manufacturing Production via ML Within the Context of Industry 4.0

Objective: The aim of this research is to identify the main barriers faced by managers and practitioners in the implementation of KM initiatives in the context of Chilean organisations and to describe the ways in which these problems are addressed by them. Theoretical Framework: This research addresses the organisational, political, social and cultural barriers faced by KM initiatives in developing country contexts. Method: This study was based on the review of twenty-six cases of knowledge management initiatives implemented between 2010 and 2022 in Chile, which were described and analysed using qualitative methodology Results and Discussion: It was found that the most important barriers to carrying out these initiatives coincide, to a large extent, with some of the characteristics of Chilean culture and society described in the literature of organisational studies, such as: lack of trust; large power distance in the organisational structure; lack of communication skills; paternalistic organisational culture, to mention a few. Also, one aspect worth highlighting is the traditional business culture that tends to focus on a "low cost" strategy and exploitation of raw materials, rather than investing in innovation. Scarce resources, problematic performance measurement and lack of knowledge management training for employees and managers were also mentioned as adverse factors. Research Implications: The relevance of this study lies in the fact that it provides insight into the main barriers faced by knowledge management initiatives in developing countries, specifically in a region such as Latin America, thus contributing to the development of this field in this region. Originality/Value: It is known that many of the new initiatives in the field of KM do not thrive or face difficult start-up challenges, limiting the number of successful initiatives in this country. This study contributes to a better understanding of the problems faced by managers carrying out KM initiatives, thus enabling them to develop better strategies and solutions for the implementation of KM projects.

Politico-Administrative Culture and Public Service Reform in Post-Independence Kazakhstan

Classical organizational management literature draws clear parallels between organizational culture and climate and effective use of power and influence as key to successful policy implementation of reforms in public sector organizations. On the other hand, the public policy literature, in particular, policy transfer as a strand within policy studies, emphasizes the role of the national context, more specifically, ‘facilitators’ and ‘constraints’ of ‘‘politico-administrative culture” within the national context, as crucial to understanding processes of transfer, convergence, and diffusion of public policy. There is a plethora of studies by Western scholars of public management who have successfully utilized these theoretical underpinnings to study the effectiveness of public service reforms in mature policy environments such as the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and others. However, the public policy and comparative public management literature only offers a limited number of case studies from developing, middle-/upper-middle countries, which rely on concepts of organizational management in addition to narratives on the impact of policy learning from global doctrines, such as Weberianism, New Public Management (NPM), and New Public Governance (NPG), and national politics, on the implementation of administrative reforms in those contexts. Kazakhstan, as a resource-affluent post-Soviet country and a bastion of modernization and ‘open government’ in Central Asia or the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the post-Soviet era is a case in point. Based on ethnographic research consisting of interviews with elite academics, civil servants, and think-tank activists, as well as reviews of OECD and government strategy reports in Astana, the findings point to a potential abatement of the impact of context constraints such as large power distance and collectivist behavior by context facilitators such as those surrounding the use of ‘trilingualism’ and public diplomacy towards reforms in Kazakhstan particularly in recent years.

Do cultural and individual values influence sustainable tourism and pro-environmental behavior? Focusing on Chinese millennials

ABSTRACT This study investigated the Chinese millennials’ perspectives of tourism sustainability using Hofstede’s five-dimensional model. It examined the relationship between their environmental attitudes and hedonic/utilitarian values. According to the findings, collectivism had a positive impact on their pro-environmental attitude, evident in both their preferences and behaviors. Large power distance as well as high tolerance for uncertainty, conversely, resulted in a less pro-environmental attitude. Simultaneously, their masculinity, as expressed in their tendency to obtain more profit in advance, was harmful. This research adds to a greater understanding of cultural and individual values and suggests marketing strategies to advocate for environmentally conscious behaviors.

International Comparative Analysis of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Demand Characteristics Using the Bass Diffusion Model

Objectives: This paper proposed the direction of future supply and demand management policies through demand prediction and demand characteristics analysis of advanced diagnostic imaging equipment using new medical technology.Methods: This study used the Bass Diffusion Model to analyze demand characteristics for advanced diagnostic imaging equipment. Derived diffusion coefficients were applied for medium to long-term demand predictions (2021-2050). Parameter estimation employed non-linear regression analysis (SPSS 27.0). Demand characteristics were further analyzed using the ratio of the Bass model’s innovation to imitation coefficients for each country and device.Results: Comparing the imitation coefficients (<i>q/p</i> ratio) for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, South Korea has the highest <i>q/p</i> ratio for both CT and MRI. This implies that the influence of opinion leaders and group pressure is relatively more significant in South Korea, particularly in CT purchases. In the demand prediction results, South Korea’s <i>q/p</i> ratio for CT and MRI is notably larger, suggesting that institutional pressures and collective decision-making, rather than individual clinical decisions, play a significant role in the purchase of advanced diagnostic imaging Equipment. The <i>q/p</i> ratio for advanced diagnostic imaging Equipment in South Korea is higher than in other countries, reflecting a large power distance in the adoption of these technologies.Conclusions: This study utilizes the Bass Diffusion Model to predict the demand for advanced diagnostic imaging equipment in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Findings highlight that imitation, not innovation, is the main driver of diffusion, with South Korea showing a faster adoption rate for CT and MRI. The study identifies factors influencing diffusion in South Korea, noting the impact of the quantity system on CT and the absence of influence on MRI. CT diffusion is positively linked to the quantity-based payment system, while MRI remains unaffected.

Political Reform in Jordan (2011- 2022) Positioning Youth Political Participation in Large Power Distance National Culture

The engagement of youth in the formal political process is essential not only in building stable and peaceful societies but also in developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations. This study aims to model the impact of the large power distance dimension of culture in developing youth political participation in Jordan. The study will also compare the efforts of Jordan in promoting political participation among youth in 2011 and 2021 as part of political reform strategies. It also provides potential solutions that will lead the way to a more inclusive national culture. The study utilized the power distance index of Hofstede's cultural dimension. The result of the study revealed that the Jordanian culture is dynamic, and as such may witness a level of transformation, while keeping the power vertical, through the active involvement and engagement of youth in the political process and decision-making through unconventional participation. Thus, creating both committees clarifies the placement of youth in political participation in large power distance natural culture, where the gap is wider than expected. It was recommended that youth should take bold steps in establishing promising networks in their field of expertise, social circle, and beyond. They should eliminate barriers to engagement in political participation including the creation of parties that are based on ideologies and aspirations.

Managing knowledge against the tide: Barriers to knowledge management in the Chilean social and cultural context

In recent years, knowledge management has become increasingly relevant in Chile, with a growing number of organisations adopting policies and practices in this area. Despite this growth, it is known that many of the new initiatives in the field of KM do not thrive or face difficult start-up challenges, limiting the number of successful initiatives in this country. In this context, the aim of this research is to identify the main barriers faced by managers and practitioners in the implementation of KM initiatives in the context of Chilean organisations and to describe the ways in which these problems are addressed by them. This study was based on the review of twenty-six cases of knowledge management initiatives implemented between 2010 and 2022 in Chile, which were described and analysed using qualitative methodology. Among the main findings, it was found that the most important barriers to carrying out these initiatives coincide, to a large extent, with some of the characteristics of Chilean culture and society described in the literature of organisational studies, such as: lack of trust; large power distance in the organisational structure; lack of communication skills; paternalistic organisational culture, to mention a few. Also, one aspect worth highlighting is the traditional business culture that tends to focus on a "low cost" strategy and exploitation of raw materials, rather than investing in innovation. Scarce resources, problematic performance measurement and lack of knowledge management training for employees and managers were also mentioned as adverse factors. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that it provides insight into the main barriers faced by knowledge management initiatives in developing countries, specifically in a region such as Latin America, thus contributing to the development of this field in this region.

Facilitating students as partners: co-researching with undergraduates in Asian university contexts

ABSTRACT Students as partners (SaP) has become an impactful practice in higher education as it enables students to take ownership of their learning and exercise agency. However, the implementation of SaP, particularly in Asia, has encountered many challenges, including concerns about a large power distance between students and teachers. Despite the emerging interests in exploring SaP in several Asian regions, there have been few studies about students’ experiences of partnership throughout a project life cycle. This study explores students’ experiences of SaP in three projects spanning two research-intensive universities in Hong Kong based on the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and positioning theory. Data were collected from exit interviews with student partners, their reflective writings, and their responses to open-ended questions in a post-project survey. Our main contribution is the discovery of multiple contradictions between the project designs and students’ enactment of partnership. Specifically, students’ hesitation in assuming a partner’s role was related to their disciplinary identity, the inquiry methods of the projects, and the pre-determined project specifications. In contrast, the cultural factors, which are largely framed as barriers in the literature, only affected the partnership development at the beginning of the project. Our study implies that future SaP projects need to ensure the alignment between project designs and a partner’s role to facilitate equal and sustainable contributions from students and staff members.

Unpacking the ethics of care and safe learning environments in Indonesian vocational higher education settings: a contested space of power and (teaching) effectiveness

ABSTRACT Numerous studies have discussed the ethics of care and safe learning environments in relation to educational experiences. Yet, there is a dearth of literature on such aspects in vocational, non-western higher education contexts. This paper examines how students and teachers view entanglements of the ethics of care and safe learning environments in forming notions of teaching effectiveness in Indonesian vocational higher education settings. Utilising interview data from students and teachers in Indonesian higher education vocational institutions, the study draws upon Hofstede et al. Dimensions of National Cultures and Faranda and Clarke’s framework of effective teaching. The findings illuminate balanced power distance, communicative participation and pedagogy of care as fundamentals of the ethics of care that correspond with notions of safe learning environments to inform effective teaching in the Indonesian higher education vocational space. Illustrating social-educational contestations in the vocational classroom, implications suggest the need to minimise the existing large teacher-student power distance and transform the role of teachers as ‘object-givers’ and students as ‘object-takers’ into caring partnerships that promote vocational knowledge and practice. The study holds promise for educators, teacher educators and policymakers seeking to buttress support for ethical caring initiatives to enhance teaching effectiveness in the vocational non-western space.

The interactional communication of feedback in clinical education: A focused ethnographic study in a hierarchical and collectivist culture

BackgroundThe definition of feedback in clinical education has shifted from information delivery to student-teacher dialogue. However, based on Hofstede's theory, countries with large power distance or a robust social hierarchy and collectivistic cultural dimensions can reduce the feedback dialogue to a minimum. Indonesia is classified in this group, with some Asian, African, Mediterranean, and Latin American countries. This study explores the interactional communication of feedback during clinical education in a hierarchical and collectivistic context. MethodsThe focused ethnographic approach was applied to the clinical rotation program in an Indonesian teaching hospital. Data sources included observations of feedback episodes during workplace-based assessments followed by interviews with clinical supervisors and students. The data were compiled within 16 weeks of observation in 7 groups of clinical departments, consisting of 28 field notes, audiotaped interviews including nine focus group discussions of students (N = 42), and seven in-depth interviews with clinical supervisors. Data were analyzed through transcription, coding, categorization, and thematic analysis using the symbolic interactionist perspective. ResultsWe identified four themes representing actual interactional communication and its ‘meaning’ or interpretation. The interactional communication in feedback is described in the first and second themes, such as 1) Students play the subordinate roles in a feedback dialogue; 2) The feedback content is focused on explanation and students' limitations. The third and fourth themes represent the clinical supervisors' and students' interpretation of their feedback experience, such as 3) Clinical supervisors' perspectives are mostly on dissatisfaction and teaching authority; 4) Students' acceptance of reality and negative affection. ConclusionsThis study shows that the social gap between students and clinical supervisors in Indonesia, and other countries in the same cultural classification, potentially causes communication barriers in the feedback dialogue. The adaptation of ‘feedback as a dialogue’ requires further effort and research to develop communication strategies in feedback that consider the national culture and context.

The image of the Chinese government in the English translations of Report on the Work of the Government: a corpus-based study

ABSTRACT Drawing on a corpus-based methodology and Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis, this article examines the image of the Chinese government constructed in the English translations of Report on the Work of the Government released by the Chinese government from 2000 to 2021. The analysis reveals that the Chinese government is shaped as enterprising and industrious, but having a large power distance from the general public, which is evidenced by the discursive use of high-frequency content words, associated with high-frequency collocations with “we”. It is also constructed as one that is equable, resolute and sensible by the frequent use of median-value modal verbs in the English translations of Report on the Work of the Government. This article ultimately argues that the English translations of Report on the Work of the Government are impacted by the translators’ role as institutional translators and the norms of translating Chinese political texts.

A strategic corporate governance framework for state-owned enterprises in the developing economy

Corporate scandals that have rocked the world in the past two decades have heightened the importance of corporate governance (Zalewska, 2014). Despite the interest in the adoption of corporate governance state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the performance of these organisations remains poor (Vagliasindi, 2008), which has been attributed to ineffective corporate governance (World Bank, 2007). The objective of this study was to develop a strategic corporate governance enterprise in the developing economy. The study followed a critical realism approach. As a result, a multi-methodology and mixed design were employed. The sample included all SOEs registered in Malawi, which had operated from 2000–2016 but excluded regulatory, financial, and academic institutions. Data collection followed the critical realism case study method. Findings reveal that large power distance, cronyism, and materialistic cultures are entrenched in society and negatively impact corporate governance. Results further show that increased shareholders’ power and multiple principals have a negative effect on performance. The study recommended changes to legal form, board operations, and disclosure to improve corporate governance effectiveness. The study has contributed to a body of knowledge in terms of developing a strategic governance framework for SOEs in Malawi. The study has also established that cultural values influence the effectiveness of corporate governance.

Power Distance, Political Uncertainty, and Stock Price Crash Risk: International Evidence

This study tests the effect of unbalanced power distance (PD) (i.e., Hofstede’s cultural dimensions PD index) and individual stock price crash risk. We examine the stock price behavior of listed firms in 37 countries from 2004 to 2016 and use multivariate analyses to document that societal PD is important in explaining firms’ propensity to release accounting information. This propensity suggests a psychological tendency regarding timing management, particularly for bad news. As countries with large PD prefer to keep things under control, the result is fewer unexpected stock price crashes during the long windows between election events. However, because large-PD countries focus their markets on maintaining temporary peace before and during periods of political events (i.e., national elections), crash risk increases after the political event window. Consistent with these predictions, we find that in large-PD countries, companies generally have less incentive to hide negative information and thus generate stock price crashes. This situation is substantially changed during the postpolitical windows, when firms and ways of spreading information are more controlled by the government. Our findings suggest that formal mechanisms alone are insufficient to explain the behaviors of corporate disclosure that are entangled with informal instruments.

Determinants of institutional trust: the role of cultural context

AbstractWe examine the cultural context for individual's trust in public institutions. To shed some light on possible cultural explanations from a more comparative perspective and cover a wider set of cultural aspects, we use indicators of cultural dimensions by Kaasa et al. (2014) based on Hofstede's (1980) approach. Multilevel regression analysis is conducted with individual-level data from two waves of the European Social Survey (2008, 2010) and regional-level data from multiple sources. Confirmatory factor analysis is used to construct the indicators of social and institutional trust and corruption. Our results suggest that individuals tend to trust institutions less in regions with large power distance. Hence, an important key for governments being more successful in achieving their aims seems to be related to improving the sense of participation and civic responsibility.

Cultural Values And Perceived Audit Quality: A Conceptual Framework

In accounting and auditing, the concept of cultural relativism was promoted by Riahi-Belkaoui (1995). He developed a cultural relativism in accounting model based on a cognitive perspective view. This theory suggests that different cultural groups "create different cognitions or systems of knowledge for intracultural communications and/or intercultural communications" (Riahi-Belkaoui, 1995, p. 53). Differences in culture can be seen in terms of the value systems held by a culture. Of the values-based conceptions of culture, one of the most important and useful for empirical research was provided by Geert Hofstede (Patel, 2004). Hofstede (1980a) and Hofstede, et al. (2010) developed six cultural factors: (1) individualism versus collectivism; (2) large versus small power distance; (3) strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance; (4) masculinity versus femininity; (5) long-term versus short-term orientation; and (6) indulgence versus restraint. The long-term/short-term orientation was developed based on the concept of Confucian dynamism, which is closely related to the teachings of Confucius and can be interpreted as having a pragmatic future-oriented perspective rather than a conventional historical short-term point of view (Hofstede, et al., 2010). Meanwhile, the sixth dimension (indulgence versus restraint) was developed from the literature on "happiness research" (Hofstede, et al., 2010). These last two aspect are still not widely understood and are also not directly correlated to the topic of this study. Therefore, these dimension are excluded from the investigation. In addition, the first four Hofstede's taxonomy has been applied comprehensively in cross-cultural accounting research. According to Hofstede (1984), there is solid evidence that the four factors he proposes are universal, even though the original data they are based on were taken from the values scored by multinational corporation employees. Although the data can also be assumed to be up to date, according to Jones (2007, p. 7): …more research is needed to capture the shifting cultural maps which are influenced by, and influence, globalisation and technology, however this is difficult to achieve and may have temporal value. As a result the work of Hofstede will continue to have value now and into the future. This paper presents the conceptual framework based on the findings in the reviewed literature. In auditing, the influence of culture has been investigated widely in relation to audit and financial reporting judgments (Chan, et al., 2003; Haniffa & Cooke, 2002; Lin & Fraser, 2008), auditor independence (Agacer & Doupnik, 1991; Patel & Psaros, 2000; Stevenson, 2002), and ethical perception (Arnold, et al., 2007; Ge & Thomas, 2008; Smith & Hume, 2005). However, cultural research on particular aspects of audit quality perceptions has not been analysed closely, even though cultural values are likely to have a strong impact on perceptions of audit quality. Recognizing the effect of culture on perceived audit quality can make regulators aware of market expectation. As a result, they will be able to improve actual audit quality through the legal and accounting standards they set. In this study, the authors collect data from selected journal articles that mostly provide a comprehensive view of cultural values map and their impact on perceptions. Every journal has a different view. The author participates in comparing these sources of information to create a comprehensive framework. Thus, this study used content analysis both relationship analysis and conceptual analysis. The authors collect data from the theoretical concepts of cultural dimensions and relational relationships of that variable that influence audit quality. Key findings derived from the qualitative study confirmed that the differences in perceptions of the importance of audit quality factors in one country could be due to differences in cultural characteristics. For further consideration, it is necessary to develop a questionnaire instrument or a list of interview questions to measure each indicator of a framework that has been developed and tested as a reliable instrument. Keywords: culture; cultural values; perception; audit quality

How to Address Your Instructor: An Analysis of Classroom Discourse at Saudi Arabian Universities

Hofstede’s (1986) concept of national culture includes the key dimension of how power distance affects interactions between interlocutors on all levels and settings of a society, including that of the university. An examination of such interactions, including the expected linguistic behaviors of instructors and students, is quite useful, because cultural values and the archetypal roles of instructors and their students tend to shed light on the relationships and general atmosphere of not just the higher education setting, but also of the society as a whole. In the large power distance culture of Saudi Arabia, this concept is examined through an analysis of the different address terms students use in classroom discourse to address their instructors. Since the use of titles is related to classroom interaction, it is affected by power distance. This study investigates and analyzes the discourse of the classroom in Saudi universities to identify titles and address terms used in student-instructor communications. The research found that the terms students employ with instructors include social and academic terms; whereas first and last names were usually avoided. Effects of potential factors are explained in terms of Hofstede’s (1986) concept of power distance.

Impact of financial management centralisation in a health system under austerity: a qualitative study from South Africa

IntroductionInternational calls for universal health coverage (UHC) have led many countries to implement health sector reforms, however, since the 2008 global recession, economic growth has slowed in many lower-income and...

How students and specialists appreciate the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) in Indonesian clerkships

BackgroundCultural differences might challenge the acceptance of the implementation of assessment formats that are developed in other countries. Acceptance of assessment formats is essential for its effectiveness; therefore, we explored the views of students and specialists on the practicality and impact on learning of these formats. This study was conducted to explore Indonesian students’ and specialists’ appreciation of the implementation of the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) in Indonesian clerkships.MethodsThis study was conducted at the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Participants were 52 students and 21 specialists in neurology and 78 students and 50 specialists in internal medicine. They were asked to complete a 19-item questionnaire that covered the characteristics of the mini-CEX such as its practicality, and the impact on learning and professional development. We used a Mann-Whitney U test to analyse the data.ResultsIn total, 124 students (46 from neurology and 78 from internal medicine) and 38 specialists (13 from neurology and 25 from internal medicine) participated in this study.Students and specialists were positive about the practicality of the mini-CEX and the impact of this assessment format on learning and on professional development. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that there were no significant differences between students’ and specialists’ opinions on the mini-CEX, except for 2 items: specialists’ appreciation of direct observation (mean rank = 93.16) was statistically significantly higher than students’ appreciation of it (mean rank = 77.93; z = 2.065; p < 0.05), but students’ appreciation of the item that students’ past mini-CEX results affected their recent mini-CEX outcomes (mean rank = 85.29) was significantly higher than specialists’ appreciation of it (mean rank = 69.12; z = 2140; p < 0.05).ConclusionStudents and specialists were positive about the mini-CEX in Indonesian clerkships, although it was developed and validated in another culture. We found only small differences between their appreciations, which could be explained by the patterns of specialist-student interaction in Indonesian culture as large power distance and low individualism country.

The impact of subordinate ingratiation on supervisor punishment omission: A social judgment theory perspective

BACKGROUND: Upward ingratiation is a universal workplace phenomenon because leaders have more power and resources, which are closely related to the interests of subordinates. This phenomenon is especially common in Chinese culture due to the large power distance between superior and subordinate. Subordinate ingratiation appears to influence supervisors’ affective responses and punishment decisions. OBJECTIVE: The study’s purpose was to analyze the relationship between subordinate ingratiation and supervisor punishment omission in China, as well as the mediating role of interpersonal affect and the moderating role of authentic leadership. METHODS: Data were collected from 389 supervisor-subordinate dyads in China. The reliability and validity of measurement scales were demonstrated. Multiple regression analyses and bootstrapping tests were used to examine the research model. RESULTS: Subordinate ingratiation is positively related to supervisor punishment omission. Interpersonal affect fully mediates the relationship between subordinate ingratiation and supervisor punishment omission. Authentic leadership negatively moderates the relationships between both subordinate ingratiation and interpersonal affect and subordinate ingratiation and supervisor punishment omission. The moderating effect of authentic leadership between subordinate ingratiation and supervisor punishment omission is partially mediated by interpersonal affect. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contribute to the theory about the effect of ingratiation, with implications for practice and future research.

Impact of culture on organizational readiness to change: context of bank M&A

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of culture on organizational readiness to change (ORC) within the context of merger and acquisition (M&A) in the banking sector in India.Design/methodology/approachA multisource approach is used to collect data from a public-sector bank in India for testing our hypothesis. A hierarchical approach based on higher-order modelling has been deployed for confirming the path model. The foundation of the study is based on power distance (PD) and uncertainty avoidance (UA) cultural dimensions of Hofstede (1984).FindingsEmployees in organizations with large PD and high UA index exhibit low readiness to change. Findings support a negative relationship of culture (large PD and high UA) with organizational readiness to change at the individual level.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has three major implications. First, measures and importance of change readiness at the individual level during corporate events such as M&A is elucidated in the study. Second, a paradigm for assessing higher-order models grounded in theoretical and methodological rigour for testing our hypothesis is presented in the paper. Last, the role of culture in M&A processes is highlighted vis-à-vis factors related to PD and UA on ORC.Practical implicationsThe findings of the research answer to the call for a study on factors that help in creating a synergy for successful M&A across all sectors especially in the banking sector. People representing high UA and large PD often look forward to direction and guidelines for guiding employee actions. Leaders therefore need to set clear agenda and effectively communicate the appropriateness of change to their employees for developing positive behaviour towards desirable organizational outcomes. This study touches upon this important perspective for its practical utilization.Originality/valueThe study adds to the limited literature on change which addresses the need for studying socio-cultural factors in the M&A process, especially in an emerging economies context.

Safety and Risk Management at Work: The Search for Culturally and Institutionally Embedded Solutions

There have been significant efforts made to understand the relationship between national culture and safety. However, the results on how to act upon these findings are meager. This article discusses the research paradigms that produce circular reasoning on culture as an object of analysis and proposes an alternative approach to organizing the observation of the concrete life-situation using an ethnomethodology, which can provide empirical evidence of causalities, thus making way for improvements. Based on a multi-case study, it is argued that the features of large power distance, high uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede, 2001) and low trust (WVS, 2015), when combined in a national culture, can produce negative effects on the learning capacity of individuals and teams and on their information-treating capabilities. Observation of practices reveals the negative consequences of excessive controls and its effect on producing fragmentation in the necessary tacit relationship that should exist between meaning, experience and the concrete facts observed in daily work situations at the bottom of the organization, thus creating a context for the normalization of deviance in organizations (Vaughan, 1999). National culture can engender a context in which there are many hidden risks and this should be considered in a typology of organizational errors.