Overview

This pictogram depicts the barriers that need to be overcome in order to be able to study culture. They come back when we discuss dealing with cultural differences.

The triangle with four layers represents the key model used in this slidedoc but more definitions and concepts of culture are discussed.

Finally, bridging cultural differences may only be done if you have an idea of your own culture and the culture of the other, an attitude of respect and a orientation towards commonalities (rather than differences).

The waves indicate ‘above and below the surface’; on the surface national cultures (relatively superficial due to representative samples and the use of averages) and below the surface values and beliefs (the layer of culture below our thinking and feeling). In between you find the topics ‘organisational culture’ and ‘living and working abroad’.

Culture is a firm softness, firm in the way it affects our thinking, acting and feeling, soft in the difficulty in getting a grip on it.