MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

SECTION 5: CORE VALUES SURVEY 1

INSTRUCTIONS
2
This inventory provides an opportunity to assess your own views on culture and cultural differences.
It is designed for self-assessment and discussion, not research. Please read the two descriptions for
each question below and circle the number (1 through 5) that best describes your level of
agreement. For each item, a “1” indicates that you strongly agree with the description on the left,
while a “5” indicates that you strongly agree with the description on the right. A “3” indicates that
you are equally divided between the two descriptions. In completing this survey, please remember
that there are no right or wrong answers, so respond completely and truthfully.

1. Societies grow and develop 1 2 3 4 5 Societies grow and develop

primarily through competition. primarily through cooperation.

2. People should look after 1 2 3 4 5 People should look after each

themselves; in the end, we are all other; in the end, we all need the
responsible for ourselves. support of our group to survive.

3. It is usually wrong to question the 1 2 3 4 5 It is usually acceptable to question

authority of superiors. the authority of superiors.

4. I believe things at work should be 1 2 3 4 5 I believe things at work should

done by the book based on clear frequently be done through
and published policies. informal channels.

5. I always try to focus on doing one 1 2 3 4 5 I often find myself doing many
thing at a time. things at once.

6. It is important to harness nature 1 2 3 4 5 It is important to live in harmony

in order to improve our general with nature and modify our living
living conditions. conditions accordingly.

7. My principal responsibility is to 1 2 3 4 5 My principal responsibility is to my

myself. family or group.

1
© 2013 Richard M. Steers, Luciara Nardon, and Carlos Sanchez-Runde; all rights reserved.
2
The Cultural Values Survey was developed using MBA students from thirty-two countries studying
in both North America and Europe. It is designed for instructional use only.

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MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

8. It is my responsibility to do what 1 2 3 4 5 I have considerable freedom to do

my boss tells me to do. my job they way I think best.

9. The best way to reduce 1 2 3 4 5 The best way to reduce uncertainty

uncertainty in a society is to in a society is for people to follow
make and enforce rules the wishes of their superiors.
governing people’s behavior.

10. I usually assume that an 1 2 3 4 5 I usually assume that an

appointment will begin on time. appointment will begin late.

11. Rewards should be based on 1 2 3 4 5 Rewards should be based on

performance. seniority or need.

12. Protecting individual rights is 1 2 3 4 5 Preserving group harmony is more

more important than preserving important than protecting
group harmony. individual rights.

13. The best decisions are usually 1 2 3 4 5 The best decisions are usually
made at the top of the made towards the middle or
organization. bottom of the organization.

14. Decisions should usually be made 1 2 3 4 5 Decisions should usually be made

based on objective criteria (e.g., based on subjective criteria (e.g.,
rules, policies). hunches, personal considerations).

15. Very few things distract me from 1 2 3 4 5 I often get distracted from my work
my work. by other activities.

16. Most problems in society could 1 2 3 4 5 Most problems in society require

be resolved quickly if people patience and extensive
would assert themselves and take consultation with others; there are
charge of the situation. no quick fixes.

17. Individual decision-making 1 2 3 4 5 Group decision-making usually

usually leads to better decisions. leads to better decisions.

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MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

18. People should be promoted 1 2 3 4 5 People should be promoted based

based on their status or position on their accomplishments or merit.
in society.

19. Rule enforcement should be 1 2 3 4 5 Rule enforcement should be

applied to everyone equally and modified based on individual
without exception. circumstances.

20. I tend to be very impatient to get 1 2 3 4 5 I am usually patient in trying to get

things done. things done.

21. Success comes through taking 1 2 3 4 5 Success comes through working

decisive actions to overcome new with others in a collaborative way
challenges. to meet new challenges.

22. The best way to do business is 1 2 3 4 5 The best way to do business is

based on written contracts. based on personal relationships.

23. People at the top of an 1 2 3 4 5 Power should be evenly distributed

organization deserve to have throughout an organization.
most of the power.

24. Business should be based on legal 1 2 3 4 5 Business should be based on

contracts and meticulous record personal relationships and
keeping. interpersonal trust.

25. I try to keep a clear separation 1 2 3 4 5 I often find that my work and my
between my work and my personal life tend to merge
personal life. together.

26. Putting a man on the moon has 1 2 3 4 5 Preserving a rain forest has had a
had a greater impact on society greater impact on society than
than preserving a rain forest. putting a man on the moon.

27. People are usually known by 1 2 3 4 5 People are usually known by which
what they accomplish. groups they belong to.

28. Effective organizations should be 1 2 3 4 5 Effective organizations should be

run from the top down. run democratically.

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MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

29. I usually follow commonly 1 2 3 4 5 I frequently ignore rules and

accepted rules and policies policies that make little sense to
without question, even if I know I me, especially if I think I won’t get
won’t get caught. caught.

30. Time is very valuable and should 1 2 3 4 5 People should not worry about
not be wasted on trivial issues. time; there is sufficient time for
most things.

31. Most people have friends, but a 1 2 3 4 5 Most people have possessions, but
really successful person has many a really successful person has many
possessions. friends.

32. Being myself is more important 1 2 3 4 5 Fitting in with others is more

than fitting in with others. important than being myself.

33. People should go through proper 1 2 3 4 5 People should talk with anyone
channels at work to get things they need to at work to get things
done. done.

34. Societies are best run through the 1 2 3 4 5 Societies are best run through
rule of law. interpersonal relationships.

35. I believe in making serious plans 1 2 3 4 5 The future is too uncertain to plan
for the future. for seriously.

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MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

SCORING PROCEDURE
STEP #1: TRANSFER THE NUMERIC SCORES FOR EACH QUESTION TO THE BOXES BELOW .

Column #1 Column #2 Column #3 Column #4 Column #5

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

STEP #2: ADD EACH COLUMN AND WRITE THE TOTAL SCORES IN THE BOXES BELOW.

Environmental Social Power Uncertainty and Time and work

relationships relationships distribution social control patterns

SCORING KEY

E NVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS
A score of 17 or lower indicates a preference for mastery and control over the environment; a score
between 18 and 25 indicates a balance between mastery and harmony; a score of 26 or higher
indicates a preference for cooperation, economy, and living in harmony with the environment.

S OCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
A score of 17 or lower indicates a preference for individualism; a score between 18 and 25 indicates
a balance between individualism and collectivism; a score of 26 or higher indicates a preference for
collectivism.

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MANAGEMENT ACROSS CULTURES: DEVELOPING GLOBAL COMPETENCIES (SECOND EDITION)

P OWER DISTRIBUTION
A score of 17 or lower indicates a preference for hierarchical relationships in society; a score
between 18 and 25 indicates a balance between hierarchy and egalitarianism; a score 26 or higher
indicates a preference for egalitarian relationships in society.

U NCERTAINTY AND SOCIAL CONTROL

A score of 17 or lower indicates a rule-based orientation; a score between 18 and 25 indicates a
balance between rule-based and relationship-based orientations; a score of 26 or higher indicates a
relationship-based orientation.

T IME AND WORK PATTERNS

A score of 17 or lower indicates a preference for monochronic behavior; a score between 18 and 25
indicates a balance between monochronic and polychronic behavior; a score of 26 or higher
indicates a preference for polychronic behavior.

INTERPRETING THE RESULTS

It is important to remember that individual scores reflect personal preferences and that there are no
right or wrong answers. For more information concerning these dimensions and their role in global
management, refer to Chapter 3 in the text.

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