The impact of culture on entrepreneurial management Essay

The impact of culture on entrepreneurial management - Essay Example Hofstede defines culture as â€Å"the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the members of one human group from another†¦. Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values; and values are among the building blocks of culture† (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005). Culture is learned and not inherited. Individuals are born into and shaped by that culture which has been existing. This culture influences the way we think, behave and act. Culture can be referred as the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and to generate social behaviour (Rugman & Hodgetts, 2002). Cultural differences can be found at the regional, national, ethnic, and organizational levels. Hence, Hofstede (1991) suggested that cultural influences on organizations "are most clearly recognizable at the national level" (cited by Justin, 2002). This has been the most widely accepted definition of culture and this essay will determine the impact of culture on indigenous entreprene urs, immigrant entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs. Culture influences attitudes and behavior, varies within and across nations and within and across ethnicities, and is strongly embedded in indigenous communities. (Lindsay, 2005). Culture influences the motives, values, and beliefs of individuals (Hayton, George, & Zahra, 2002) that reflects on their attitudes. In term of business, people would view and conduct their business differently according to their attitude, which is derived from their own culture. â€Å"If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is culture makes all difference† (Landes, 1998). Maznevski et al., (2002) state that culture is a group-level phenomenon, but it influences individuals’ perception, values and behaviour, especially with respect to social interaction. It is thus evident that culture is an important factor of economic success. Culture is a big influence