Dissertations / Theses: 'Cultural distance'

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Wong, Lung-fai, and 黃龍輝. "Using ICT in distance learning to reduce the cultural distance." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2003. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B29612743.

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Lundborg, Jona, and Iman Nouri. "Cultural Distance and International Acquisition Performance." Thesis, Uppsala University, Department of Business Studies, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-9429.

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Based on Hofstede's findings, this study breaks down Kogut and Singh's index of cultural distance, examining implications for acquisition performance of each individual dimension. Hypotheses are formulated, and based on deal data covering 488 acquisitions with American companies as acquirers, tested through linear regression. We find support for a positive relationship between cultural distance of power distance and performance, and an inverse relationship between cultural distance of masculinity and performance. Significant results are not obtained for the remaining dimensions.

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Söderström, Jannice. "Cultural Distance : An Assessment of Cultural Effects on Trade Flows." Thesis, Jönköping University, JIBS, Economics, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-1339.

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This thesis will investigate trade patterns among 77 selected countries and how these pat-terns may be affected by cultural attributes such as similarities in culture, institutions, common border, language, and such cultural characteristics. A cultural- and institutional distance measure will be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem to assess the various cultural and institutional differences among countries. In more economic terms, a Euclid-ian space between the countries’ scores on each cultural and institutional index is calculated into one measure.

By the use of the gravity model an econometric analysis will be performed with 12 included variables in order to come to a conclusion if, and to what extent, various cultural distance measures affect trade flows. Due to scarce data availability in some of the variables the analysis is bound to the selected 77 partner countries and one time period ranging from 2003-2005. The dependent variable, and the trade flow considered in this thesis, is exports among the included countries.

The results from the performed regressions show excellent results where all variables are significant and are shown to have an effect on trade flows. Moreover, the result indicates that being similar when it comes to cultural attributes is indeed preferential for the trade partners. That is, trade increase when countries cultural affinities are large.

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Meyer, Christian. "Leadership Influence & Distance Energizing an Organization across Geographical and Ethnic-Cultural Distance /." St. Gallen, 2006. http://www.biblio.unisg.ch/org/biblio/edoc.nsf/wwwDisplayIdentifier/01652494002/$FILE/01652494002.pdf.

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Pereira, Tânia Sofia Gonçalves. "Influência da cultura chinesa na instalação de empresas no mercado chinês." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/10526.

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Mestrado em Marketing
Numa época em que a globalização avança a largos passos e vários investigadores consideram que as práticas de gestão e produtos tendem para uma uniformização nos mais diversos países, as culturas nacionais continuam a colocar um travão a este fenómeno. Cada cultura contínua a marcar fortemente a sua identidade, causando um dos possíveis principais problemas de gestão a uma organização que pretenda iniciar um processo de expansão internacional. O investimento de empresas portuguesas na China tem sofrido um aumento substancial nos últimos anos. Desta forma é relevante estudar se a cultura tem sido um entrave à instalação destas empresas, uma vez que estamos perante duas culturas tão distintas. Para tal, recorreu-se a um estudo de caso sobre uma joint-venture entre uma empresa portuguesa e uma chinesa. Foi possível detetar que na fase de instalação o choque cultural não é forçosamente negativo e sugerido que na gestão corrente o impacto seja talvez maior.
At a time when globalization is increasingly and more researchers consider that products and management practices tend to uniformity in several countries, national cultures still put a stop to this phenomenon. Each continuous culture strongly marks its identity, causing one of the possible significant management problems for an organization wishing to start a process of international expansion. The investment of Portuguese companies in China has been increasing a lot in the past few years. In this way is relevant to study if the culture has been an obstacle to the instalation of these companies, since we are dealing with two cultures so different. It was possible to detect that during the installation fase, the culture shock is not negative and is suggested that perhaps the impact on current management may be bigger.

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Lee, Sara Isabel. "Power Distance in Mormon Culture." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2015. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4413.

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Religion consists of humanity's beliefs, cultural systems, and worldviews of existence (Geertz, 1973). Its function is not merely a system of symbols that people act according to, but also the establishment of powerful, pervasive motivations in the society. This study intends to analyze the connection of religion and culture by using one of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, power distance (the extent of how power is accepted and expected to be distributed in the society). In this analysis, the researcher investigated the PDI (Power Distance Index) within the Utah Mormon culture. Researcher also compared the PDI scoring of Utah Mormon culture to the general US culture, as well as the PDI in Catholicism and Protestantism culture. The results showed that the unique Mormon cultural region in Utah has the lowest PDI in comparison to the US national culture and that of general Protestant and Catholic communities. This outcome is contrary to the general characterization of power in Utah Mormon culture. The result of this study raised more questions than answers. Although several factors and characteristics that contribute to the low PDI in Utah Mormon society, as well as its implications have been analyzed, the researcher found that this contradiction of the PDI scoring is related to Hofstede's original work. This study is challenging Hofstede's way in treating culture and its components as homogenous. Thus, each fragment of culture needs to be investigated as a separate entity. The study of power distance in Utah Mormon culture indicates how a society can understand its own characteristics and how it can communicate more effectively with other societies with different backgrounds or different PDI based on these characteristics. This study can educate people concerning how Mormons interact and perhaps might even, to a certain extent, at least, explain the conflicts in the society itself. Additionally, the results of this research can be a new contribution to the literature for this field and can further the research in verifying the characteristics of a given society.

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Tikhonova, Olesya. "Barriers to internationalization of SMEs in emerging markets : The impact of cultural constraints on the market entry choice of Swedish SMEs in Russia." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för ekonomi och företagande, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-16387.

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Internationalization is important for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) since it is a way to survive and to grow. Emerging markets have enormous latent possibilities for SMEs but behind the possibilities there are potential risks linked to political and institutional factors, uncertain economic and market conditions, and unknown business environments. National culture is one of the factors that create distance between home and host countries. In this paper, the author intends to examine the importance of cultural distance in the internationalization process and the relationship between the international experiences and cultural distance. The author focuses on the internationalization process of Swedish SMEs in Russia. Since culture is a complex phenomenon, the author scrutinizes the nature of cultural distance by employing a qualitative method by in-depth interviewing of managers from two Swedish SMEs. The theoretical framework is important for the analysis and consists of the Uppsala internationalization model and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Through the analysis of empirical data and previous research, the author finds that there are significant cultural differences between Russia and Sweden but the role of cultural distance in the internationalization process of the Swedish firms in Russia should not be exaggerated. The author’s conclusions are that cultural distance as a part of psychic distance has influence on the choice of entry mode though its impact is implicit and comes along with other factors. Another finding is that the international experiences of the firms have a great influence on the internationalization process - in the way that cultural distance becomes less important.

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Marcum, Jared. "Language Proficiency and Cultural Intelligence in Distance English-Language Learning." DigitalCommons@USU, 2017. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6691.

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The purpose of this study is to explore the viability of an international distance English-language program in the development of language and cultural proficiency. Students participated in tests at the beginning and at the end of the course to determine how well they developed both language and cultural proficiencies. The measures included (a) the computer-administered Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc) from theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), (b) ACTFL-aligned assessments of reading, listening, grammar, and vocabulary skills, and (c) the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS). In addition, course activities surveys provided additional information about student perceptions of course activities. Participants in this study came from various countries as they prepared to attend a U.S. university in Hawaii.The distance learning program fostered language proficiency through various learning activities, with an emphasis on synchronous dialogue over video chat technologies. In addition to English-language proficiency, the program sought to help students learn to effectively communicate with students from other cultures. Cross-cultural proficiency was fostered through cross-cultural dialogue with tutors, teachers, and other students. Students showed improvement in speaking, listening, vocabulary, and grammar. However, on average, students did not show an improvement in reading proficiency. Students reported that dialogue with tutors and teachers was among the most helpful activities in learning English. Students showed some improvement in cultural proficiency. However, this improvement was not universal across all measures of cultural proficiency. Students reported that certain activities—particularly dialogue with tutors and other students—as helpful in developing cross-cultural proficiencies.This study also investigated the relationship between language proficiency and cultural proficiency. Results were mixed. With a few exceptions, cultural proficiency did not predict a student’s language proficiency at the beginning of the course, during the course, or at the end of the course.

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Jia, Xiao. "Three essays on empirical corporate finance." Thesis, Cergy-Pontoise, Ecole supérieure des sciences économiques et commerciales, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019ESEC0004.

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Le dénominateur commun des trois chapitres de cette thèse est la décision d’internationalisation des entreprises et des fonds de capital-investissement. J'explore de quelle façon les motivations de transfert de technologie, la distance culturelle et la gouvernance des entreprises affectent le choix et la performance de ces investissements internationaux. Les questions de recherche que je traite sont les suivantes : le transfert de technologie est-il un déterminant important de la décision de s’engager dans des opérations de fusions-acquisitions internationales ? Comment les acquéreurs dans les marchés émergents créent-ils de la valeur lorsqu’ils s’engagent dans des opérations de fusions internationales ? Comment la distance culturelle, géographique ou institutionnelle affecte la performance des opérations de fusions-acquisitions internationales et la performance des investissements internationaux réalisés par les fonds d’investissement
A common thread of the three chapters addresses the abovementioned trends and focuses on the internationalization decisions of both firms and PEs. I try to explore how technology transfer motivations, cultural distance, corporate governance, and country level characteristics affect the choice and performance of these international investments. Some of the research questions I tackle are: does the aim of technology transfer affect the decision of cross-border M&As? How do emerging-market acquirers create value in the international mergers? How would cultural, geographical distance and institutional distance affect the performance of cross-border M&As and the performance of international investments made by PEs?

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Chiba, Manoj Dayal. "Are national and organisational cultures isomorphic? HQ-subsidiary relations." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29463.

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Cultural differences between countries are widely acknowledged, and these differences manifest in HQ-subsidiary relations of MNCs. Central to the strategies that MNCs implement outside their home countries is the understanding of the dynamic nature of culture. While studies exist on the HQ-subsidiary relations these studies fall short in understanding the impact on individuals employed by MNCs. Thus, understanding if common differences between MNCs from different countries exist and how these manifest at the individual level may provide valuable insight into the nature of culture. 404 responses from 12 MNCs representing 5 countries was collected and analysed. Analysis included principle component analysis, ANOVA, correlation co-efficients and the cultural distance index. Results indicate that individual and organisational cultures are weakly correlated to home and host country national cultures; and individual culture is correlated to organisational culture. Common differences exist between MNCs with HQ in different countries. MNCs from South Korea are the most accommodating to the subsidiary organisational culture, while the Netherlands the least accommodating. Unintentionally results indicated that the perception of cultural distance is different to what is predicted. Culture is elastic and evidence exists for individuals holding an in-culture and out-culture. MNCs should understand the impact of culture at the individual level rather than only at the national level.
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
unrestricted

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Sivasubramaniam, Diane Psychology Faculty of Science UNSW. "Trust and power-distance: cross-cultural issues in juvenile justice conferencing." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Psychology, 2005. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/23404.

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Conferencing is a Restorative Justice practice operating in juvenile justice systems in Australia. Some conferences are convened by police, despite research demonstrating that ethnic minority youth often view police as biased or untrustworthy. Justice research in evaluative legal procedures indicates that perceived third party bias and outcomes delivered by a third party affect fairness judgments. Many disputants regard conferences as more fair than court. However, psychological mechanisms underlying fairness judgments in conferences, where offenders participate in outcome decisions, have not been directly investigated. This research program examined the effects of outcome and perceived convenor bias on procedural and distributive justice ratings in conferencing. Past research indicates that people high and low on Hofstede??s power-distance dimension differ in their emphases on outcome and third party bias when forming fairness judgments. This thesis investigated whether power-distance moderated the interactive effect of trust and outcome on fairness judgments in conferences. Study 1 established power-distance variation in a university sample, and similarity with a community sample on perceived police bias. Study 2 confirmed that high power-distance people who consider police biased against them may nonetheless choose to participate in police-convened conferences. Studies 3 and 4 extended previous research examining interactive effects of trust and outcome on justice judgments in evaluative procedures, investigating whether power-distance moderated this effect. No significant effects of power-distance and trust emerged, but the findings demonstrated the importance of outcome fairness (correspondence between outcomes and beliefs) in determining procedural justice. Studies 5, 6 and 7 extended this investigation to conferencing procedures. Studies 6 and 7 employed a computer-simulation, allowing participants to interact with a conference transcript and select outcomes, thereby investigating the effects of trust and power-distance on outcome choice, as well as the effects of trust, power-distance, and outcome on justice evaluations. Studies 5 and 6 were unsuccessful in manipulating bias by varying convenor identity (police versus civilian). Study 7 successfully manipulated bias according to convenor behaviour and revealed that third party bias in conferencing affected outcome choices but not fairness judgments. Results are discussed in terms of implications for culturally-relevant police practices, procedural justice theory and conferencing policy.

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Habteab, Biniam Gebremichael, and STEVE ASARE ODURO. "Cross-cultural adjustment of inpatriates : Indian inpatriates in Sandvik." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för ekonomi, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-18222.

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of cultural distance in cross-cultural adjustment of inpatriates. Furthermore, it investigates the role of organizational and social support in cross-cultural adjustment. Method In order to achieve the purpose of this study a qualitative method of data gathering was chosen. A case study was conducted in Sandvik Sweden in Gävle, and personal interviews were done with the Indian inpatriates and other representatives involved in international assignment. Findings The cultural distance between Sweden and Indian directly affect the concept of teamwork in Sandvik-Sweden and Sanvik-India. To understand the cultural background and motive of inpatriates is important in designing organizational support that facilitates anticipatory and in-country adjustment processes. The existence of a recognized socializing way at headquarter eases to interact and develop interpersonal relationship, which facilitate the adjustment process of inpatriates through referral made from known sources. Implication and suggestion for the future This study can assist multinational companies that are interested in the Cross- cultural adjustment process of inpatriates. We suggest for additional investigations in different organizational setup about the same subject matter to compare new results with the current findings. Future researchers can also investigate the impact of repatriation of inpatriates’ in cross- cultural adjustment.
Masters Thesis

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Konara, Palitha, and Alexander Mohr. "Why we should stop using the Kogut-Singh-Index." Springer, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11575-019-00378-7.

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The Kogut and Singh (1988) index is the most widely used construct to measure cultural distance in international business and management research. We show that this index is incorrectly specified and captures the squared cultural distance. This inaccuracy is problematic because it means that the empirical findings on the effects of cultural distance presented in different strands of international business research are likely to be misleading. We specify the correct form of the distance measure based on the Euclidean distance formula and demonstrate the implications of using the incorrectly specified Kogut and Singh (1988) index.

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Norell, Bergendahl Anna. "Cultural Distance and Foreign Direct Investment : Does it Matter for Swedish Firms?" Thesis, KTH, Entreprenörskap och Innovation, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-168657.

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This thesis employs a random effects panel estimator to assess the relationship between Swedish outward foreign direct investment (FDI) stock and cultural distance for a panel of 75 countries covering the period 1998–2012. Cultural distance, operationalized by differences in Schwartz cultural orientations and gender equality, adds to the liability of foreignness and is hypothesized to have a negative impact on outward FDI stock. The theoretical underpinning for the hypothesis is based on a gravity model adapted to FDI, which shows that distance between countries reduces the amount of FDI that takes place between them. The results from the analysis provide partial support for the hypothesis as differences in some of Schwartz cultural orientations (harmony, embeddedness and egalitarianism) have a significant and negative effect on Swedish firms´ outward FDI stock. Moreover, differences in women´s economic rights are positively related to FDI, while no significant effects are found for differences in share of women in parliament.

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Ogle, David Hadlow. "The value of distance : art's cultural identity amidst technology's transformations of space." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2018. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3026646/.

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This study explores technology's propensity to transform our comprehensions of space, considering the implications of this for our understandings of the work of art and the value that we ascribe to it. With our encounters increasingly a by-product of technological interface, the central question of this work is posed as follows: In what ways (and to what degree) may we regard the contemporary conditions facing the art object (and the values that these elicit) as a consequence of our prevailing technological landscape and its capacity to re-configure our conceptions of space and place? In confronting this, the study begins by surveying recent public justifications made for the arts and the criteria by which their value is ascertained. A trend is recognised, in the growing prevalence of instrumental qualifiers for art's worth (its quantifiable impacts as a social utility) and a shift away from intrinsic measures. In response to this, I propose the concept of Accumulative Value, arguing that the totality of an art object's intellectual considerations and explorations (over historical time) are an intrinsic attribute of the object itself and a qualifier of its objective worth. The notion of value itself (with its varying interpretations) is then explored, followed by a contemporary re-evaluation of Walter Benjamin's concept of the aura, arguing that in our present circumstances this notion may be used in description of an object's fixed spatial locality. The degree to which technologies of telepresence undermine such locality is then examined, noting trends in technological progression toward an abolition of distance, in both a spatial and temporal sense, that diminish our ability to recognise Accumulative Value. In consummation, it is proposed that technologies, as Competitive Cognitive Artefacts, may play a role in manifesting a situation in which the intrinsic measures of art's worth are progressively disregarded, yet, that the auric artwork can come to fulfil a timely imperative, in reconnecting us to a somatic relationship with space and a linear understanding of time; such perceivable phenomena that are jeopardised by technological transformations.

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Xu, Albert. "Investigating the Effects of Cultural Distance on the Gravity Model of Trade." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2017. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1568.

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The gravity model of trade is the workhorse model for international trade. In its most basic form, it stipulates that bilateral trade flow between two countries is proportional to the countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the distance between them. According to the gravity model, the elasticity of trade flows to distance, or the “distance effect,” has increased since the early 1970s, a confounding empirical result known as the “distance puzzle.” This paper investigates the distance effect more closely by decomposing it. More specifically, it aims to isolate the effects from culture, constructing measures of cultural distance and examining their effects on bilateral trade levels and the distance effect. The results show that cultural differences do not account for the distance puzzle. However, it also finds that cultural distance has both a substantial and statistically significant effect on bilateral trade.

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Ladum, Ariel Mitchell. "Cultural Distance, Acculturative Stress, Social Support, and Psychological Adaptation of International Students." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6346.

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International students experience stress and adaptation difficulties as they study in a new culture. This study examined how cultural distance, acculturative stress, and social support interacted to influence positive and negative emotional responses among international students in the northern part of Cyprus. Acculturation models and the stress-buffering hypothesis served as theoretical frameworks. The 2 research questions involved understanding whether international students experienced more negative emotional responses compared to students from the home culture and whether social support moderated acculturative stress and reactions to being in the northern part of Cyprus. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine differences in emotional reactions between home and international students while 2 hierarchical multiple regressions examined the moderation hypotheses. ANOVA results indicated that Turkish-Cypriots had more positive emotional responses than international students. Results did not support social support as a moderator for either international students' acculturative stress or their emotional reactions. However, results suggested that unmet expectations, less financial satisfaction, and less social support predicted acculturative stress, while being in a relationship, having higher Turkish proficiency, having unmet expectations, and experiencing higher acculturative stress predicted more negative emotional reactions. These results may help universities design programs to support the psychological adaptation of international students, which could ultimately facilitate student retention.

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Ambos, Björn, Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, and Phillip C. Nell. "Conceptualizing and Measuring Distance in International Business Research: Recurring Questions and Best Practice Guidelines." Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41267-018-0182-4.

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Distance is a central concept in international business research, yet there is debate about the construct as well as its operationalization. In this editorial, we address three of the most important recurring questions posed by authors, editors, and reviewers by examining the theory, methods, and data of distance research. We discuss (1) how to theorize on distance, and (2) what method and (3) what data to use when constructing a distance index. We develop practical recommendations grounded in theory, illustrating and supporting them by calculating cross-country distance indices for all available country pairs and two of the most used distance indices: cultural and institutional distance. We show that whereas a specific method to calculate distance may matter to some extent, the choice for a specific cultural or institutional framework to measure cultural or institutional distance has a major impact on country pair distances. Overall, this editorial highlights the importance of matching data and method to the theoretical argument.

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Morawski, Longino. "Cultural distance and organizational culture in the context of transnational companies in the startup phase in Brazil." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018AIXM0112.

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Cette étude de doctorat est le fruit de l’union entre la pratique réussie en tant que cadre supérieur, qui s’est déroulée successivement durant plus de 15 ans dans différentes compagnies multinationales, et la source théorique de recommandations des meilleures pratiques des sciences de l’information, de la communication, de l’administration, et des maîtres à penser dans les divers domaines de connaissances en relation avec le sujet. Elle aborde de manière incisive les piliers de soutien, ainsi que les points critiques de succès et d’échecs dans l’implémentation des entreprises au Brésil, principalement dans les restructurations et les ‘’startups’’ des entreprises multinationales liées aux stratégies de l’implémentation de nouveaux négoces, la gouvernance, la culture de résultats, la structure organisationnelle, la gestion et la direction. Cette étude vise à démontrer l’impact singulier de la structure et de la culture organisationnelle dans l’efficience de nouvelles affaires, l’engagement des divers collaborateurs, ainsi que son impact sur les résultats en raison de ces deux facteurs. Elle vise également à indiquer les opportunités de l’innovation et finalement, la plus grande intégration entre le pays d’origine et le pays d’implantation
This doctoral study is the result of the union between successful practice as an executive, which occurred successively for more than 15 years in different global companies, and the theoretical sources of recommendation of best practices in the information and communication sciences, administration of companies, and of gurus in several areas of knowledge related to the subject.It directly addresses the support pillars, as well as the critical success and failure points for business implementation in Brazil - mainly in restructurings and startups of global companies - related to strategies for implementing new business, governance, culture of results, organizational structure, management and leadership.This study demonstrates the unique impact of organizational structure and culture on the effectiveness of a new business and the commitment and engagement of employees and their impact on results, due to these two factors.It points out opportunities for innovation, addressing new trends in networking that require greater flexibility and fundamentally greater integration between the country of origin and the country of entry

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Nguyen, Tram, and Özden Aylin Cakanlar. "The influence of culture on impulse buying : A cross-cultural study on impulse buying." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-53485.

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Background: Impulse buying is increasingly grown and it creates up to 80% of all purchases in certain low involvement product categories. In Sweden, a Swede can spend 20000SEK a year for impulse shopping in average. On the other hand, impulse buying is calculated to be strongly grown in the emerging markets such as Vietnam and Turkey. Due to the steady economic growth of 7% every year in Vietnam, it leads to a higher demand in shopping of the consumers. Similarly, Turkey’s economy is considered as one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and consequently leads to the increase of impulse buying behavior among the customers. Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to expand the understanding of the impulse buying behavior by looking further into the role of culture in cross-cultural contexts Hypothesis: H1-There is a significant relationship between individualism-collectivism and impulse buying behavior. H2- There is a significant relationship between power distance and impulse buying behavior. H3- There is a significant relationship between uncertainty-avoidance and impulse buying behavior H4- There is a significant relationship between masculinity-femininity and impulse buying behavior Methodology: Three focus groups and seven interviews are served as the pre-study and a cross-cultural questionnaire is substantially conducted across three countries: Sweden, Turkey and Vietnam. Findings: Culture generates certain effects on impulse buying behavior and the influence is diverse across these countries. However, the findings also indicate that there could be other factors that could affect impulse buying behavior.

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Ekroos, Emma, and Camilla Sjöberg. "The effect of management's perception of psychic distance on organizational performance in a foreign market." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för ekonomi och teknik (SET), 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-17851.

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Globalization and global markets are dominating in the today’s business arena. Companies are more often than not required to internationalize and operate in global markets instead of just competing within national borders. Due to the high level of globalization, psychic distance between nations and countries is argued to have decreased significantly. However, underlying national and business culture differences still very much exist and companies must be aware of and take the differences into account in their international operations. For decades cross-cultural science has been guided by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model and it is widely used to research and describe national cultures and differences between different cultures. Psychic distance concept is one of the most applied constructs of multinational enterprises’ internationalization and it has deservedly attracted a lot of attention within the literature and research of international business. Psychic distance is recurrently utilized when presenting and evaluating differences between a company’s home and foreign market. The general underlying notion of psychic distance is that companies operating in psychically close countries will succeed in their international operations. However, there is an increasing amount of research and literature providing contradictory evidence, referred to as psychic distance paradox. According to the concept of psychic distance paradox, perceived similarities within countries may result in cultural overconfidence and inadequate preparation prior entering psychically close markets resulting in poor organizational performance. The aim of the dissertation is to contribute in the research of the psychic distance concept regarding the existence of the psychic distance paradox and how it appears in the international business. The main focus is on management’s perceptions of psychic distance and how they affect a company’s organizational performance in psychically close foreign market. From the research conducted it can be concluded that the management’s perceptions of psychic distance can essentially affect the company’s organizational performance in a foreign market. In case the management’s perceptions of psychic distance are not in accordance with reality and the differences are overlooked, the company can face difficulties and poor organizational performance even in a psychically close market. The findings of the research provide additional proof to the existence of the psychic distance paradox concept.

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Gullekson, Nicole L. "Cultural Distance, Perception of Emotional Display Rules, and Their Influence on Sojourner Adjustment." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1186409258.

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Singh, Ajay Sarangdevot. "Cultural Worldview, Psychological Distance, and Americans’ Support for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Policy." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1420799123.

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Nunes, Filipa Moreira. "Investimentos portugueses no Brasil: o caso das pequenas e médias empresas." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/5038.

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Dissertação de Mestrado em Relações Internacionais - Especialização em Internacionalização da Empresa
Este estudo pretende contribuir para a análise do fenómeno crescente da internacionalização das Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PME) a nível global e, em especial, em Portugal. Assim, focamo-nos na análise dos investimentos realizados pelas PME portuguesas no Brasil entre 1996 e 2001 à luz dos quadros teóricos existentes do Investimento Directo Estrangeiro (IDE). Os estudos disponíveis até à data centram-se, essencialmente, nas grandes empresas portuguesas que escolheram o Brasil como destino preferencial de internacionalização, negligenciando os casos das PME que também estiveram presentes nesse processo. Concluímos que os quadros teóricos existentes sobre o IDE, apesar de não terem sido desenvolvidos para explicar a internacionalização das PME, contêm elementos comuns que podem ser úteis para a formação de um quadro teórico que tenha em conta as idiossincrasias das PME. Abordamos também a importância dos factores não económicos na internacionalização, nomeadamente os culturais que têm ganho força explicativa com os conceitos de distância psíquica e da distância cultural, particularmente no caso das PME. Esta questão ganha especial importância com a internacionalização a tornar-se global e quando, os países partilham laços históricos e culturais como é o caso de Portugal e do Brasil.
This study aims to contribute to the analysis of the growing phenomenon of internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at the global level and particularly in Portugal. Thus, we focus on the analysis of investments by Portuguese SMEs in Brazil between 1996 and 2001 in the light of existing theoretical frameworks of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The available studies to date focus mainly on large Portuguese companies that have chosen Brazil as the preferred destination for internationalization neglecting the cases of SMEs that were also present in this process. We conclude that existing theoretical frameworks on FDI, despite not having been developed to explain the internationalization of SMEs, contain common elements that may be useful to form a theoretical framework that takes into account the idiosyncrasies of SMEs. We address the importance of non-economic factors in internationalization namely the cultural that have gain explanatory power with the development of the concepts of psychic distance and cultural distance, particularly for SMEs. This issue is of particular importance with internationalization to become global and when countries share historical and cultural ties as is the case of Portugal and Brazil.

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25

Creed, Charlotte. "Towards a framework for addressing diverse learners in international, English-medium, print-centred DE : a Zimbabwean case study." Thesis, Open University, 1998. http://oro.open.ac.uk/54851/.

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This study examines an increasingly common distance learning context: where tertiary level and English-medium DE courses are produced, tutored and examined in one country but studied by learners in other countries and who have English as an additional language. Empirical work is drawn from a case-study of agricultural extension officers in disparate parts of Zimbabwe undertaking a professional development course which is produced and mainly tutored in the distant UK. This long-distance cross-cultural writing relationship between academics and students serves as a basis for the examination of difficulties created by taken-for-granted educational practices embedded in the course structure and materials, particularly in relation to language and academic literacy. The study examines contemporary debates around internationalised learning, including cultural and linguistic imperialism and the desirability of locally-produced courses, and provides an insight into black Zimbabwean perspectives on them. It explores a variety of contextual issues including the wider significance of DE in a southern African context, gendered learning patterns, the linguistic repertoire of the students and their academic literacy background. Drawing on grounded theory, discourse analysis, literacy as social practice and genre theories,this overseas research aims to provide the UK course producers with insight into some of the particularities of the Zimbabwean learning context and some of the learning and teaching resources which exists beyond their control and ambit. It is hoped that more multi-faceted image of some of their learners may help course producers consider more closely the differences and commonalities between course participants; it may challenge the normative pedagogy embedded in the course and prompt the producers to consider appropriate responses;it may raise the policy question of how to establish, within an asymmetrical donor-recipient situation, a north-south academic relationship of an emancipatory kind. These aims spring from the conviction that as we move towards globalised educational contexts, dominated by market leaders, significant changes and improvements in educational practice are more likely to come about as a result of an emerging reflexivity on the part of the course producers. Learners and importers of course may not have much influence over such decisions.

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26

Guy, Richard, and edu au jillj@deakin edu au mikewood@deakin edu au wildol@deakin edu au kimg@deakin. "DISTANCE, DIALOGUE AND DIFFERENCE A Postpositivist Approach to Understanding Distance Education in Papua New Guinea." Deakin University. School of Education, 1994. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20041209.093035.

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This study focuses on the experiences of a group of educators engaged in a professional development program by distance education in Papua New Guinea. The participants in this study have been keeping professional journals, for periods of up to three years, about their experiences of distance education. Their discourses have been used to form a connected group of research participants, who use an action framework to focus on problematic issues surrounding distance education in Papua New Guinea. It is a piece of research, framed by critical theory, and characterised by participation, collaboration, reflexivity, reciprocity and empowerment. The process of the study is based in dialogue, and takes the view that research is constituted of a transformative perspective, which alters the way research participants understand the multiple realities in which they live and work, arid ultimately results in improvements in their lived experiences. The nature of the methodology privileges Voice' and a discourse of difference from each participant which contributes to the problematic nature of the study. The study has concerned itself, increasingly, with issues of power and control in the research process, and this has resulted in significant changes in the research as participants have become more conscious of issues such as distance, dialogue and difference. The study has evolved over a period of time in significant ways, and evidence is available that teachers in Papua New Guinea, despite structural and pedagogical barriers, are critically reflective and are able to transform their practice in ways which are consistent with social, cultural and political contexts in which they live and work. A number of 'local1 theories about research and distance education in Papua New Guinea are developed by the participants as they become informed about issues during the research. The practice of distance education and professional development, at personal and institutional levels, undergoes reconstruction during the life of the research and the study 'signals' other ways in which distance education and professional development may be reconstructed in Papua New Guinea.

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Van, den Houten Gerardus Jan. "Relationship Bonding, Trust and Cultural Distance in Strategic International Public-Private Partnerships in Africa." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/67299.

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Strategic international public-private partnerships (SIPPPs) involve private multinational and public domestic sector parties. SIPPPs are a more complex but less studied form of international strategic alliance (ISA) and increasingly important in the development of emerging economies. A growing body of ISA research has suggested the importance of cultural differences in the often-reported failure of such cross-cultural relationships, but their exact nature remains unknown. This study examines the effects of both national and organisational cultural value systems on trust-building in SIPPPs. It uniquely also tests whether the two types of cultural values are accorded differently by the two types of partner, private and public. The complex relationship building processes were studied through the combined lenses of social-exchange and cultural-exchange theories, providing a rich perspective on the phenomenon under study. The sample, based on purposive sampling, consisted of successful and unsuccessful SIPPS of various sizes, from different industries, operating in a number of African countries. Africa, with its challenging environment and increasing focus on SIPPPs, represented an "extreme context" within which hypotheses could be rigorously tested. The relationships were tested empirically using structural equation modelling. The study confirmed a strong relationship between partners’ economic and collaborative interdependency on the one hand, and mutual trust-levels on the other. Cultural difference was shown to have both a negative direct effect as well as a positive moderating effect on trust building, providing support for the notion of a “cultural paradox”. Strong evidence was provided that partners from opposite sides of the dyad, informed by their respective cultural backgrounds, have different perceptions of the relative importance of these relationships in building trust. The findings have theoretical and practical significance, suggesting that SIPPP partners can improve trust levels and sustain their relationship by building ties of economic interdependence and engaging in collaborative actions to build their collaborative interdependence. The importance of partners being sensitive to each other’s needs and perceptions, and of engaging in reciprocity to build mutual confidence and trust seems critical. The findings have important implications for SIPPP design and needed management skills, as well as for future cross-cultural dyadic research.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
PhD
Unrestricted

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28

Pinnaka, Sumanth. "Negative Attitude Towards AI and Its Relationship with the Cultural Dimension of Power Distance." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för informatik och media, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-420372.

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Earlier studies have focused on the relationship between negative attitudes towards AI and collective culture of the country (country of origin). These differences may be because of sizeable differences in the power distance index (PDI) on the population level between different countries. We investigated the relationship between power distance index (PDI) of individuals; and their attitudes towards AI through a survey of participants from two countries, India and Sweden, where there are large differences in PDI on the population level. Results of the correlation test showed that power distance correlates positively with negative attitudes towards interactions with AI and the social influence of AI i.e. higher PDI means more of a negative attitude towards AI. However, power distance correlates positively to the acceptance of AI in a workplace environment, i.e. higher PDI means higher acceptance of AI in the workplace. The latter result was contradictory to our expectations and contradicted an earlier study [8], wherein high PDI showed hindrance in acceptance of the technology at workplace.

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29

DeJong, Dale Alan. "The Path of Least Resistance: An Advanced Index Alternative to the Cultural Distance Index for Measuring International Expansion." FIU Digital Commons, 2017. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3483.

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In response to a call for more advanced and more inclusive models for measuring difficulty of international expansion, the resistance index (RI) was created and is advanced in this paper. The RI includes several factors that contribute (detract) to the success (failure) of firms regarding cross border expansion. The RI features variables that represent country specific advantages (CSA), firm specific advantages (FSA), and government specific advantages (GSA). These three areas are represented by a diverse set of data obtained from such widely recognized agencies as the World Bank and Thomson Reuters. Taking data from different sources, may render better predictability for firms than using the popular cultural distance index. Therefore, it is proposed that the RI may be a more relevant tool for firms to use when they are considering international expansion into a particular country, or for researchers to employ in undertaking success or failure in international expansion.

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30

Torsein, Ellinor. "International business negotiations - cultural distance and adaption : Swedish businessmen negotiating with Norwegian and Spanish counterparts /." Göteborg : BAS, University of Gothenburg, School of Business, Economics and Law, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2077/22296.

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31

Lear, Joseph M. "Crafting a cross-cultural college course in marriage counseling for pastoral training through distance education." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 2007. http://www.tren.com/search.cfm?p036-0384.

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32

Decker, Jacob Curt. "Relationship between Cultural Distance and Entry Mode by Western European Multinational Enterprises into Eastern Asia." Thesis, Grand Canyon University, 2019. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=13812736.

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This study investigates if and to what extent there is a statistically significant predictive relationship between cultural distance, and its subfactors (power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism/collectivism, and masculinity/femininity), and entry mode by Western Europe MNE into Eastern Asia. Using transaction cost economic theory, the quantitative study with a predictive correlational design was conducted on 490 cross-border mergers and acquisitions by MNE from seven Western European countries entering five Eastern Asian countries from 2005 to 2015. Data for the entry mode criterion was obtained from SDC platinum and Hofstede?s cultural dimensions were used as predictors. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted on entry mode and cultural distance as a construct, and hierarchical multiple regression was conducted on entry mode and four cultural dimensions. The findings indicate that cultural distance has an inverted U-shaped predictive relationship with entry mode, R2 = .024, p = .001. As cultural distance increases MNE managers tend to use a higher equity entry mode until reaching a point after which any further increase in cultural distance a lower equity entry mode was used. It was also found that uncertainty avoidance has a positive predictive relationship with entry mode, R2 = .010, F(1, 488) = 5.157, p = .024, B = .034, p = .024. Additionally, entry mode is best predicted by a model with uncertainty avoidance and power distance, R2 = .022, p = .004. These findings indicate that using unindexed cultural dimensions may also demonstrate a significantly predictive relationship while providing additional contextual information than can be found with an indexed cultural distance construct.

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33

Grubb, Henry Jefferson. "Intellectual assessment and prediction: an analysis of cultural involvement based on the culutrual-distance hypothesis." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52294.

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This paper explores socio-cultural factors which lead to group performance differences on IQ tests and learning tasks in an attempt to determine empirically if the Cultural-Distance Approach hypothesis is useful in accounting for these differences. The Cultural-Distance Approach, briefly stated, suggests that a sub-culture's distance from the major culture on which questions of a test are based and validated will determine that sub-culture's sub-score pattern. Results of the present study indicate that although Blacks and Whites perform similarly on-learning tasks, they perform differently on standardized IQ tests, possibly because of the loading of cultural influences on the latter measures. When cultural influences are controlled for, differences in IQ performance are minimized (i.e., statistically non-significant). The present investigation was a follow-up of the author's previous work in this area (Master‘s thesis; Grubb, 1983), and consisted of two studies. One was a reanalysis of the data obtained in the original study with the addition of college entrance exam scores (SAT) and college grade point averages on the 80 original students. The second study consisted of a replication of the original work with 40-Black and 40-White undergraduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. New variables, and their correlation to intelligence, were investigated and included; personality characteristics, racial/ethnic identification, and social adjustment to college. In addition to the previously stated relationships between intelligence, race, and cultural-distance, new information was obtained which indicates: (1) a positive correlation between a conservative, compliant personality and academic ascendancy; (2) a significant correspondence between college involvement (social adaptation or the reduction of cultural-distance) and grade-rated academic performance; and (3) a hypothesized process of supra-cultural (university) adaptation for both Black and White students which has a limiting effect on their sub-culturally based self-esteem. In all, and from all the various sources, this paper tends to support the Cultural-Distance Hypothesis and its influence on group IQ performance.
Ph. D.

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34

Hartvigson, Johannes, and Rayan Hourani. "Swedish Companies in Saudi Arabia : The Struggle to Maintain Corporate Culture." Thesis, Jönköping University, JIBS, EMM (Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management), 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-9302.

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Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming one of the most attractive areas in the world for foreign investors. At the same time the country has a major influence on the economy in the Middle-East. However there exist reasons for why companies previously have been reluctant to enter this market, these reasons have mainly been related to political turbulence, foreign traditions and culture. In recent years some research has been dedicated to this area however there is still more to investigate.

The purpose of this thesis has thereby been to identify what problems Swedish companies have encountered when operating in Saudi Arabia in terms of psychic distance, asymmetric information and working towards mutual goals. Hence, what problems they have dealt with during the continuous work and to what extent they have managed to maintain their corporate culture.

The authors chose to conduct a deductive multiple case study including four Swedish companies with operations in Saudi Arabia, these were Abetong, IKEA, Oriflame and Tetra Pak. The research took a qualitative approach as four in-depth interviews were conducted with managers in suitable positions at respective company.

The findings of the thesis indicate that the companies to a great extent have been able to maintain their corporate culture, and the adaptations that were made were mainly related to women’s role in Saudi society. In terms of psychic distance, this is something that has been encountered to a certain extent by all of the companies. Challenges have mainly been faced within the areas of religion, political systems, culture and educational level whereas the economic development was generally perceived as an opportunity. As for problems with asymmetric information and working towards mutual goals, these have not been reflected to a greater extent within any of the companies. However the problems that have been encountered have been related to language barriers.

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35

Puck, Jonas, Markus K. Hödl, Igor Filatotchev, Hans-Georg Wolff, and Benjamin Bader. "Ownership mode, cultural distance, and the extent of parent firms strategic control over subsidiaries in the PRC." Springer, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10490-016-9471-2.

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Previous studies often associated a specific type of ownership mode with the extent of control a parent firm may have over (strategic) decision-making in a foreign subsidiary, suggesting that parent firms should have higher control over wholly-owned subsidiaries (WoS) than international joint ventures (IJVs). Building on principal agent theory, we argue that in the Chinese context higher ownership levels do not necessarily have a positive effect on the extent of control over the foreign subsidiary. We further argue that cultural distance between the parent firm and the subsidiary moderates this relationship. We test our hypotheses using data from a sample of 156 foreign subsidiaries in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and find strong support for our arguments. Our findings show that in WoS parent firms reduce their extent of control, while in IJVs parent firms increase their extent of control. Moreover, we find that extent of control over WoS (IJVs) declines (increases) when cultural distance increases. Our results have significant theoretical implications for international business (IB) research as they challenge existing views with regard to the relationship between ownership mode and control as well as the moderating effect of cultural distance.

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36

Tinggren, Maja, Shuang Wang, and Loza Wanna. "Illusion of symmetry between institutional contexts : A thesis of how asymmetry in managers perception on cultural and institutional distance affect the extent of firms’ adaptation to a different institutional context." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-36688.

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Internationalization of firms has been an on-going process for many years, however, over the recent years, there has been radical changes in the business world, which has created a more competitive business environment for firms. This change in the business environment has not been an easy process nor is it anticipated to get any easier. International firms entering new markets are faced with different challenges, which could be embedded in the behaviour specific to the people living in these countries. Cultural distance is defined as complex and intangible and measured only at a single point in time. Cultural distance easy creates an “illusion” of symmetry where measures at the time of market entry might have changed by the time the performance is measured. Measuring only the cultural distance is not enough to fully understand the international behaviour and how business practices have adapted to the foreign market, to do so one need to understand the institutional distance in order to understand the behavioural patterns existing within the foreign market and adapt its business practices accordingly. There is no support for the perception of cultural and institutional distance between two institutional contexts to be symmetric; it is an illusion of symmetry. Therefore the purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how asymmetry in firms’ perception on cultural and institutional distance affect the extent of firms’ adaptation. This is by increase understanding on how firms from different institutional contexts perceive the distance between them and to what extent they adapt their business practices to the foreign market. In order to answer this purpose a qualitative research has been conducted where managers in three firms from Sweden and three firms from China has been interviewed on their perception of distance on the opposite market. The theoretical framework has included a presentation of the cultural distance, the institutional distance and adaptation of business practices. This has been followed by a theoretical synthesis, which has been conducted based on the theoretical concepts. Furthermore, the empirical chapter presents the findings of each case company. In the analysis chapter, the theoretical framework has been analyzed together with the empirical data. Based on the analysis the authors have been able to conclude that asymmetry in firms’ perception on distance affects the extent of firm’s adaptation of business practices to the institutional context. It can be concluded that Swedish firms adapt business practices to less extent than Chinese firms and the reason behind it is the asymmetry in firms’ perception of distance. Swedish firms investing in the Chinese market is not faced with the same distance as a Chinese firm investing in the Swedish market, and thus they do not adapt to the same degree.

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37

Karatas, Esra. "The Role Of Cultural Route Planning In Cultural Heritage Conservation The Case Of Central Lycia." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12613825/index.pdf.

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The main subject of the thesis is planning &ldquo
cultural routes&rdquo
as a method for conservation of cultural and natural heritage areas at regional scale. Defining a framework of conceptual principles which should be considered in spatial planning of cultural routes and regional networks constitutes the major aim of the thesis. Within the scope of the study, a new developing concept recently, cultural routes are discussed as a tool for sustaining historic and local values of rural and archaeological landscapes. In this respect, the study is structured in two main parts. Firstly, conceptual background on the issue is discussed as the development of cultural route concept, definitions declared by international organizations working on the issue and principles of route planning. Secondly, based on the conceptual research, basic concepts and principles for route planning process is discussed through a case study. The case study for the thesis is selected as the Kas- Kekova region in Antalya, known as the Central Lycia in antiquity. Depending on the assessment of region&rsquo
s cultural landscape, the study is resulted by description of a spatial and conceptual framework for planning of a cultural route network in the region. Through areas rich in cultural and natural heritage, planning routes and networks at regional scale could be used as an effective tool for presenting and sustaining multivalent character of the place, and leading economic sectors which have effect on heritage.

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38

Gomootsukhavadee, Methavee, and Cruz José de Jesús Tavera. "Guidelines to Overcome Cultural Barriers by Coping with the Power Distance for the Successful Project Implementation in China." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Handelshögskolan vid Umeå universitet, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-39377.

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Some authors have identified different cultural dimensions that could be used to classify people from different cultures in terms of values, believes, and behaviors which are defined by the environment where they are brought up. Among these dimensions, power distance is hi-lighted in this research in order to identify how the relationships of power among individuals would be a cause of cultural barriers that could ultimately prevent managers from the successful accomplishment of objectives. In the field of project management is during the project implementation when the interaction among stakeholders will reach its highest point of importance. This is due to the fact that all plans formulated in previous phases will be transformed into real actions. International project management required special skills and knowledge in order to achieve the right implementation of the strategy to accomplish a proper project completion. Therefore, this research is made in response to the need within the project management field for having a practical tool that could be applied to overcome cultural barriers. By gathering the point of view of managers from different backgrounds and ages, Chinese and non-Chinese, a list of practical guidelines is provided for foreigners to follow in order to avoid conflicts which could be initiated by cultural issues related to the way relationships of power are established in China. In order to develop these guidelines, a qualitative research method has been applied in this study by carrying out semi-structured interviews to a diversified group of people, Chinese and non-Chinese, in order to get the information from their experience to achieve the final objective of this research. After collecting the necessary information conveyed by interviewees, the suggested guidelines have been developed based on the findings which performed the factors of power and mechanism that describes how Face and Guanxi define the relationships of power among Chinese individuals.

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39

Yi, Tong-jin. "The effects of managers' cultural distance, ethnocentrism, and quality-of-life (QOL) orientation on program standardization." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/38049.

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40

Lee, Dong-Jin. "The effects of managers' cultural distance, ethnocentrism, and quality-of-life (QOL) orientation on program standardization /." This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06062008-152058/.

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41

Mahfud, Yara. "Distance culturelle, multiculturalisme et préjugés à l’égard des immigrés." Thesis, Paris 10, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016PA100101/document.

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Dans cette thèse, nous étudions le lien entre la distance culturelle perçue entre les immigrés et le groupe majoritaire français d’une part et les préjugés d’autre part, en examinant le point de vue des Français. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent influencer ce lien : l’adhésion au multiculturalisme par rapport à d’autres modèles d’intégration, la perception de ce modèle comme étant une menace à l’identité nationale ou encore la présentation du multiculturalisme en des termes abstraits (renvoyant à ses objectifs) ou concrets (renvoyant à sa mise en place dans un contexte national). Les résultats montrent que chez les Français qui adhèrent au multiculturalisme, la perception de distance culturelle corrèle plus faiblement avec les préjugés que chez les Français qui adhèrent à l’assimilation. En examinant davantage les attitudes intergroupes chez les Français qui adhèrent au multiculturalisme, nous avons montré que la perception de ce modèle comme étant menaçant pour l’identité nationale peut aussi influencer l’impact de la distance culturelle sur les préjugés : chez les Français qui perçoivent le multiculturalisme comme menaçant, la distance culturelle implique plus de préjugés que chez les Français qui le perçoivent comme moins menaçant. Une source de menace pour le multiculturalisme serait le degré d’abstraction de sa présentation, avec une menace plus importante lorsque l’on fait référence à la politique concrète mise en place dans un pays plutôt qu’au modèle idéal, abstrait. En effet, dans une étude comparative entre la France et les Pays-Bas, nous avons montré que le lien entre la distance culturelle et les préjugés à l’égard des immigrés est plus important lorsque le multiculturalisme est défini en termes concrets que lorsqu’il est défini en termes abstraits
In this thesis, we have studied – on the one hand – the way how perceived cultural distance between the immigrants and the French majority group is linked to prejudice by examining French people’s point of view. Several factors can influence this link: the endorsement to multiculturalism compared to other integration models, the perception of this model as a threat to national identity or the presentation of multiculturalism in abstract terms (i.e. its objectives) or concrete (i.e. its implementation in a national context). The results have shown that among the French who endorse multiculturalism, the perception of cultural distance weakly correlates with prejudice whereas it correlates more among the French who endorse assimilation’s integration model. By focusing on French people who prefer multiculturalism, we showed that the perception of this model as a threat to national identity can also influence the impact of cultural distance on prejudice. Among the French who perceive multiculturalism as threatening, cultural distance involves more prejudice than among those who perceive it as less threatening. A source of threat to multiculturalism could reside in the way it is presented – its degree of abstraction – with more threat when we refer to concrete policy achievement in a country rather than the abstract ideal model. Indeed, in a comparative study between France and the Netherlands, we showed that the link between cultural distance and prejudice towards immigrants is higher when multiculturalism is defined in concrete terms than with its abstract definition

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42

CAI, XINGYU, and YONGLIANG LI. "Determinants of foreign direct investment choice in Chinese Automotive industry : How Swedish firms invest in Chinese market?" Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-179672.

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Since China entered WTO, the multinational corporations (MNC) increased the foreign direct investment (FDI) in Chinese market because China is famous for its huge market volume and low labor cost. However, the knowledge of Chinese market is still limited. This paper analyses the determinants of automotive MNC's FDI choice made in Chinese market based on the study of Chinese FDI environment and the investment behavior of Swedish firms. The determinants are tested through three variables: industry development, cultural distance and the government policy. In this thesis, data related to FDI in automotive industry is collected mainly from 13 provinces or municipalities. The results show that: (1) The regions with larger market size will attract more FDI; (2) The larger cultural distance will create more obstacles when MNCs invest, thus has the negative impacts on FDI choices; (3) MNCs will give priority to those areas with lower tax burden. Besides, this thesis also describes the detailed cultural distance at firm level between China and Sweden based on the interview with a Swedish firm. The results suggest Swedish firms need to focus more on the partner selection and management adaption when investing in Chinese market.

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Walabe, Eman. "E-Learning Delivery in Saudi Arabian Universities." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/40064.

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The purpose of this qualitative thesis research was to explore the state of distance education in Saudi universities. The research focused on teaching and learning from the perspectives of the universities’ instructors as well as expert designers from the Ministry of Education working in distance education. By using a multiple case studies approach, this study aimed to understand the opportunities and challenges faced in the development of online learning environments at Saudi universities from an ethical and cultural perspectives. Data collection methods consisted of 28 in-depth, one-on-one interviews as well a thematic analysis of 152 supporting documents related to the universities’ strategies to deliver online learning. The advanced findings revealed how the recent integration of a blended learning model has helped to contribute to a shift in the Saudi distance education system, as it moves from a teacher-centered approach to a learner-centered approach. Furthermore, drawing on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), the study uncovers complex interactions between the Saudi learning culture, technology integration, and ethical issues. This research contributes unique knowledge about the state of online learning development in Saudi higher education to help enhance distance education development in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other areas of the world where similar distance education development initiatives are underway.

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44

Engström, Adam, and Frida Milemo. "A Swedish perspective on business relationships with Chinese companies : - A study of challenges with a geographical distance." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för ekonomi, teknik och naturvetenskap, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-34370.

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As more Swedish companies are turning towards China, a common challenge when establishing sustainable business relationships with Chinese companies is the requirement to spend a lot of time locally, as the Chinese business culture usually focuses on building a personal relationship before the business relationship. This study will focus on the Swedish perspective on how to cope with these challenges from a geographical distance, as the authors seek to facilitate Swedish business in China. Through a qualitative research by interviewing eight Swedish managers, the authors found that there are different perceived challenges if the business relationship was established on site versus established from a distance. This study shows that for managers who lacks the resources to establish the business relationship on site, there is a lack of trust, respect and potential misunderstandings. These challenges can be overcomed by using a distributor or an agent for a fee. For the managers that possessed the resources to establish the relationship on site, other challenges appeared such as Guanxi and cross-cultural competence, but by paying attention to these challenges the managers could achieve trust, respect and avoid misunderstandings. These managers also needed an occasional local presence in order to manage the business relationship, which was due to Guanxi and that China is a high-context culture.

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Olsson, Emelie. "Från sköna gummor till snygga brudar : En komparativ analys av Liv Strömquists Prins Charles känsla och dess franska översättning." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för kultur och lärande, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-27050.

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The translation of culture-specific words and expressions as well as how to fully transmit the semantics and pragmatics of a text when translating are two things that often poses problems and challenges for translators. The strategies among which one can choose are many and the translation is more or less bound to lose something along the way. In this present essay, the Swedish comic album Prins Charles känsla (2010) by Liv Strömquist and its French translation Les sentiments du Prince Charles (2012) have been studied. With the help of existing translation strategies, what is examined is initially what choices the translators have made and how this affects the French text. Based on this, I try to say something about whether the text has lost something in the translation process, and if this is case, what these losses are.

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Anderson, Laura Challman. "Information sharing in distance collaboration: A software engineering perspective." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2016. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/92454/1/Laura%20Challman_Anderson_Thesis.pdf.

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Information sharing in distance collaboration: A software engineering perspective, QueenslandFactors in software engineering workgroups such as geographical dispersion and background discipline can be conceptually characterized as "distances", and they are obstructive to team collaboration and information sharing. This thesis focuses on information sharing across multidimensional distances and develops an information sharing distance model, with six core dimensions: geography, time zone, organization, multi-discipline, heterogeneous roles, and varying project tenure. The research suggests that the effectiveness of workgroups may be improved through mindful conducts of information sharing, especially proactive consideration of, and explicit adjustment for, the distances of the recipient when sharing information.

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Hosseini-Kaladjahi, Hassan. "Iranians in Sweden : economic, cultural and social integration." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Sociologiska institutionen, 1997. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-47395.

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This study explores three dimensions in the integration of Iranian immigrants in Sweden: economic, cultural and social. To test the generalisability of the ideas presented, and to place them in a wider framework the integration of Iranians has been compared with those of three other minorities: Chileans, Poles, and Finns. Data used in the statistical analyses have been obtained from the Centre for Research in International Migration and Ethnic relations (CEIFO). Economic integration of an immigrant group in a new society has been defined as its economic equality with the host population. The first part dealing with this aspect of integration compares Iranians with Swedes by three economic indicators: the ratio of unemployment, socio-economic status and income. By all indicators Iranians hold a considerably lower position as compared with Swedes. Both socio-demographic factors related to the Iranians and discrimination exercised by Swedish employers have been found to be relevant to the economic integration of Iranians in Sweden. The comparison of Iranians with the three other minorities, in terms of discrimination, indicates that the discrimination of these minorities corresponds to their cultural distance from Swedes. Iranians, with the remotest culture from Swedes among the four minorities, suffer the highest degree of discrimination. Finns, with the closest culture, suffer the lowest degree of discrimination. And the two other minorities lie between these two groups, respectively. Discrimination manifests itself mainly in a differential size of incomes which derives from the differential distribution of these groups among the least desirable occupations. The second part dealing with cultural integration evaluates the adaptation of Iranian to Swedish culture by two indicators representing cognitive and normative acculturation. This part is especially focused on the proposition that the westernisation process in Iran and differential reactions against this process are relevant in the acculturation of Iranians in Sweden. Two hypotheses formulated on the basis of this proposition- the negative effects of commitment to Iranian culture and radicalism on the acculturation of Iranians in Sweden- have been supported by the indicator of normative acculturation, but not by that of cognitive acculturation. The comparison of the four minorities has demonstrated that generalities, clustering and uniqueness all exist among the factors explaining their acculturation. The generalities and clustering are more striking in cognitive acculturation. Similarities are more evident between Iranians and Chileans. Finally, the last part dealing with social integration concentrates on the association of Iranians with Swedes. Assuming that association of two individuals with each other requires a common language and a minimum degree of intersubjectivity, it has been generally hypothesised that: 1) social integration of minorities in the new society will be a function of their cultural distance from the host population, and 2) all processes contributing to the increasing or decreasing of cultural distance will contribute also to the increasing or decreasing of their social integration. On the basis of these general hypotheses the following concrete hypotheses have been tested. 1) Among the four minorities, Iranians, as culturally remotest from Swedes, will have the least degree of social integration, followed by Chileans, Poles and Finns, respectively. 2) Commitment of Iranians to Iranian culture, as a medium increasing cultural distance, will correlate negatively with their social integration in Sweden. 3) Countercultural elements in Swedish society, as a medium of cultural-distance reduction, will contribute to the social integration of immigrants in this society. All hypotheses have been supported by the existing data.

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Frank, Jonas [Verfasser], and Benjamin [Akademischer Betreuer] Jung. "The trade effects of cultural distance and economic sanctions : a structural gravity approach / Jonas Frank ; Betreuer: Benjamin Jung." Hohenheim : Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1171307594/34.

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49

Sjödin, Tina, and Josefin Jonasson. "Maktdistans och ledarskap ombord : En kvalitativ studie om fartygsbefälens upplevelser av den maktdistans som råder ombord." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Sjöfartshögskolan (SJÖ), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-36779.

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Att arbeta ombord på fartyg innebär ofta att man måste leva och samarbeta med människor från andra länder som har en annan kultur och andra värderingar. Med en besättning där flera kulturer finns närvarande kan detta påverka arbetet såväl som det sociala umgänget ombord. Svenska fartygsbefäl som jobbar med filippinskt manskap har upplevt denna interaktion. I denna studie undersöktes fartygsbefälens upplevelse om den maktdistans som finns mellan dem själva och det svenska respektive filippinska manskapet och hur denna distans påverkar livet ombord. Studien genomfördes med personliga intervjuer med sex informanter för att ge en djupare och mer ingående bild av deras åsikter och upplevelser ombord. Under arbetet framkom det att det var en stor skillnad i maktdistans mellan dem som svenskt fartygsbefäl och svenskt respektive filippinskt manskap. Det var en gemensam upplevelse av informanterna att det skedde en förändring i tankesättet hos det filippinska manskapet med ökad erfarenhet av svenska fartygsbefäl. Det upplevdes som att de hade anammat en mer svensk förhållningssätt.
Working on board ships today often means that you have to live and work with people from other countries that have different cultures and values. With a crew where several cultures are present, the work as well as the social life on board is affected, Swedish officers who work with Filipino crew have experienced this interaction. This study examined the officers' views and experience of the power distance that exists between the Swedes and Filipinos and how this affects the life on board. A semi-structured interview was used with six informants, to provide a wider and more detailed picture of the opinions and experiences on board. During the interviews the informants gave the opinion that the power distance between the Swedish officers and the Filipino deck crew was bigger than between them and the Swedish deck crew. It was a common experience that when the Filipino deck crew had worked with Swedish officers during an extensive time they often adapted themselves to Swedish approach.

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Sun, Bei, and Mehdi Poosti. "Long distance design-manufacturing interaction: Perspectives from Chinese manufacturing site." Thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Industriell organisation och produktion, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-15571.

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After opening of China‟s borders to foreign trade and investment, over the last decades, a growing number of foreign company‟s attention has been drawn to China due to the immense market potential, and a huge source of cheap labor. Swedish industry, however, is not an exception from this tremendous trend in the world, as their recent acquisitions have given access to production facilities in China. This transfer of product/production from Sweden to China has emerged two major concerns including Design and Manufacturing (DM) interaction between geographically distant settings, in conjunction with inter-cultural considerations. Lately, the concept of interaction between DM has been growing in the scholar thoughts. Typically, different challenges such as different personalities and cultural differences exist towards having an enhanced collaboration during the development process. This study uses a framework for integration mechanisms which comprises number of approaches such as DfX, CE, cross-functional teams, and modern quality management. Second, this study by carrying out 6 interviews within the Chinese plants in four Swedish-Chinese based companies identifies the main challenges of interaction of design in Sweden and manufacturing in China (2 pilot companies and 2 target companies). The most frequent challenges are spotted as cultural clashes, ineffective collaboration, frustrating verification process, inadequate management system, and lack of technical knowledge. By including cultural attributes, a literature based classification is adopted to classify the determined challenges. Eventually, this study comes up with suggestions for managing challenges associated with geographical distance. More face-to-face interactions instead of electronic communications in order to have a better insight to the cultural differences (such as trust, lose face, and direct/indirect confrontation), cross-functional integrations, localizing the verification process, facilitating the early involvement of suppliers, rotation of the expertise across projects, use of DfA index, and function-wise motivation system, are stated in our recommendations to cope with these challenges. Besides, the influence of reward system on challenges of dispersed settings, is proposed to be investigated for further studies.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cultural distance'

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