Trompenaars (1993)

Management > Comparative Management > Lectures > Independent Research > Trompenaars > The Questions

The Questions

Universalism/Particularism

Do you see the firm as a system or social group?

64% of Japanese people see firms as social groups
50% of British people see firms as social groups

You are in a car your friend is driving. Your friend hits a pedestrian. It's your friend's fault, but would you lie to a court to protect your friend?

26% of South Koreans would tell the truth (the lowest in the world)
90% of Brits would tell the truth

This shows how Koreans (and indeed, much of Asia) are particularist, choosing to protect their friend, while Westerners, like the British, are very universalist and would sacrifice friendships for the absolute law.

Universalist cultures value rules, legal contracts, the truth and fixed boundaries

Particularist cultures value evolving relationships, flexible contracts, changing mutalities of trust, and varying views of reality