A Comparative Study Of Organizational Culture Of Multinational Corporations

As British Anthropologist E.B.Taylor’s study to culture, culture is a big complex content of social sectors. As a sub field of anthropology and a sub field of business studies, business anthropology attracted scholars and researchers from different fields for its unique theories and methodologies. Business anthropology crosses with economic anthropology and management anthropology. It shares relevant topics with management sciences, economics and psychology. Anthropologists can make their great contributions to improve business operations. Business anthropology is a relatively new but fast growing subfield in anthropology and the business anthropologist is becoming a major occupation for some anthropologists.Although the comprehensive organizational culture study of business anthropology has not yet been written, there is fairly large amount of survey articles dealing with the topic (Baba,1986; Baba,2001; Bate1997; Fine, et al.,2008; Holzberg and Giovannini,1981; Jordan,2003; Schwartzman,1993).For them, organizational culture has been one of the main themes over almost30years now.(Alfons van Marrewijk "European Developments in Business Anthropology ".)My PhD thesis quotes some anthropological theories such as reciprocity theory, gift theory and individual-group-organization theory to analyse my field works happened in Multinational organizations (Japanese MNC and French MNC) in Dalian,China by using specially developed research methods of anthropology, such as participant observation, informant interview, various survey techniques, and network analysis etc. to see what is their unique organizational cultures in their daily business context.MNC is still a strong arm to dominate the trade, industry and all kind of business. Economic phenomenon was embedded within culture. MNC’ culture quite influences the development of MNC’s organization, then shape the body of current economic world. Researching the deep insight of MNC’s culture will illustrate us more compound meanings of the economic society. Meanwhile, we will try to find some useful links and benefits to Chinese developments.China is a dynamic market of trade, industry and all kind of business etc. Due to the deeply rooted Chinese cultural history, Chinese were much influenced by Taoism (philosopher Lao-tzu) and Confucianism (Philosopher Confucius), with over2500years’history. It’s about moderation and fealty obedience. Moderation:honesty, fairness, following the nature, to be moderate, being humble. Fealty:about respect rulers, parents, respect seniority.The key to successful MNCs across China is not only understanding the impact of culture on human behavior and organizations, but for managers and other professionals to develop skills in coping with multiculturalism and diversity within the local culture.This thesis is an inter-discipline research between business and anthropology, meanwhile unveil another angel to understand formal organization&informal organization in business organizational context.The conclusion is that understanding local culture and applying this to multinational company’organizational culture, which will make MNC successful in the local. Meanwhile, different MNC’s with different cultural root can succeed in the same geographical location if they can understand and apply local culture well into their organizational culture, on the other words,"every road leads to Rome." Which can explain the cases very well.