What Underlies Cultural Differences and How to Manage the Differences

Purpose. The paper explores leadership in the face of cross-cultural differences in the management of agricultural projects in Africa. Cross-cultural differences are a result of the diversity of cultures. The differences are especially in behaviors, attitudes, functioning, and communication in the management of agricultural projects across Africa.
 Results. Cultural varieties are observed in the leadership of agricultural projects based on the leadership style of the manager or leader. The leadership styles range from servant leadership, and charismatic to transformational leadership, these differences sometimes cause conflicts. The culture of the community or society has an effect on the management of agricultural projects as well. This is witnessed in the case of individualistic versus collectivistic societies; these two cultures bring about cross-cultural leadership differences. Misunderstandings arise due to their different beliefs, backgrounds, or values. To address cross-cultural differences, both the leader and follower must do something, for a greater impact on agricultural projects in Africa.
 Scientific novelty. The paper highlights that cultural intelligence has a great deal of impact in management of agricultural projects in Africa. However, cross cultural leaders in this space need to demonstrate cultural intelligence beyond linguistic intelligence to have interpersonal, intrapersonal and spatial intelligence to effectively deliver in the cross-cultural agricultural world.
 Practical value. This paper entails ideas that will help leaders of agricultural projects in Africa overcome cross cultural difference for effective management of the projects. The followers also have a role to play in managing cross cultural difference so to achieve greater impact in agriculture projects in Africa. Flexible leadership and culturally sensitivity while promoting creativity and motivation there will be great achievement to project goals. To achieve great success in a cross-cultural environment, mutual respect, leadership and effective cross-cultural communication is required.

Orientation: The use of personality tests for selection and screening has been consistently criticised resulting from the risk of socially desirable responding amongst job applicants. Research purpose: This study examined the magnitude of culture and language group meanscore differences amongst job applicants and the moderating effect of race on the relationship between social desirability and cognitive ability. Motivation for the study: The influence of cognitive ability and potential race and ethnic group differences in social desirability scale scores, which can lead to disproportional selection ratios, has not been extensively researched in South Africa. Research design, approach and method: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design, based on secondary datasets obtained from the test publisher, was employed. The dataset consisted of 1640 job applicants across industry sectors. Main findings: Moderated multiple regression analyses revealed that the relationship between social desirability and general reasoning was moderated by culture and language, with group differences in social desirability being more pronounced at the low general reasoning level. This suggests that social desirability scales may be an ambiguous indicator of faking as the scales may indicate tendency to fake, but not the ability to fake, that is likely to be connected to the level of cognitive ability of the respondent.Practical/managerial implications: Individual differences in social desirability are not fully explained by cognitive ability as cultural differences also played a role. Responding in a certain manner, reflects a level of psychological sophistication that is informed by the level of education and socio-economic status. In relation to selection practice, this study provided evidence of the potentially adverse consequences of using social desirability scales to detect response distortion. Contribution/value-add: The exploration of cross-cultural differences in the application of social desirability scales and the influence of cognitive ability is seen as a major contribution, supported by possible explanations for the differences observed and recommendations regarding the practice of universal corrections and adjustments.

PurposeThis paper explores the moderating effects of four personal cultural orientations or PCOs (independence, interdependence, risk aversion and ambiguity intolerance) on the relationships among counterfeit proneness, subjective norms, ethical judgments, product evaluation and purchase intentions for counterfeit products.Design/methodology/approachA field study with 840 consumers in Hong Kong using a self-administered structured questionnaire is used to test all the hypotheses.FindingConsumers with high (low) scores on interdependence (independence) show stronger positive effects of counterfeit proneness on subjective norms and its effects on the counterfeit evaluation and purchase intentions. In contrast, consumers with high (low) scores on independence (interdependence) show stronger positive effects of counterfeit proneness on ethical judgments and its effects on counterfeit evaluation and purchase intentions. Consumers with higher scores on risk aversion and ambiguity intolerance show negative moderating effects on most of the relationships in the unified conceptual framework.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors collected data in Hong Kong, which is predominantly Chinese in culture. Hence, future research in other parts of the world with more diverse cultural values would help test the validity and generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsThe findings would be useful for managers of genuine brands to learn more about the process that explains deliberate counterfeit purchase behavior.Originality/valueThe authors extend the unified conceptual framework for deliberate counterfeit purchase behavior by incorporating four PCOs to explore cultural differences in the socio-psychological decision-making process underlying this behavior.

Managerial perceptions of global pioneering advantage: Theoretical framework and empirical evidence in the U.S. and Korea

Incidences of radicalism and terrorism have gained momentum in most parts of the world. However, while cultural differences in the occurrence of terrorism have been studied, there is a lack of such research on radicalism. We therefore investigated cross-cultural differences in people’s readiness to engage in illegal and violent political action. We hypothesized that people in the United States would show stronger radicalism intentions than people from other Western and non-Western countries. Moreover, we hypothesized that this pattern would be mediated by power distance. To test this, we conducted three studies. The results supported our hypotheses: Compared to Indian (Study 1), German (Study 2), and British (Study 3) participants, US participants held a greater readiness to engage in illegal and violent political action, both on behalf of their groups’ and on behalf of their own political and legal rights. Moreover, high levels of power distance translated to this increased radicalism. Illuminating cross-cultural differences in radicalism, this work adds to the understanding of how radical political developments may grow among certain individuals more than others.

P-1301 - Cross-cultural differences in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) among european and japanese raters

Purpose The crucial role of accountants in the growth and development of the business landscape and economies highlights the need for seamless ethical conduct by accounting professionals. Although knowledge is paramount in the current business environment and essential for accountants, research on ethical decision-making (EDM) has failed to explore the role of individual intellectual capital (IIC) in accountants’ EDM process. Thus, this study aims to investigate the relationship between IIC and EDM. Further, the study integrates ethical ideology into Rest’s four-stage EDM model as a mediator to explain the variations in individual moral judgement irrespective of their IIC. Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional survey, data from 654 accountants in Ghana was analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling technique. Findings The results indicate that individual human, structural and relational capital are significant predictors of EDM. In addition, ethical relativism significantly mediates the relationship between IIC and EDM. Originality/value The findings of this study highlight the critical role of IIC in accountants’ ethical judgement. Extant studies on predictors of EDM have predominantly focused on psychological, demographic and situational factors mostly ignoring the role of cognitive factors, such as IIC, in spite of their theoretical appeal. The current study extends the knowledge base by highlighting the impact of the distinct dimensions of IIC on EDM.

This article examines differences in subjective culture among three societies that vary in their extent of urbanization and differentiation and within these societies between females and males. David Bakan's agency-communion and Talcott Parsons' instrumental-expressive distinctions are used to capture both these ruralurban and male-female differences using data collected with Harry Triandis' antecedent-consequent method of studying subjective culture. Both between-society and within-society differences in subjective culture are found, although they occur independently of each other. Cross-cultural differences are stronger for concepts dealing with group life, and sex differences are stronger for concepts regarding individual actions and self-orientations. Specifications and extensions of existing theory, as well as directions for future research, are suggested.

The objective of this conceptual article is to illustrate how differences in societal culture may affect employees’ proactive work behaviors (PWBs) and to develop a research agenda to guide future research on cross-cultural differences in PWBs. We propose that the societal cultural dimensions of power distance, individualism–collectivism, future orientation, and uncertainty avoidance shape individuals’ implicit followership theories (IFTs). We discuss how these cross-cultural differences in individuals’ IFTs relate to differences in the mean-level of PWB individuals show ( whether), in the motivational states driving individuals’ PWBs ( why), in the way individuals’ enact PWBs ( how), and in the evaluation of PWBs by others ( at what cost). We recommend how future research can extend this theorizing and unpack the proposed cross-cultural differences in PWBs, for example, by exploring how culture and other contextual variables interact to affect PWBs.

In the context of globalization and increasing academic mobility, studies on cross-cultural differences in the development of personal resources have gained particular importance. Psychological capital, which includes optimism, hope, resilience, and self-efficacy, is a key factor in students' successful adaptation and professional development. This review aims to identify and systematize cultural and social differences in the formation of psychological capital among college students in China and Russia. The review is based on the analysis of scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025. Methods of systematization, comparative analysis, and data synthesis were used. The search was conducted in the Google Scholar database using key terms in Russian and English. After filtering, 124 publications were selected for detailed analysis. From this array of sources, 30 of the most significant, representative, and methodologically sound publications were included in the reference list. It was found that the formation of psychological capital in China and Russia is determined by fundamentally different cultural paradigms (collectivism vs. individualism) and social contexts (systemic state support vs. fragmented local initiatives). Chinese students demonstrate a higher level of collectivist attitudes and social resilience, while Russian participants tend to exhibit a more individualistic orientation and a stronger sense of self-efficacy formed under conditions of greater personal responsibility. The results confirm the significance of cultural and social factors in shaping psychological capital. The need to develop adapted programs of psychological and pedagogical support that take into account national specifics is a key conclusion of the work. Future research prospects are related to an in-depth analysis of the influence of digital transformation on the development of students' personal resources in both countries.

How does racial diversity impact institutional outcomes and (in)equality? Discussions about diversity usually focus on how individuals’ identities shape their behavior, but diversity is a group-level characteristic. Scholars must, therefore, consider the relationship between group composition and the individual decisions that shape institutional outcomes. Using felony data from a large U.S. court system, I explore the relationship between racial diversity among the judges comprising a court and individual judges’ decisions. I find that as the percent of Black judges in a courthouse increases white judges are less likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with Black defendants. Increases in racial diversity decrease the Black–white gap in the probability of incarceration by up to 7 percentage points. However, I find no relationship between judge’s racial identities and disparities in their decisions. This study highlights the importance of conceptualizing diversity as a group characteristic and the relationship between institutional context and outcomes.

International education and university study exchange programs are now widely established around the world. Yet little is known about possible cultural differences in international and local students' goals and perceptions, and about how international students adapt to the specific academic requirements of the host country. The mediating role of student's goals and perceptions, as well as the dynamic and adaptive nature of those cognitions have been emphasised in theories of self-regulation of learning and empirical research on student learning. The present study examined the extent to which international students' ways of thinking about learning, learning goals and perceptions of the usefulness of typical university study contexts differ from local students at the beginning of their study in the host university, and then become similar to that of local students after a period of time. Comparisons of matched groups of international students (from South-east Asia) and local (Australian) students revealed evidence of cultural/educational differences between their conceptualisation of goals at the beginning of their university study but this difference disappeared after one semester. At the start of their university study, South-east Asian students displayed higher levels of goals than local students, but neither group was certain yet which study settings would be most useful for achieving their personal goals. After one semester, South-east Asian students had become more like local students but the two groups' overall patterns of change over time were similar, providing further support for the view that the specific characteristics of study environments have a strong impact on students' learning. South-east Asian students' clear differentiation of the usefulness of typical study settings for the achievement of high vs low level goals however, contrasted with local students' undifferentiated view that individual study is the most useful form of learning.

OP0102-HPR Cross-Cultural Validity of the Animated Activity Questionnaire (AAQ) that Assesses Activity Limitations in Patients with HIP or Knee Osteoarthritis

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the academic literature on emotional appeals in advertising to identify key trends, thematic clusters, and the evolution of advertising effectiveness. The Scopus database was used for data collection, which provides access to a wide range of peer-reviewed publications in fields such as marketing, psychology, and social sciences. The analysis shows that interest in emotional appeals in advertising has significantly increased since the 1980s, especially after 2015, when digital platforms and new technologies had a significant impact on advertising methods and strategies. Key theoretical concepts, such as the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and the Affect Transfer Hypothesis (ATH), remain essential for understanding how emotional appeals influence consumer behavior, including brand perception and purchase decision-making. The analysis also identified several research clusters, including topics such as emotional vs. rational appeals, cross-cultural differences in advertising perception, and ethical aspects of digital advertising. It is important to note the growing interest in neuromarketing and the personalization of advertising strategies using new technologies. This study highlights the importance of emotional appeals in digital marketing, emphasizing personalized content, influencer marketing, and real-time consumer interaction. Future research should consider cultural differences and ethical issues, as well as the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance the effectiveness of advertising strategies.

We investigated whether children's response tendency toward yes—no questions concerning objects is a common phenomenon regardless of languages and cultures. Vietnamese and Japanese 2- to 5-year-old (N = 108) were investigated. We also examined whether familiarity with the questioning issue has any effect on Asian children's yes bias. As the result, Asian children showed a yes bias to yes—no questions. The children's response tendency changes dramatically with their age: Vietnamese and Japanese 2- and 3-year-olds showed a yes bias, but 5-year-olds did not. However, Asian 4-year-olds also showed a yes bias only in the familiar condition. Also, Asian children showed a stronger yes bias in the familiar condition than the unfamiliar condition. These two findings in Asian children were different from the previous finding investigated North American children (Fritzley & Lee, 2003). Moreover, there was a within-Asian cross-cultural difference. Japanese children showed different response tendencies, which were rarely observed in Vietnamese children. Japanese 2-year-olds and some 3-year-olds showed a “no answer” response: they tended not to respond to an interviewer's questions. Japanese 4- and 5-year-olds also showed an “I don't know” response when they were asked about unfamiliar objects. Japanese children tended to avoid a binary decision. We discussed the cross-cultural differences.