The role of culture and nationality in ethical business decisions

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Culture in descriptive business ethics
• 2.1 Confucian-influenced business culture
• 2.2 Anglo-American business culture
• 2.3 Towards global business ethics...
• 2.4 Measuring culture: Hofstede and GLOBE
• 2.4.1 Confucian-influenced countries
• 2.4.2 Anglo-American countries
• 3 Cross-cultural studies on CSR
• 3.1 Research frameworks and operationalization of CSR - dependent variable conception and measurement
• 3.2 The effect of national culture on firms' CSR behaviour
• 4 Critical discussion of the research findings

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis examines the role of culture in ethical business decisions, particularly in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It focuses on the contrasting business cultures of Confucian-influenced and Anglo-American countries and analyzes how these cultures impact firms' CSR behavior.

• Impact of national culture on firms' CSR practices
• Comparison of Confucian-influenced and Anglo-American business cultures
• Exploration of cultural dimensions influencing CSR behaviour
• Analysis of cultural measurement frameworks (Hofstede and GLOBE)
• Critical evaluation of research findings and derivation of practical implications

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the study's objective and outlines the key research questions. It emphasizes the importance of culture in understanding ethical business decisions and the need to consider the specific contexts of Confucian-influenced and Anglo-American business cultures.

Chapter two explores the cultural aspects of Confucian-influenced and Anglo-American business cultures. It examines relevant definitions of culture and nationality and explains how they influence ethical decision-making. The chapter also presents key cultural dimensions and their impact on business practices in both regions.

Chapter three summarizes the findings of cross-cultural studies on CSR. It examines the methodologies and operationalization of variables employed in these studies and discusses the relationship between national culture and firms' CSR behavior. This chapter explores how different cultural dimensions, as measured by Hofstede and GLOBE, influence CSR practices.

Chapter four critically discusses the research findings presented in chapter three, providing a nuanced analysis of the strengths and limitations of existing studies. It highlights inconsistencies in findings and explores potential explanations for these discrepancies. This chapter aims to provide practical insights for businesses operating in cross-cultural environments.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this text include Confucian-influenced business culture, Anglo-American business culture, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), national culture, cultural dimensions, ethical business decisions, Hofstede's cultural dimensions, GLOBE cultural dimensions, cross-cultural studies, and empirical research.