Individual epistemological heterogeneity across cultures and its use in organizations

Journal/Book: Cybernetica. 1995; 38: Palais Des Expositions, Place Andre Rijckmans, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Int Assn Cybernetics. 215-249.

Abstract: In most of the studies comparing cultures or subcultures, if has been assumed that in each culture or subculture, individual characteristics have a normal distribution, i.e. each culture or subculture is homogeneous except for a statistical spread around the mean. In contrast, evidences have been accumulating which indicate that: (1) individual epistemological heterogeneity exists in each culture; (2) any individual type found in a culture can be found in other cultures, i.e. the individual types exist across cultures and they are not confined within a culture; (3) cultural differences consist in the way some type becomes dominant and suppresses, transforms, ignores or utilizes non-dominant types. ACTION IMPLICATIONS are : (1) currently equal opportunity for employment and for education does not exist for nondominant epistemological types, and must be established and implemented; (2) some ethnic movements strive for ingroup homogenization, suppressing non-dominant epistemological types. This practice must be corrected. THEORETICAL IMPLICATIONS are : (1) the concept of ''epistemological heterogeneity'' is the most important philosophical revolution since Kant; (2) ''individual heterogeneity across cultures'' (including but not limited to epistemological heterogeneity) is a theoretical and methodological innovation in psychology and social sciences by correcting the blind faith in normal distribution, and by providing a different methodology. MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : discovery and use of hidden non-dominant epistemological types are crucial in international management and human resources management.

Note: Article M Maruyama, Aoyama Gakuin Univ, Sch Int Polit Econ & Business, Shibuya Ku, Shibuya 4-4-25, Tokyo 150, Japan

Keyword(s): CROSS-DISCIPLINARY; PARADIGMATOLOGY; COMMUNICATION

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