Structural Properties, Work Practices, and Control in Asian Businesses: Some Evidence from Singapore and Malaysia

Human Relations · 1998 · Volume 51 · Issue 10

Abstract

This study explored the level of adoption of Western style management practices in two South East Asian communities. A sample of 203 managers from Malaysian and Singaporean organizations responded to a survey that was designed to capture demographic as well as organizational data in terms of structural dimensions, and employed work setting processes and practices. A strong inference of the findings is that Western assumptions about managerial ideology were not fully endorsed in the study organizations. These findings, which are discussed, were interpreted in conjunction with contributions from Asian managers. The approach outlined in this paper demonstrates the value of qualitative and quantitative procedures for interpreting the results of cross-cultural studies.

Keywords

cross-cultural, interdependence, coordination, structural properties

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