Using mental maps to highlight cultural differences: visual portraits of American and Japanese patterns of thinking

Richard G. Linowes, Tomasz Mroczkowski, Keiko Uchida and Akira Komatsu

Journal of International Management, 2000, vol. 6, issue 1, 71-100

Abstract: This research offers new pedagogical tools derived from linguistic analysis that provide intriguing visual portraits communicating cultural differences. Using associative group analysis to systematically examine free associations to key management terms, this research produces charts that reveal how business students from different national groups hold different understandings of key management terms, reflecting their differing views of workplace participation derived from education and experience. Applying this method to American and Japanese workforce entrants, the resulting charts convey in visually appealing ways key cultural differences between the groups. It further yields mental maps that portray the dominant mindset of people from these two countries. The charts offer important new pedagogical tools for teaching international business and the promise of deeper understanding of cultural difference and cultural change.

Keywords: Cross-cultural; psychology; Cultural; differences; Semantics; Mental; map; Human; resources; Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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