India and the USA: Cultural Differences

Abstract

The united states believe more in looking after yourself and your family while ignoring everything else as it does not matter as much. But in India people as a whole are concerned about others opinions. The employee and employer nature is also quite different. India believes more in having the employer protect the employee, like family, with the employee is expected to be loyal. This is the other side of the spectrum in comparison to the US corporation norms, where it is a cut throat world where the smart, strong, and cunning move up and the unmotivated, and less efficient fall down the pecking order in terms of the corporate structure, if they don’t get fired. In terms of masculinity The United States and India are actually very similar. In both countries is work the center of life. The idea of achieving higher status, then putting such achievements in ones face, whether it be in the form of a new home, or designer labels, such is the norm in both societies. Both societies are also generally widely accepting of new ideas and mistakes. In America there is the sense of the American Dream and one’s way of achieving that is through innovation, new ideas, and trying new things. Whereas India has a more relaxed mentality, simply believing that one must adjust. The United States and India are both huge countries, while their sizes are relatively similar, they differ in cultural and ethical norms. The United States, as a populous whole, tends to be more short term oriented and now seeking. We believe more in supporting and looking after one’s self, and family. Society in The United States in very individualistic, people expect one another to take care of themselves, whereas in India, while still individualistic, believes in more of a wholesome, greater good society. Meaning that they tend to look out for one another and more importantly they tend to look out more for the greater good in ones defined-groups. Customer service for these should be more readily available and more widespread in The United States as it is more of an indulgent country. Seeking more now pleasure means more purchasing, meaning more products that one may need help with in some way, whether it be set up or someone in store trying to sell the product. In the current study we use Hofstede's data set on his 6 dimensional structure as well as Carraher's data on customer service in order to examine differences in culture, ethics, and customer service between India and the USA.