Influence of Culture on Participation in Decision-Making Processes: A Comparative Study between Yemeni and English Universities and Firms

Abstract

This research empirically examines the influence of cultural participation in decision-making. It discusses the effect of cultural dimensions on the patterns of decision-making between some selected Yemeni and English organizations.

In investigating this concern, 20 decisions in four matched Yemeni and English organizations representing widely different cultures are compared and then analyzed through using a comparative case study to examine whether cultural or organizational factors can explain patterns of participation in decision-making processes at the level of organizations studied in both Yemeni and English cultures. The influence of cultural dimensions on these organizations manifests in the way organizations stress the importance of participation in decision-making processes. Participation is examined through involvement and influence elements.

The findings show that there are two patterns of participation in decision-making processes. These two patterns demonstrate participation framework for organizational processes in the two Yemeni and English cultures. Thus, the main contribution of this study, other than searching in limited area of research, is to provide an empirical investigation concerning participation patterns in decision-making in relation to Yemeni and English universities and textiles organizations. The framework suggested provides empirical explanation for patterns of participation in decision-making within organizations at the same culture, and then compared across organizational decisions processes in both English and Yemeni culture. These patterns of participation, along with other related organizational factors are discussed in more detail in this study.