Information and culture - the impact of national culture on information processes

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of culture on information systems by applying findings of existing intercultural research in the area of sociology and management theory to this field. The model developed by the Dutch sociologist, Geert Hofstede, for comparing cultures is used in this work and is applied to the information processes to show the possible impact of culture on the components of the information system: the information producer and the information content, the user of information, the information channel and the information intermediary. The theoretical findings may provide a basis for further practical research to test the hypothesis presented and to develop strategies for future international information work.