Singaporean Culture Versus Australian Culture: Comparative Analysis

Rationale

“Land of the Kangaroos”, is what Australia is known for. Australia is the home to unique animals and beautiful sceneries. As an animal lover, Australia seems like the best country to live in where there are so many different and unique animals such as the Tasmanian devil, wombats, and the quokkas. These marsupials are native to Australia. Besides that, Australia have one of the most beautiful places on earth, which is the Lake Hillier. Lake Hillier is in the Middle Island, in Western Australia. It is a unreal sight. The pink lake neighbours the dark blue waters of the Indian Ocean, with a strip of lush green forest acting as a barrier. Other than that, I choose Australia as it is the country that I would like to live in, and I would appreciate living in a country with four seasons.

Cultural Analysis.

Cultural analysis is focused on the use of qualitative research techniques in the arts, humanities, and social sciences to gather data and to analyze cultural structures and practices in an attempt to acquire new insight or understanding by evaluating such data and cultural processes.

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Cultural Components.

There are eight types of cultural components. Those eight types are the aesthetics, values & attitudes, manners & customs, social structure, religion, personal communication, education, and lastly, physical environment. Australians have their own culture. As a result, Australians are seen as an extroverted individual.

1. Aesthetics – Australians love their icons such as the Australian-British celebrity, Kylie Minogue. As Australia is filled with vibrant cities and beautiful beaches, it makes an impressive backdrop for many visual arts. Australia also have one of the most active films industries.
2. Values & Attitudes – Modesty and authenticity are strongly valued in Australia’s culture. As they are down to earth and mindful, they do not appreciate it when foreigners are boastful and arrogant. This is a country where deprecatory comments are a sign of friendship, so to build a relationship one should be prepared for the banter and sarcasm.
3. Manners & Customs – Australians are pretty relaxed when it comes to customs and formalities. However, the mannerism for business is slightly different and will be discussed further in the business culture topic below.
4. Social Structure – In Australia, there are five main social classes and they are established working class, established middle class, mobile middle class, emerging affluent class, and established affluent class. The highest class is the established affluent class, these are the older generation that are wealthy with above-average educational qualifications and a high-status occupation. Followed by the emerging affluent class, these are the younger generation that work hard toward their education with a goal to have a high-status occupation. Third will be the mobile middle class, which are those that comes from a middle-class background and have a good education qualification. Fourth will be the established middle class, where they come from a middle-class background, but their income is close to average household incomes. Lastly, the lowest will be the established working class, which are those that have a low household income and low-status occupations. (Australian Social Hierarchy, 2020)
5. Religion – In Australia, there is a freedom of religion. Centuries ago, a big percentage of Australians are Christians and it was an important factor in civic life. However, now, Australia is one of the most religiously diverse societies in the world, where there are a significant number of Australians that are Muslims, Buddhists, Jews or Hindus.
6. Personal Communication – Australia has over 80 languages spoken. However, the more predominant language spoken is Australian English. Australian English really takes on its own life when it comes to word pronunciation and so most people with Australian accents sound so distinctive. Australian English shares words and phrases with both British and American English, but also has some terminology of its own. (Lingoda Team, 2020)
7. Education – Education in Australia includes early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education. Students can study for their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, which is a required to enter to numerous local and international universities. (Commission, 2017)
8. Physical environment - The continent of Australia is divided into four general topographic regions: (1) a low, sandy eastern coastal plain; (2) the eastern highlands, ranging from 300 to more than 2,100 m in altitude and extending from Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland southward to Tasmania; (3) the central plains, consisting largely of a north-south series of drainage basins, including the Great Artesian Basin, which underlies about 1,751,480 sq km of territory and is the most extensive area of internal drainage in the world; and (4) the western plateau, covered with great deserts and constituting most of the western half of the continent. (Advameg, Inc., 2020)

Business Culture.

Culture is a key component of business and has an impact on corporate strategic direction. Culture influences management decisions, from accounting to production, and all business functions. International managers doing business in a foreign country need to have some knowledge of the rules and behaviors deemed acceptable in social and professional relations.

Australia: Dress, Punctuality & Formality.

Standard business attire is used for work, and if a person works outside the major cities, a more informal attire is preferred.

Deadlines are set and adhered to quite strictly. Late submission will be deemed as lack of professionalism and will cause negative impression.

Most company operate on first name basis and do not use formal titles when speaking. Regular working hours will usually be from 9 am to 5.30 pm, with a 1-hour lunch break. Overtime is not uncommon.

Singapore: Dress, Punctuality & Formality.

Singaporean are generally open and universal in their prospect. They tend to dress business causal. However, it is recommended to wear a long-sleeved suit and tie. The key is to appear fresh, dry, and professional.

Singaporean are normally punctual to appointments and expect the same with others, however if unexpectedly late, you should give them a call to inform. It is especially important to be punctual. The importance of deadlines, promptness, and so on, depends again on the company you work for and your own attitudes. It is hoped people in higher positions will be more responsible.

Different ethnic groups have their own way of addressing each other. As for Chinese people, they should be addressed by their title and surname. Meanwhile, for Malays and Indians, they should be addressed by their first name then the title Regular office working hours will be 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, and as for working hours for shops, it would usually bye 10 am to 10 pm. (Denmark in Singapore, n.d.)

Australia: Preferred Managerial Qualities.

Australian managers do not like to think that they are more superior to their staff. Instead, they minimize the difference, so as to ensure that hierarchy is not openly displayed.

Australians have a direct style of communication. It is safe for them to speak up to the management as it encourages open lines of communication, allowing them to provide constructive criticism and improve workplace efficiency.

Singapore: Preferred Managerial Qualities.

Important quality required in Singapore is competency and empathy with the subordinate’s problems. If you are not a Singaporean, it would not be easy to gauge how the staffs view you in comparison to a local manager. It would be harder to get to the staff as staff would think that the reason, the way the manager handles the problem is according to where they are from. Instead, foreign managers should convince the team that feedback is accepted. (Global Affairs Canada, 2018)

Australia: Hierarchy and Decision-making.

Most business in Australia uses participative leadership style to lead. Participative leadership style is preferred as it allows the leader to consider the opinions of the employees before making a final decision. (Global Affairs Canada, 2018)

Singapore: Hierarchy and Decision-making.

Nearly all businesses in Singapore uses authoritarian leadership style to lead. Their approach will be a top-bottom-down approach where the lower-level staff does not have a say in the decision made. The work environment depends solely on the moral compass of an autocratic leader. The issue will be if the leader is does not create a fair working environment, there would not be anyone who would be able to step in and make the leader accountable for the unfairness. (Global Affairs Canada, 2018)

Hofstede Cultural Dimension.

Power Distance: Australia

Australia scores low (38) in this aspect. Hierarchy is recognized for convenience. The higher-ups are approachable and available whenever the team needs assistance. Managers are reliant on the expertise of the employees and both expect to be consulted. Information are shared smoothly and frequently throughout the different levels. Communication is casual, immediate, and participative.

Power Distance: Singapore

Meanwhile, Singapore scored high (74) in this aspect. Companies are controlled by a single authority and managers are reliant on theirs bosses for rules and instructions. The lower-level employees expect to be instructed and given task to do instead of taking the initiative. Management is expected to be controlled. Information shared selectively and communication is formal and not direct.

Individualism: Australia

Australia, with a score of 90 is a highly individualist culture. People do not belong to any group and only looks after themselves and immediate family. They are expected to be self-reliant and initiative. Hiring and promotions are based on merit and experience only.

Individualism: Singapore

Singapore, with a score of 20 is a collectivistic society. People belong to groups that look after each other. Communication is not direct and harmony in the group must be maintained. Arguments are usually avoided. Politeness outweighs over honest feedback. There is a basis for morality in relationships and this takes priority over task fulfilment. Managers are also expected to be calm and respectable.

Masculinity: Australia

Australia score 61 on this aspect and is considered a masculine society. Behaviors are based on shared values that they should strive to be the best, as they are proud of their success and achievements. It also offers a basis for hiring and promotion in workplace.

Masculinity: Singapore

Singapore scores 48 in this aspect and is a considered the middle of the scale. However, Singapore is more on the feminine side. Singaporean focuses on the softer side of culture and find it important to be modest and humble. Singaporean tends to be cautious when at work and try not to be persistent which shows that Singaporean are higher on the feminine side compared to the masculine.

Uncertainty Avoidance: Australia

Australia scores a very intermediate 51 on this dimension.

Uncertainty Avoidance: Singapore

Singapore's score for this aspect which is exceptionally low. It is because Singaporeans abide to too many rules and thus have a fear to go against the rules.

Long-Term Orientation: Australia

Australia scores 21 on this aspect and has a normative culture. Normative culture consists of the way we establish, abide by and enforce principles of conduct. They have a strong concern with establishing the absolute truth. They also show great respect for traditions, a small tendency to save for the future, and a focus on achieving quick results.

Long-Term Orientation: Singapore

Singapore scores 72 in this aspect which is considered high. Singaporean emphasize on the virtue and the way things are done. They also keep their options open thus it allows them to have a more practical approach.

Indulgence: Australia

Australia scores a high score of 71 and thus an indulgent country. They are prepared and realise that their impulses and drive regarding enjoying life and having fun. They are an optimistic and have a positive attitude in life. Australians place a higher significance to leisure time and do what they please to ensure that they live a happy life.

Indulgence: Singapore

Is it not possible to determine a preference on this dimension because of Singapore’s intermediate score of 46.

Conclusion.

I choose Australia for this report as it is a country that I would like to live in. There are 8 types of cultural components which are aesthetics, values & attitudes, manners & customs, social structure, religion, personal communication, education, physical environment. The three factors that are used to compare the country’s business culture are dress, punctuality & formality, preferred managerial qualities, and hierarchy & decision-making. By doing this comparison, it shows that Australia is a very laid-back country and the people there are very casual with each other.

References

1. (n.d.). Retrieved from Denmark in Singapore: https://singapore.um.dk/en/the-trade-council/menu-4/
2. (2018, September 19). Retrieved from Global Affairs Canada: https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/ci-ic_sg.aspx?lang=eng
3. (2018, September 19). Retrieved from Global Affairs Canada: https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/ci-ic_sg.aspx?lang=eng
4. (2018, September 18). Retrieved from Global Affairs Canada: https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/ci-ic_au.aspx?lang=eng
5. Advameg, Inc. (2020). Australia - Topography . Retrieved from Nations Encyclopedia : https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Australia-TOPOGRAPHY.html
6. Australian Social Hierarchy. (2020). Retrieved from Hierarchy Structure: https://www.hierarchystructure.com/australian-social-hierarchy/
7. Commission, A. T. (2017). The Australian Education System. Retrieved from Australian Education Technology: https://www.austrade.gov.au/edtech/the-australian-education-system/
8. Lingoda Team. (2020, January 29). A Guide to Australian English: Everything You Need To Know. Retrieved from Lingoda: https://blog.lingoda.com/en/a-guide-to-australian-english