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The Kogut and Singh national cultural distance index: Time to start using it as a springboard rather than a crutch

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Abstract

This Counterpoint investigates the continued relevance of the 30-year-old Kogut and Singh (KS) index of cultural distance. KS was a seminal contribution, highlighting the relevance of cultural differences in IB. However, since then, simplistic replications of the original arguments and index have prevented us from progressing towards a better understanding of how cross-national differences matter. We discuss the mechanisms underlying the construct and how they relate to the algorithm, data, and its critiques. We call for more theoretically informed approaches, highlighting the underlying mechanisms, and specifying which data and algorithms best capture those mechanisms in each research context.

Résumé

Ce Contrepoint étudie la pertinence continue de l’indice de Kogut et Singh (KS) de 30 ans sur la distance culturelle. KS était une contribution majeure, mettant en évidence la pertinence des différences culturelles dans l’international business. Cependant, depuis lors, la réplication simpliste des arguments et index originaux nous a empêchés de progresser vers une meilleure compréhension du comment les différences transnationales agissent. Nous discutons des mécanismes sous-jacents à la construction et de leur relation avec l’algorithme, les données et ses critiques. Nous appelons à des approches plus théoriques, mettant en évidence les mécanismes sous-jacents et spécifiant quelles données et quels algorithmes capturent le mieux ces mécanismes dans chaque contexte de recherche.

Resumen

Este contrapunto investiga la relevancia continuada del índice de distancia cultural de Kogut y Sight (KS) de 30 años de edad. KS fue una contribución fundamental, resaltando la relevancia de las diferencias culturales en negocios internacionales. Sin embargo, desde entonces la reproducción simplificada de los argumentos y el índice originales nos han impedido avanzar hacia un mejor entendimiento de cómo las diferencias entre países importan. Discutimos los mecanismos subyacentes al constructo y cómo estos se relacionan con el algoritmo, los datos y sus críticas. Hacemos un llamado para tener más abordajes teóricamente informados, resaltando los mecanismos subyacentes, y especificando qué datos y algoritmos capturan mejor esos mecanismos en cada contexto de investigación.

Resumo

Este contraponto investiga a continuada relevância do índice de distância cultural de Kogut e Singh (KS) de 30 anos de idade. KS foi uma contribuição seminal, destacando a relevância das diferenças culturais em IB. No entanto, desde então, a replicação simplista dos argumentos e índice originais nos impediu de avançar para uma melhor compreensão de como as diferenças entre países são importantes. Discutimos os mecanismos subjacentes ao construto e como eles se relacionam com o algoritmo, dados e suas críticas. Solicitamos abordagens mais teoricamente informadas, destacando os mecanismos subjacentes e especificando quais dados e algoritmos capturam melhor esses mecanismos em cada contexto de pesquisa.

摘要

这篇对论调查了30年的Kogut和Singh(KS)文化距离指数的持续相关性。KS是一项开创性的贡献, 突出了国际商务(IB)里文化差异的相关性。然而, 从那以后, 对原始论点和指数的简单复制使我们无法更好地理解跨国差异如何重要。我们讨论了该概念的一些根本的机制以及它们与算法、数据及其批评的关系。我们需要更多的对理论有启发的方法, 突出根本机制, 并明确哪些数据和算法最好地抓住了每个研究情境中的那些机制。

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, Nettelbosje 2, 9747 AE, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Robbert Maseland

  2. Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne, 200 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia

    Douglas Dow

  3. Haskayne Business School, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Piers Steel

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  1. Robbert Maseland
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Correspondence to Douglas Dow.

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Accepted by Stav Fainshmidt, Guest Editor, 15 September 2018. This article has been with the authors for two revisions.

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Maseland, R., Dow, D. & Steel, P. The Kogut and Singh national cultural distance index: Time to start using it as a springboard rather than a crutch. J Int Bus Stud 49, 1154–1166 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-018-0183-3

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