A cross-cultural analysis of Brazilian and German planning orientations

Abstract

This thesis investigates whether time orientation (long-term orientation versus short-term orientation) moderates the relationship between conscientiousness and planning orientation (process orientation versus outcome orientation) among Brazilians and Germans. According to Hofstede (2001), Brazilians are short-term oriented, whereas Germans are highly long-term oriented. An online survey was conducted with 103 Brazilian and 106 German participants. The survey included the HEXACO-60 model’s conscientiousness items, self-developed items based on Hofstede’s time orientation summary (Hofstede, 2001), and Woolley’s measures for planning orientation (Woolley, 2009a, 2009b). Regression analyses, frequencies, and independent samples t-tests were conducted with SPSS, with conscientiousness, time orientation and nationality as predictors and planning orientation as dependent variable. Demographic control variables were analyzed with ANOVA and multiple regression. Neither was there a significant relationship between conscientiousness and planning orientation, nor was this relationship moderated by time orientation or nationality. There was no significant positive relationship between conscientiousness and process orientation in either of the two country samples. Time orientation did also not have a direct impact on planning orientation. Brazilians were not more likely to display outcome orientation, and neither were Germans more likely to display process orientation. The demographic control variables failed to consistently and significantly predict planning orientation. A surprising finding was that other than proposed by Hofstede (2001), Germans scored as high on short-term orientation as Brazilians. Research limitations, implications for practice, and recommendations for future research were explored by the author.

Date of Award	13 Mar 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Alvaro Cyrino (Supervisor)