International cultural differences in public sector management: Lessons from a survey of British and Egyptian technical education managers

Abstract

Focuses on the problems of transferring western models of management to other cultures with specific reference to the UK and Egyptian technical education sector. Using Hofstede′s framework, a cultural overview of UK and Egyptian public sector education principals is provided. Reveals substantial cultural differences between the two groups suggesting that the transferability of western management models and practices is fraught with difficulties. Concludes that there is a need to mould and adapt management concepts and practices developed in the West to local cultural conditions in order for them to be appropriate and applicable. In demonstrating this, offers one of the first attempts to apply Hofstede′s questionnaire in studying cultural differences in the public sector.

Citation

Brown, A.D. and Humphreys, M. (1995), "International cultural differences in public sector management: Lessons from a survey of British and Egyptian technical education managers", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 5-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513559510088533