Quality of working life: Cross-cultural considerations

Abstract

Quality of work(ing) life (QWL), as a concept and set of intervention activities, involves itself with planned organisational change aimed at improving both work system productivity and employee satisfaction. QWL is affected by cross-cultural factors as soon as multinational corporations engage in business beyond their national boundaries. This paper identifies and discusses the cultural factors which emerge in both parent nations and nations foreign to the parent organisation when considering QWL. In making reference to the interface between culture and QWL, the paper applies Hofstede's (1980) four theoretical cultural dimensions. Special attention is drawn to QWL considerations in the Southeast Asian region. © 1988 School of Management National University of Singapore.