Acculturation and Management Control- ‘Japanese Soul in Sri Lankan Physique’

Abstract

The study explores the way in which acculturation can be used as a management control mechanism. Acculturation - inculcating values and norms of one culture to another culture- has been studied in relation to national cultures whereas, the application of acculturation to the study area of management control is novel. By using the ethnographic research method, this research examines as to how a Sri Lankan subsidiary of a Japanese company acculturates its employees to Japanese work values with a view to instituting a positive work culture. The study has illustrated the process through which workers unlearned indigenous Sri Lankan work values and assimilated new Japanese work values. The findings are useful for designing strategies to acculturate employees to create an effective management control regime. Keyword: Acculturation, Management Controls, Organisational Culture, Ethnography, Sri Lanka, Japan