Culture in Management 153TABLE 6.4Sample items from Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s measurement of Universalism
versus Particularism
Universalism ParticularismYou are riding in a car
driven by a close friend.
He hits a pedestrian. You
know he was going at
least 35 miles per hour
in an area of the city
where the maximum
allowed speed is 20 miles
per hour. There are no
witnesses. His lawyer says
that if you testify under
oath that he was only
driving 20 miles per hour
it may save him from
serious consequences.
What right has your He has some right/no My friend has some
friend to expect you to right as a friend to right/a definite right as a
protect him? expect me to testify to friend to expect me to
the lower figure. testify on the lower figure.
What do you think you Not testify that he was Testify that he was going
would do in view of the going 20 miles an hour. 20 miles an hour.
obligations of a sworn
witness and the
obligation to your
friend?
You have just come
from a secret meeting of
the board of directors of
a company. You have a
close friend who will be
ruined unless she can
get out of the market
before the board’s
decision becomes
known. You happen to
be having a dinner at
the friend’s home this
evening.
What right does your She has some right/no She has some right/a
friend have to expect right as a friend to definite right as a friend to
you to tip her off? expect me to tip her off. expect me to tip her off.
Would you tip her off No Yes
in view of your
obligations to the
company and your
obligation to your
friend?
Source:Adapted from Trompenaars, 1993: 35–39.