Culture’s consequences for purchasing:
comparing purchasing job ad requirements from different European countries with cultural models
Klaas Stek, Bernd Zunk, Volker Koch and Holger Schiele
About the main author
Dr Klaas Stek combines an assistant professorship in purchasing and supply management with a trailblazer role in establishing EL-IPS, the European Lab for Innovative Purchasing and Supply at the University of Twente (UT) in the Netherlands. Coordinating a master course, Purchasing Management, at the University of Twente for Industrial Engineering Management students, he combines a mix of cognitive and non-cognitive learning objectives in his classes; for instance, he formalised creativity and inventiveness and added appropriate didactics and assessment tools.
Short abstract
This research analyses the cultural differences in purchasing and supply management (PSM) job requirements from three European countries. The PSM job requirements in job advertisements have been compared with two cultural models: GLOBE and Hofstede. The universalism claim is tested based on comparing requirements in job advertisements for purchasers from Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. According to Hofstede, these three belong to different cultural clusters but just to one cultural area, according to the GLOBE model. Results reveal that about 20% of the observed requirements were shared, and about 80% were dissimilar. Cultural differences exist in job requirements and have important implications for research and education practice. The neglect to take cultural differences into account needs to be overcome to obtain accurate and practically fitting results since a universal purchaser does not exist; country-specific cultural circumstances influence PSM job requirements.
Extended abstract
This academic research article explores the cultural differences in purchasing job advertisements across Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The authors investigate the explicit requirements for purchasing and supply management (PSM) positions in job ads from the three countries and analyse them to determine the ways in which culture may cause variation.
Language Proficiency's Impact on Job Requirements
The authors found that language proficiency, particularly English, significantly impacted job requirements across the three countries. In the Netherlands, over half of the job ads required Dutch language proficiency, while Belgium, a bilingual country, often demanded proficiency in Dutch and French.
Analysis of Varied Job Requirements
The research team further analysed the 57 different job requirements that were present in the 300 job advertisements. The research results revealed both shared and different job requirements among the three countries.
Cultural Dimensions: Individualism and Masculinity
In the study context, the authors suggest that attributes such as creativity, innovation, and complex problem-solving may be more valued in individualistic cultures with higher masculinity scores than those with more feminine and collective orientations. However, the study emphasises that the implications of cultural differences regarding individualism and masculinity in PSM job requirements should be further explored.
Implications of Individualism and Masculinity in PSM Job Ads
These differences reflect how cultural norms and practices influence job requirements and expectations for PSM professionals. Global companies should recognise these cultural differences to create a successful and effective purchasing and supply management strategy.
Recognizing Cultural Norms in Global PSM Strategies
Overall, this study asks some critical questions about how culture influences job expectations and requirements. The authors urge companies that operate globally to take cultural differences seriously when developing job requirements for PSM professionals. Their research suggests that companies should employ culturally competent purchasing and supply management professionals to navigate the nuances of operating in different countries. The study highlights some of the differences between Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands' job ads for PSM professionals.
Additional/further reading
· Link to the article (open access): https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1504/IJPM.2022.122552
· LinkedIn: Click this link
· Website: https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/el-ips/