Culture Map (Erin Meyer)
Compares cultures along behavioral dimensions.
PURPOSE
Intercultural misunderstandings frequently lead to conflicts and inefficiency in global teams without the participants recognizing the cultural causes. The Culture Map by Erin Meyer makes cultural differences measurable and discussable along concrete behavioral dimensions. It helps leaders and teams consciously adapt their behavior to the cultural context.
HOW TO USE
First, the cultures involved are mapped on eight scales, such as communication (direct vs. indirect), leadership (egalitarian vs. hierarchical), or trust (task-based vs. relationship-based). The profiles are visually overlaid to identify differences and potential friction points. From this, teams derive concrete adaptation strategies for collaboration.
WHAT IT IS
The Culture Map is a framework by Erin Meyer that maps cultural differences along eight dimensions: Communicating, Evaluating, Persuading, Leading, Deciding, Trusting, Disagreeing, and Scheduling. Each dimension is structured as a spectrum between two extremes. The model is based on extensive research and practical experience in international organizations.
EXAMPLE
Example: Your German development team works with colleagues from Japan and Brazil, and there are constant misunderstandings during feedback rounds — the Japanese colleagues phrase criticism very indirectly. You use the Culture Map by Erin Meyer to make the differences on dimensions like communication, feedback, and decision-making visible.
PREREQUISITES
- Concrete intercultural collaboration as the trigger
- Skill: Intercultural sensitivity
- Skill: Scale facilitation
⚠️ WATCH OUT
- Transferring country averages to individuals creates new stereotypes
- Common mistake: Reading absolute instead of relative positions — what matters is the gap between two cultures
💡 SUCCESS FACTORS
- Map your own team's positions on the scales, not just country values