Methodological Preferences in Cross-Cultural Management Research – Exploratory Approach

Research in cross-cultural management increasingly recognizes the existence of important cultural differences that influence methodological design choices and researchers’ preference for specific methods, as well as the framing of research questions. Theoretical frameworks often lack empirical testing, especially regarding the way in which the cultural context influences the effectiveness and appropriateness of specific methods. The literature advocates for methodological pluralism and adaptation, yet serious gaps exist in integrating all cultural layers and testing theoretical frameworks empirically, at the same time with a lack of explicit argumentation for the choice of research methods. Within these contextual premises, the present study aims to synthesize, through a systematic literature review, empirical and theoretical contributions to map how methodological choices in cross-cultural management research are shaped. The research is rather exploratory and descriptive, meant to scrutinize the situation in the field and extract directions for future research. The results could contribute to a better understanding of the field, especially concerning contradictory findings and replication failures, which could be better understood through the lens of the initial background and methodological preferences of investigators.