The Influence of National Culture on Information Technology Development, Implementation, and Support Challenges in China and the United States

Rapidly changing information technology challenges information technology management throughout the world. In-group collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and assertiveness dimensions of national culture distinguish Chinese and U.S. culture. Vendor competitiveness, management confusion, incompatibility, poor quality, and training demands describe the challenges. Data from 91 Chinese and 246 American information technology managers revealed that U.S. information technology organizations experience more unexpected work, delays, and costs from management confusion and poor quality. Vendor competitiveness leads to management confusion, incompatibility, and poor quality in both cultures. However, only poor quality leads to training demands in China while management confusion, incompatibility, and poor quality do in the United States.