 Kiwi Cultural Traits To Blame for Export Mediocrity?
(New Zealand) - January 2010
Why is it that Kiwis are so innovative, yet only achieve mediocre results when it comes to economic performance? This was the big question posed in the recent report commissioned by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, which looked at the cultural traits holding us back internationally. The report - "Playing to Our Strengths: Creating Value for New Zealand Companies" - suggests that our DIY attitude might be to blame.
Cultural traits inhibiting international business include ...
- 'Satisficing' - we rate leisure pursuits more highly than wealth accumulation.
- Thinking for our customers - while we believe that 'she'll be right', this attitude can be viewed internationally as inflexible.
- Self reliance - we believe that we can and should do it all ourselves.
- Tall poppy syndrome - we are reluctant to acknowledge success or give and receive feedback, which undermines the learning curve.
- Under-valuing intellectual assets - we don't appreciate the true value of our inventiveness.
This is consistent with the initial findings of further research that NZTE is conducting to build a broader picture of gaps in New Zealand's international business capability. For instance, many exporters feel that their local staff and associated domestic businesses don't fully appreciate the rigour, high demands or customisation required to meet international demands.
"If we are to grow our economy, we need to generate greater wealth through innovation and that means commercialising our ideas on a greater scale," says Gareth Chaplin, NZTE chief economist.
"Some of our greatest export successes started in the garden shed, but this very same mindset can also be our failing on the world stage. In our determination to do things our way and on our own, we often ignore the specialist expertise and opportunities that the rest of the world can offer."
The report also discusses five broad strategies to help New Zealand businesses capitalise on their strengths and generate more export income ...
- Capturing and exploiting soft capital - through an intellectual assets strategy.
- Building more productive relationships - with customers through professional development and management tools.
- Capturing more of the value chain - to grow your business closer to the end consumer.
- Growing the firm's talent - to develop an organisational culture where tall poppies flourish and success or failure is a learning opportunity.
- Accelerating market entry - and growth through the use of specialists and the consideration of the full range of development options.
"Our culture is just one of the things that prevent us from earning more through out exports ... We pride ourselves on our lifestyle, but unless we start to earn more through exports, our enviable standard of living will disappear within a generation."
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