Exploring cultural misfit: Causes and consequences

In this paper, we examine the phenomenon of cultural misfit and its consequences for the individual. We argue that while cultural misfit may lead to illegitimacy and inefficiency, it may also create comparative advantages for individuals, especially under certain task conditions and in certain societies. To theorize on the link between cultural misfit and individual effectiveness, we explore the types of networks that people develop based on cultural influences and the impact of these networks on their effectiveness. We conceptualize cultural effects at two levels of analysis. At the level of the individual we explore the individual cultural orientations of idiocentrism–allocentrism and verticality–horizontality. At the societal level we explore the effects of individualism–collectivism. Individual networks are conceptualized through the constructs of structural holes and trust. The model presented here has important implications for various business situations where individuals operate in environments that differ significantly from their own cultural inclinations.