Cultural Difference and Perceived CIO Role Effectiveness in Higher Education in ASEAN

Abstract

CIO role is important to ICT success in higher education. However perception of CIO Role effectiveness could be affected by culture, this research identified relationship between cultural dimensions and perceived CIO Role Effectiveness. This research follows cultural dimensions proposed by Hofstede [1]. Assessment of CIO role effectiveness follows method proposed by Kishen [2]. Samples are selected from of CIO or ones with potential to be CIO from 3 selected universities in Thailand and Vietnam. Three selected universities represent culture differences of equivalent to culture of 6 countries from 10 ASEAN countries. In terms of cultural differences among CIO in ASEAN, the research found that they are totally different in Long-Term Orientation but they are similar in Masculinity and Indulgence. For relation between cultural dimension and perceived CIO role effectiveness, it is found that Masculinity has negative effect on Perceived CIO Role Effectiveness, but Long-term orientation and Indulgence have significantly effect on Perceived CIO Role Effectiveness. As human resources in ASEAN will be more unified upon the beginning of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, this research reveals that CIO role in higher education in different ASEAN countries will be perceived differently, in term of role effectiveness. The research also reveals that any CIO who wants to be perceived as effective CIO in ASEAN should perform their role in the way to enhance Long-Term Orientation and Indulgence, while decrease Musculinity.