Variables

conscious and partly unconscious. The third level is described as underlying assumptions, which are often presumed to be self-evident. They include convictions, perceptions, thoughts and feelings, which are usually invisible and unconscious. Nevertheless, they are the sources of values and the actions based on them. Schein emphasizes that relationships that lead from artefacts through values to underlying assumptions are much weaker than those leading in the contrary direction, because the influence of underlying assumptions on values and artefacts is stronger than vice versa.

The basic assumptions of Schein’s ideas originate in the work of Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck from 1961″ According to the authors, assumptions are organized independently of individual cases in typical patterns in each culture based on the human capacity to survive. Some of the underlying assumptions will be explained in more detail below, modeled according to explana-tions by Schein.”^ The following questions are implicit in the six underlying assumptions:^”

The nature of reality and the nature of truth: What is real and what is not? Do members of a culture a s s u m e more of an experimental position, where decisions about true and false depend on experiment, or do they follow more traditional convictions?

The time dimension: How Is the time dimension defined and calculated? How important is time? Do members of a culture live more in relation to thepast or to the future? Are they oriented more to the long-term or the short-term?

ThB-effect of spatial proximity and distance: How Is s p a c e attributed to members of a society? What objects and locations are private and what are public? What role does spatial distance play In evaluating relationships e.g. In regard to level of intimacy?

The nature of being human: What does it mean to be human? Is human nature marked more by

good or bad Intentions? C a n people change and develop, even a s adults? ;