Lecture 8

Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions and National Culture

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Levels of Culture
National level Regional / Ethnic / Religious / Linguistic affiliation level Gender level Generation level Social Class level Organizational / Corporate level

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Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions Overview

Geert Hofstede (Dutch) - Well known for his work on Four Dimensions of Cultural Variability. These include:

Uncertainty Avoidance Power-Distance Masculinity-Femininity Individualism-Collectivism Quantity vs. Quality of Life

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Uncertainty Avoidance

The extent to which a society feels threatened or is comfortable by uncertain and ambiguous situations. STRONG Uncertainty Avoidance WEAK Uncertainty Avoidance

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Uncertainty Avoidance Dimension

Weak Uncertainty Avoidance The uncertainty inherent in life is more easily accepted and each day is taken as it comes. Ease and lower stress are experienced. Time is free. Hard work, as such, is not a virtue. Aggressive behavior is frowned upon. Less showing of emotions is preferred. Conflict and competition can be contained on the level of fair play and used constructively. More acceptance of dissent is entailed. Deviation is not considered threatening; greater tolerance is shown. The ambiance is one of the less nationalism. More positive feelings toward normal people are seen. There is more willingness to take risks in life. The accent is on relativism, empiricism. There should be as few rules as possible. If rules can not be kept, we should change them. Belief is placed in generalists and common sense. The authorities are there to serve the citizens. Strong Uncertainty Avoidance The uncertainty inherent in life is felt as a continuous threat that must be fought. Higher anxiety and stress are experienced. Time is money. There is an inner urge to work hard. Aggressive behavior of self and others is accepted. More showing of emotions is preferred. Conflict and competition can unleash aggression and should therefore be avoided. A strong need for consensus is involved. Deviant persons and ideas are dangerous; intolerance holds sway. Nationalism is pervasive. Younger people are suspect. There is great concern with security in life. The search is for ultimate, absolute truths and values. There is a need for written rules and regulations. If rules can not be kept, we are sinners and should repent. Beliefs is placed in experts and their knowledge. Ordinary citizens are incompetent compared with the authorities.

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Uncertainty Avoidance

(cont)

STRONG Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures

Greece (1) Portugal Belgium Japan Peru France Chili Spain Argentina

Weak Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures

Singapore (53) Hong Kong India Denmark the Philippines Ireland Sweden Great Britain Malaysia United States (43)

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Power-Distance

The extent to which the less powerful members of a society accept the fact that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally.

HIGH Power-Distance
LOW Power-Distance

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Power Distance Dimension

Small Power Distance Inequality in society should be minimized. Large Power Distance There should be an order of inequality in this world in which everybody has a rightful place: high and low are protected by this order. A few people should be independent; most should be dependent. Hierarchy means existential inequality. Superiors consider subordinates to be a different kind of people. Subordinates consider superiors to be a different kind of kind of people Superior are inaccessible. Power is a basic fact of society that antedates good or evil. Its legitimacy is irrelevant. Power-holders are entitled to privileges. Those in power should try to look as powerful as possible. The underdog is to blame. The way to change a social system is to dethrone those in power. Other people are a potential threat to one's power and can rarely be trusted. Latent conflict exists between the powerful and the powerless. Cooperation among the powerless is difficult to attain because of their low-faith-in-people norm.

All people should be interdependent. Hierarchy means an inequality of roles, established for convenience Superiors consider subordinates to be "people like me." Subordinates consider superiors to be "people like me." Superiors are accessible. The use of power should be legitimate and is subject to the judgement as to whether it is good or evil. All should have equal rights. Those in power should try to look less powerful than they are. The system is to blame. The way to change a social system is to redistribute power. People at various power levels feel less threatened and more prepared to trust people. Latent harmony exists between the powerful and the powerless. Cooperation among the powerless can be based on solidarity.

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Power-Distance

(cont)

HIGH Power-Distance cultures

Malaysia (1) Philippines Hong Kong Mexico Singapore India Venezuela France Columbia

LOW Power-Distance cultures

Austria (53) Israel Denmark Norway New Zealand Ireland Finland Sweden Switzerland

United States ranked 38 out of 53 countries.

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Masculinity-Femininity

The extent to which gender roles in a culture are expected and clearly defined. Masculine Feminine

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Masculinity-Femininity

(cont)

Masculine Cultures
Japan (1) Ireland Venezuela Mexico Great Britain Germany Switzerland

Feminine Cultures
Sweden (53) Finland the Netherlands Norway Chile Thailand Denmark Portugal United States ranked 15 out of 53 countries.

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Individualism-Collectivism

The extent to which a society is loosely or tightly knit.

INDIVIDUALISTIC

Emphasis on self versus social group

COLLECTIVISTIC

Emphasis on social group

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Individualism Dimension
Collectivist In society, people are born into extended families or clans who protect them in exchange for loyalty. "We" consciousness holds sway. Identity is based on the social system. There is emotional dependence of individual on organizations and institutions. The involvement with organizations is moral. Individualist In society, everybody is supposed to take care of himself/herself and his/her immediate family. "I" consciousness holds sway. Identity is based on the individual. There is emotional independence of individual from organizations or institutions. The involvement with organizations is calculative. The emphasis is on belonging to organizations; The emphasis is on individual initiative and membership is the ideal. achievement; leadership the ideal. Private life is invaded by organizations and Everybody has a right to a private life and clans to which one belongs; opinions are opinion. predetermined. Expertise, order, duty, and security are Autonomy, variety, pleasure, and individual provided by organization or clan. financial security are sought in the system. Friendships are predetermined by stable social The need is for specific friendships. relationships, but there is need for prestige within these relationships. Belief is placed in group decisions. Belief is placed in individual decisions. Value standards differ for in-groups and out- Value standards should apply to all groups (particularism) (universalism).
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Individualism-Collectivism

(cont)

INDIVIDUALISTIC cultures
United States (1) Canada Italy Australia the Netherlands Belgium Great Britain New Zealand Denmark

COLLECTIVISTIC cultures
Guatemala (53) Columbia Singapore Peru Taiwan Hong Kong Pakistan Thailand Indonesia Korea

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Japan ranked 22 out of 53 countries.

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Quantity/Quality of Life

Emphasis on assertiveness & materialism versus relationships and leisure time

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Quality vs Quantity of Life Dimension (Masculinity vs Femininity)

Quality of Life Quality of life is important. You work in order to live. People and environment are important. Interdependence is the ideal. Service provides the motivation. One sympathizes with the unfortunate. Small and slow are beautiful. Unisex and androgyny are ideal. Men needn't be assertive, but can also play nurturing roles Sex roles in society are more fluid. There should be equality between the sexes. Quantity of Life Performance is what counts. You live in order to work. Money and things are important. Independence is the ideal. Ambition provides the drive. One admires the successful achiever. Big and fast are beautiful. Ostentatious manliness (machismo) is ideal. Men should be assertive. Women should be nurturing. Sex roles in society are clearly differentiated. Men should dominate in society.

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Cultural Dimensions Scores for 10 Countries

___________________________________________________________ PD ID QL UA ___________________________________________________________ USA 40 L 91 H 62 H 46 L Germany 35 L 67 H 66 H 65 M Japan 54 M 46 M 95 H 92 H France 68 H 71 H 43 M 86 H Netherlands 38 L 80 H 14 L 53 M Hong Kong 68 H 25 L 57 H 29 L Indonesia 78 H 14 L 46 M 48 L West Africa 77 H 20 L 46 M 54 M * Russia 95 H 50 M 40 L 90 H * China 80 H 20 L 50 M 60 M __________________________________________________________
PD = Power Distance; ID = Individualism; QL = Quantity of Life; UA = Uncertainty Avoidance L = Low M = Moderate H = High

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Cultural Dimension Ratings

Country Australia Canada England France Greece Italy Japan Mexico Singapore Sweden United States Venezuela Individualism/ Collectivism Individual Individual Individual Individual Collective Individual Collective Collective Collective Individual Individual Collective Power Distance Small Moderate Small Large Large Moderate Moderate Large Large Small Small Large Uncertainty Avoidance Moderate Low Moderate High High High High High Low Low Low High Quantity a Of Life Strong Moderate Strong Weak Moderate Strong Strong Strong Moderate Weak Strong Strong

a A weak quantity-of-life score is equivalent to a high quality-of-life score.

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The Position of 40 Countries on the Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance Scales

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The Position of 40 Countries on the Power Distance and Individualism Scales

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