dimensions of culture. geert hofstede (dutch management researcher) individualism versus...

Dimensions of Culture

Dimensions of Culture

Geert Hofstede (Dutch management researcher)Individualism Versus CollectivismMasculinity Versus FemininityPower DistanceUncertainty AvoidanceLong- Term Versus Short- Term OrientationPolychronic Versus Monochronic High- Context Versus Low- ContextRelationship- Driven Versus Task- DrivenConcepts of the Future

Dimensions of Culture

Individualism Versus Collectivism(P184)

American Proverb:　 God help those who help themselves. Do you like to do.

Chinese Proverb:　 No matter how stout, one beam cannot support a house. 　 For those at home, turn to your parents for help; for those outside, t

urn to your friends for help. The nail that sticks up is pounded down. The highest blade of grass is always the first to be cut.

Dimensions of Culture

Individualism Versus CollectivismDifferences: Individual vs group Loose ties vs tight ties Setting goals What have you done? vs Who are you related? direct communication vs indirect communication

Dimensions of Culture

Individualism Versus CollectivismAssociations with this dimension:

• Wealth• Geography• Birth rates• History

Dimensions of Culture

Masculinity Versus Femininitymasculinity assertiveness, competition, material

success

femininity quality of life, interpersonal relationships,

concern for the weak

In work place:

masculine culture decisive and assertive

feminine culture use intuition and strive for consensus

Dimensions of Culture

Dimensions of Culture

Masculinity Versus FemininityAssociations with this dimension:

• Geography• Birth

Dimensions of Culture

Power Distance

Chinese proverb

　 Let the emperor be an emperor, the minister a minister, the father a father and the son a son. (Conficius)

Five relations: ruler /subject, father /son, elder brother /young brother, husband /wife, friend /friend. (Confucius)

Dimensions of Culture

Power Distance

American proverb

All men are born equal.

Although we describe ourselves as a nation of equals, there is little doubt that some of us rank as “more equal than others.” (Macionis)

Dimensions of Culture

Power Distance

---> the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally

---> the extent to which power, prestige, and wealth are distributed within a culture. (P195)

Dimensions of Culture

Power DistanceAssociations with this dimension:

• Geography• Population• Wealth• History

Dimensions of Culture

Uncertainty Avoidance---> the extent to which people in a culture feel threatened

by uncertain or unknown situations(P197)

Dimensions of Culture

Uncertainty Avoidance

Chinese Proverb

　　 Beforehand preparation leads to

success; unprepareness results in failure.

　 The past is as clear as a mirror, the future as dark as

lacquer.

Dimensions of Culture

Uncertainty Avoidance

American Proverb

　　 The future is called “perhaps,” which is the only

possible thing to call the future.

　　 In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is

certain.

Dimensions of Culture

Uncertainty AvoidanceAssociations with this dimension:

• Religion• History

Dimensions of Culture

Long- term versus Short- term Orientation

- values as thrift, persistence, having a sense of shame and ordering relationships.

Dimensions of Culture

Polychronic versus MonochronicPolychronic: do multiple tasks simultaneously.

linear time and limited

Monochronic: do one thing at a time.

circular time and eternal.

Dimensions of Culture

Relationship- Driven versus Task- DrivenRelationship- driven feminine culture, high-

context ones

Task- driven - masculine culture, low- context ones

Dimensions of Culture

Concepts of the FutureHow a culture views time and time horizons is

critical in how business relationships are founded and contracts negotiated.

An obsession with promptnessA much more relaxed and casual attitude

towards punctuality

Dimensions of Culture

Cross- Cultural Success Tips SHOW EMPATHY BE FLEXIBLE MANAGE YOUR RESPONSES DON’T GO NATIVE RESPECT LOCAL CUSTOMS BE AWARE OF NON- VERBAL COMMUNCATION DEVELOP TRUST BYCOMBATING MISTRUST BEOME INVOLVED