THEORIES OF CULTURE Hall’s Low-Context, High-Context Approach Cultural Cluster Approach Hofstede’s Six Dimensions 1. Hall’s Low-Context, High-Context Approach • Developed by Edward and Mildred Hall • Different cultures have different ways of communicating; • communicate explicitly (low-context culture) • communicate implicitly (high-context culture) • An approach to understanding communication based on the relative emphasis on verbal and nonverbal sign • People in a high context culture such as Saudi Arabia tend to place a larger importance on long-term relationships and loyalty and have fewer rules and structure implemented. • Low context implies that a lot of information is exchanged explicitly through the message itself and rarely is anything implicit or hiddento transmit meaning 2. THE CULTURAL CLUSTER APPROACH • An approach to understanding communication based on meaningful clusters of countries that share similar cultural values • A cultural cluster comprises that countries that share many culture similarities although differences do remain • The Anglo Cluster comprises Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa (White sample), and the United States of America. These countries are all developed nations, predominantly English speaking, and were all once British colonies. • E.g. : US Firm’s first exporting efforts often focus on Canada and UK, while Hong Kong and Taiwan have been successful in China’s market A synthesis of country clusters Monday, February 1, 20XX 3. HOFSTEDE’S SIX DIMENSIONS Social orientation Relative importance of the interests of the individual vs the interest of the group Collectivism • Collectivism indicates that there is a greater importance Individualism • placed on the goals and well-being of the group. Individualism indicates that there is a greater importance placed on attaining personal goals. • A person’s self-image in this category is defined as “We.” • People are expected t put the good of the group ahead of their • The person come first- often put their own career interest own personal welfare, interest or success. before the good for their organization. • Collectivist cultures are common in Asian and Latin American • • A person’s self-image in this category is defined as “I.” For example, the United States, Australia, United countries. Guatemala, Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Kingdom, Canada, Netherland, New Zealand, and Ireland Pakistan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Bangladesh, and are individualistic countries. Malaysia are considered the most collectivistic nations globally Power orientation • The beliefs that people in a culture hold about the appropriateness of power and authority differences in hierarchies such as business organization. High power • A high-power distance index indicates that a Low power • A low power distance index indicates that a culture accepts inequity and power culture encourages flat organizational differences, encourages bureaucracy, and structures that feature decentralized shows high respect for rank and authority. decision-making responsibility, participative • Bangladesh, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Arab countries have very high management style, and emphasis on power • Austria, Israel, Denmark, New Zealand, power distance scores; therefore, these Norway, Germany, and United Kingdom are countries are examples of high PDI in 2022. examples of low power distance countries in 2022 Uncertainty orientation related to the level of stress in a society in the face of an • Uncertainty acceptance unknown future People in high uncertainty avoidance society follow the Uncertainty avoidance • rules and regulations thoroughly to avoid undesirable moments. • They prefer to follow routines and make plans to prevent unpredictable moments. • • comfortable with undesirable moments. • They mainly act first before garnering enough information. • They are not intended to follow all rules and regulations thoroughly; so, they work to reduce the unnecessary rules They also believe proper planning is an essential component for achievement People in low uncertainty avoidance society are from the society and organization. • Singapore (8), Jamaica(13), Denmark(23) and Greece, Guatemala, Russia, Portugal, Belgium, and Japan Hongkong(29), Sweden (29), and also Malaysia 36 are are considered as the high uncertain avoidance countries examples of low uncertainty avoidance countries. Goal Orientation Describe how people are potentially motivated in cultures with e.g. a feminine or a masculine culture. Masculinity • Masculinity comes with the following Femininity • Femininity comes with the following characteristics: distinct gender roles, assertive, characteristics: fluid gender roles, modest, and concentrated on material achievements and nurturing, and concerned with the quality of life. wealth-building. • Slovakia, Japan, Hungary, Austria, Venezuela, • Sweden, Norway, Netherland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Finland are considered as the most Italy, Mexico, and China are considered feminine countries in the world for their low MAS masculine countries for their high score in this score in this dimension. dimension. Time orientation The extent to which members of a culture adopt a long term or a short term outlook Short term on work and life • Focus on the past and present, emphasizing respect for tradition and fulfilment of social obligation • According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model, Ghana(4), Nigeria(13), Australia(21), United States(26), Philippines(27), and also Norway(35) are considered as the short-term oriented countries in the world. Long term • Values dedication, hard work, perseverance and thrift. • According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, South Korea(100), Taiwan(93), Japan (88), China(87), Germany(83), and Singapore(72) are the long-term orientation countries in the world Indulgence- Restrain orientation Individuals free to seek personal satisfaction Indulgence • • Indulgence refers to a society where a higher percentage of people Restraint refers to a society where a smaller acknowledge that they are leading a happy life. percentage of people declare that they are leading a People in an indulgent society enjoy life freely; hence, they have happy life. fun and obtain optimistic attitudes. • • Restraint • According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, the most indulgent countries in the world are Venezuela(100), Mexico(97), Puerto People in a restrained society suppress gratification and do not focus on the freedom of speech • According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model, the Rico(90), El Salvador(89), Nigeria(84), Colombia(83), Germany(83), restraint countries in the world are Pakistan(0), Trinidad and Tobago(80), Sweden(78), Australia (71), Canada(68), Egypt(4), Latvia(13), Ukraine(14), Albania(15), Australia(68), and also Argentina(62). Belarus(15), Estonia(16), Iraq917), Russia(20), and also China(24).
