Overview of Cultural Dimensions
Originally derived from the work of the influential social psychologist Geert Hofstede, the
concept of cultural dimensions refers to value constructs used to describe a specific culture.
These dimensions, including action, status, communication, identity, time, and power distance,
lay across a spectrum with no absolutes at either end. Learning about the range of cultural
dimensions existent among societies will assist in cross-cultural communication and
understanding of the variety of people within the workplace and around the world today.
 Action:
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When working with others, is it more important to complete tasks or to build relationships?
The cultural dimension spectrum for action identifies task-oriented societies as laying on
one end with relationship-oriented at the other.
Task-oriented cultures recognize task efficiency as key to achieving a go goal. Some of the
most task-oriented cultures in the world are Germany, the United States, Switzerland,
Australia, and Sweden.
Relationship-oriented cultures recognize building and maintaining relationships as key to
achieving a goal. Cultures in the world that are most relationship-oriented include Mexico,
Malaysia, Argentina, Sri Lanka, and Brazil.
 Status:
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Within a culture, how is the status of an individual determined?
Status as a dimension of culture lies on spectrum ranging from an emphasis on ascribed
statuses to an emphasis on achieved statuses.
Ascribed status recognizes who you are and your connections as important. These are the
social statuses that a person is assigned at birth or assumes involuntarily later in life.
Examples of ascribed statuses include sex, gender, race, family origins, and ethnic
backgrounds. Ascribed statuses may influence interaction through partiality to certain
individuals, such as with nepotism or the "old boy's network." Countries where ascribed
statuses are of particular importance include South Korea, Russia, Japan, and China.
Achieved status recognizes what you have done and accomplished as important. It reflects
personal skills, abilities, and efforts. Educational achievements are an example of achieved
statuses. Some of the countries where achieved statuses matter the most include Germany,
Israel, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United States.
 Communication:
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When speaking, is it more important to straightforwardly tell the listener what needs to be
done or to encourage input and a polite dialogue?
The cultural dimension spectrum for communication, the process by which information is
exchanged and meaning is sent and received, identifies societies as existing on a spectrum
ranging from direct communication to valuing indirect communication.
Direct communication is speech that specifically states and directs an action. Individuals
directly communicating tend to quickly "get to the point" of a conversation and focus on
what is said rather than how it is said. The meaning of the message is communicated mainly
through words. Some of the most direct communicating countries include the United States,
Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden.
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Indirect communication requires an understanding of the underlying meanings, as well as a
collaborative spirit. Importance is placed not only on the words said, but in the surrounding
context of the situation. Indirect communicators will leave it up to the listener to fill in the
blanks and make out the meaning by correctly reading cues, such as body language. The
most indirectly communicating countries include Japan, Mexico, China, and Saudi Arabia.
 Identity:
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How do you know who you are? From where is your sense of worth generated? What is your
role or place within society?
Identity as a dimension of culture lies on a spectrum ranging from individualism to
collectivism.
Individualistic cultures place belief in the importance of the individual. Society exists for the
benefit of individual people, and the characteristics of separation and self-reliance are
encouraged. Some of the most individualistic countries include the United States, the United
Kingdom, and Australia.
Cultures placing emphasis on collectivism tend to focus their efforts on building and
maintaining relationships. These connections are seen as key to success, and the identity of
an individual is shaped by the group(s) in which they belong. Some of the most collective
countries include Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama.
 Time:
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Are you oriented to a clock or does life simply flow and occur at its own pace?
The cultural dimension for time identifies a spectrum ranging from cultures emphasizing
structured time to cultures emphasizing unstructured time.
Cultures in which structured time is of great importance understand time to be racing along
a set course. Time exists as an entity in itself. Characteristics of structured time include an
orientation to the completion of tasks, high levels of organization, and great frustration
towards tardiness. Some of the most structured time oriented countries include the United
Kingdom, the United States, Germany, China, Japan, and Switzerland.
A culture primarily possessing an unstructured view of time sees this cultural dimension as
more of a fluid and loosely defined concept. Time is not something in itself with life being
made up of events defined by relationships. Characteristics of unstructured time include an
orientation towards relationships and time being relative what else may be occurring at the
moment. Some of the most unstructured time oriented countries include Mexico, Spain,
Ghana, Brazil, and India.
 Power Distance:
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Do members of a culture accept and expect that power is distributed unequally? Is ther
Power distance, the extent to which a society accepts hierarchical differences, as a dimension
of culture lies on a spectrum ranging from egalitarian to hierarchical.
Cultures emphasizing egalitarianism have low power distance in which subordinates see
their superiors as approachable and decisions negotiable. Some of the most egalitarian
countries include Austria, Israel, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Costa
Rica, and Germany.
Hierarchical societies have high power distance in which a great distance is maintained from
highly respected individuals in positions of power. Some of the most hierarchical countries
include Malaysia, Guatemala, Russia, Panama, the Philippines, Mexico, Ecuador, and India.
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