Dimensions of Culture
Dimensions of Culture
Geert Hofstede (Dutch management researcher)
 Individualism Versus Collectivism
 Masculinity Versus Femininity
 Power Distance
 Uncertainty Avoidance
 Long- Term Versus Short- Term Orientation
 Polychronic Versus Monochronic
 High- Context Versus Low- Context
 Relationship- Driven Versus Task- Driven
 Concepts 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,
turn 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 Collectivism
Differences:
 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 Collectivism
Associations with this dimension:
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Wealth
Geography
Birth rates
History
Dimensions of Culture
Masculinity Versus Femininity
masculinity 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 Femininity
Associations 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 Distance
Associations with this dimension:
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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 Avoidance
Associations 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 Monochronic
Polychronic: 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- Driven
Relationship- driven  feminine culture, highcontext ones
Task- driven - masculine culture, low- context ones
Dimensions of Culture
Concepts of the Future
How a culture views time and time horizons is
critical in how business relationships are
founded and contracts negotiated.
An obsession with promptness
A much more relaxed and casual attitude
towards punctuality
Dimensions of Culture
Cross- Cultural Success Tips
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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