hofstede lecture

8/3/2019 Hofstede Lecture

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COM 340

Lecture 8

Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions

and

National Culture


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COM 3402

National levelRegional / Ethnic / Religious / Linguistic

affiliation level

Gender level

Generation level

Social Class level

Organizational / Corporate level

Levels of Culture


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COM 3403

Geert Hofstede (Dutch) - Well known for hiswork on Four Dimensions of CulturalVariability.

These include:

Uncertainty Avoidance

Power-Distance

Masculinity-Femininity

Individualism-Collectivism

Quantity vs. Quality of Life

Hofstedes Cultural DimensionsOverview


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COM 3404

The extent to which a society feelsthreatened or is comfortable by uncertainand ambiguous situations.

STRONG Uncertainty Avoidance

WEAK Uncertainty Avoidance

Uncertainty Avoidance


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COM 3405

Weak Uncertainty Avoidance Strong Uncertainty Avoidance

The uncertainty inherent in life is more easilyaccepted 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.

The uncertainty inherent in life is felt as a continuousthreat 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 andvalues.

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.

Uncertainty Avoidance Dimension


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COM 3406

STRONG Uncertainty Avoidance CulturesGreece (1) Japan ChiliPortugal Peru SpainBelgium France Argentina

Weak Uncertainty Avoidance CulturesSingapore (53) Hong Kong

IndiaDenmark the Philippines IrelandSweden Great Britain MalaysiaUnited States (43)

Uncertainty Avoidance (cont)


7/20COM 3407

The extent to which the less powerfulmembers of a society accept the fact thatpower in institutions and organizations isdistributed unequally.

HIGH Power-Distance

LOW Power-Distance

Power-Distance


8/20COM 3408

Small Power Distance Large Power Distance

Inequality in society should be minimized.

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 redistributepower.

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.

There should be an order of inequality in this world in

which everybody has a rightful place: high and loware 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 peopleSuperior 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 inpower.

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.

Power Distance Dimension


9/20COM 3409

HIGH Power-Distance culturesMalaysia (1) Philippines Hong KongMexico Singapore IndiaVenezuela France Columbia

LOW Power-Distance culturesAustria (53) Norway New ZealandIsrael Ireland FinlandDenmark Sweden Switzerland

United States ranked 38 out of 53 countries.

Power-Distance (cont)


10/20COM 34010

The extent to which gender roles in aculture are expected and clearly defined.

Masculine

Feminine

Masculinity-Femininity


11/20COM 34011

Masculine CulturesJapan (1) Mexico Great BritainIreland Germany SwitzerlandVenezuela

Feminine CulturesSweden (53) Finland the NetherlandsNorway Chile Thailand

Denmark Portugal

United States ranked 15 out of 53 countries.

Masculinity-Femininity (cont)


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COM 34012

The extent to which a society is loosely ortightly knit.

INDIVIDUALISTIC

Emphasis on self versus social group

COLLECTIVISTIC

Emphasis on social group

Individualism-Collectivism


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COM 34013

Collectivist Individualist

In society, people are born into extendedfamilies 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.

The emphasis is on belonging to organizations;

membership is the ideal.

Private life is invaded by organizations and

clans to which one belongs; opinions are

predetermined.

Expertise, order, duty, and security areprovided by organization or clan.

Friendships are predetermined by stable social

relationships, but there is need for prestige

within these relationships.

Belief is placed in group decisions.

Value standards differ for in-groups and out-

groups (particularism)

In society, everybody is supposed to take careof 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 iscalculative.

The emphasis is on individual initiative and

achievement; leadership the ideal.

Everybody has a right to a private life and

opinion.

Autonomy, variety, pleasure, and individualfinancial security are sought in the system.

The need is for specific friendships.

Belief is placed in individual decisions.

Value standards should apply to all

(universalism).

Individualism Dimension


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COM 34014

INDIVIDUALISTIC culturesUnited States (1) Canada ItalyAustralia the Netherlands

BelgiumGreat Britain New Zealand

Denmark

COLLECTIVISTIC cultures

Guatemala (53) Columbia Singapore

Peru Taiwan Hong KongPakistan Thailand Indonesia

Korea

Japan ranked 22 out of 53 countries.

Individualism-Collectivism (cont)


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COM 34015

Quantity/Quality of Life

Emphasis on assertiveness & materialismversus relationships and leisure time


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COM 34016

Quality of Life Quantity 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.

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.

Quality vs Quantity of Life Dimension(Masculinity vs Femininity)


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COM 34017

Cultural Dimensions Scores for 10Countries

___________________________________________________________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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COM 34019

The Position of 40 Countries on the Power

Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance Scales


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COM 34020

The Position of 40 Countries on the Power

Distance and Individualism Scales

hofstede lecture

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