7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

1/29

Geert Hofstede

4 Dimensions of culture:

Power Distance

Individualism vs Collectivism

Masculine vs Feminine cultures Uncertainty Avoidance

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

2/29

Power distance Index PDI

Geert Hofstede

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

3/29

Power distance

Power distance as level of dependence (low PDI co-dependence,high PDI dependence)_

How education depends on PD

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

4/29

Family as source of differences

in Power distance

Relations between children and parents in countries with lowand high PDI

Power distance at school

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

5/29

Power distance in politics

Scandals in countries with low PDI and high PDI,

consequences for actors of scandals.How are the new colleagues hired? (knowledge low PDI,

family, friends high PDI)

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

6/29

Russia 95

Mexico 81

Brasil 69

France 69

Belgium 65Greece 60

Poland 58

Japan 54

Czech Rep. 50

Italy 50

USA 40The Netherlands 38

Germany 35

Finland 33

Norway 31

Sweden 31Ireland 28

Denmark 22

Israel 13

Austria 11

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

7/29

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Geert Hofstede

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

8/29

Individualism

Perceiving reality in terms of I Independence of a human being from

organizations

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

9/29

Loose relationships among individuals

Everyone should have their own opinion

Great importance of personal life (planningvisits)

Culture driven by the notion of guilt

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

10/29

Education

the influence of a family on individualpredisposing of a child so that it could quicklybecome self-reliant loose relationships amongindividuals

preparation for living in a society that consists ofother individuals

certificates and diplomas give satisfaction with

oneself low-context communication

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

11/29

Limited role of the state in economy

Economy based on individual interests High gross domestic product (GDP) per

person

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

12/29

Collectivism

Loyalty to members of a group

Poor assertiveness, it is better to avoid the

painful truth, fear of confrontation

High-context communication

Culture driven by the notion of

embarrassment

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

13/29

Opinions of an individual depend on the

group one belongs to

One should avoid conflicts and strive to

preserve harmony

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

14/29

Education

passivity of students during classes

preparation for proper functioning in agroup

a diploma gives social advance and

acceptance

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

15/29

USA 91

The Netherlands 80

Denmark 79

Italy 76

Belgium 75Germany 71

France 71

Sweden 71

Ireland 70

Norway 69Czech Rep. 68

Finland 63

Poland 58

Austria 55

Israel 54

Japan 46

Brasil 38

Greece 35

Mexico 30

Russia 30

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

16/29

Male cultures vs. Female

cultures

Geert Hofstede

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

17/29

Maleness is a feature of societies in

which social roles relating to the sex are

clearly determined, i.e. men are expected

to be assertive, whereas women should bemodest, tender and to care about the

quality of life

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

18/29

* Femininity characterises these societies

in which social roles of both sexes

interpenetrate one another, i.e. both men

and women are expected to be modest,tender and to care about the quality of life

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

19/29

Different perception of male and femaleprofessions in both cultures

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

20/29

Education

struggle for success in male culture, huge

importance of being a top student

female culture is lack of struggle for best

school reports

differences in teaching staff from theprimary school to the university

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

21/29

Professional career

M (Male) is driven by a perspective of a

brilliant professional career

F (Female) is self-fulfilment and

developing the interests

F works to live

M lives to work work is the motto of life M manager quick decisions,

assertiveness, aggression

F manager intuition, good

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

22/29

Solving conflicts

M - Let the best win* F negotiations and compromise matter

Japan 95

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

23/29

Japan 95

Poland 70

Italy 70

Ireland 68

Germany 66USA 62

Czech Rep. 62

Austria 61

Belgium 54Brasil 49

Israel 47

Russia 43

France 43

Finland 26Denmark 21

The Netherlands 14

Norway 8

Sweden 5

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

24/29

Uncertainty Avoidance

Geert Hofstede

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

25/29

Uncertainty Avoidance UA

* The level ofa sense of threat felt bymembers of a given culture in the face of

new and uncertain situations

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

26/29

High UAI is characterised by high

activeness, impulsiveness, impatience

Low UAI calmness, composure,

indifference

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

27/29

Uncertainty and risk

Anxiety is not fear it is striving to

normalize a situation

High UAI Different means dangerous

Low UAI Different means interesting

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

28/29

High UAI no ambiguity!

High UAI organizational issues are more important

than strategic issues High UAI a tendency to produce many legal articles

and regulations

High UAI high context of communication

7/28/2019 Molo08 Hofstede Four Dimensions of Culture

29/29

Belgium 94

Japan 92

Russia 90

France 86

Israel 81

Czech Rep. 79

Brasil 76

Italy 75

Austria 70Poland 71

Germany 70

USA 62

Finland 59The Netherlands 53

Norway 50

Ireland 35

Sweden 29

Denmark 28