Dimensions of national culture from the perspective of Hofstede.

1. Cross-culture Communication
(Chapter 2,3,4,5)
Presented by
LEI ZHANG
IES14020
Dimensions of
National Culture

2. A Dutch Researcher of Culture
Defined Culture as ”collective
programming of the mind”
Developed Cultural Dimensions
Geert Hofstede

3. Table of ContentTable of Content
Studying Cultural Difference1
Cultural Dimensions2
Future of Cultural Dimensions3
Open Discussion4

4. 1.Studying Cultural Difference1.Studying Cultural Difference
It describes the research process based on a paradigm introduced by
Geert in his book Culture’s Consequences, the dimensions approach.
As values are the stable element in culture, comparative research on
culture starts from the measurement of values.
~1950s
Developed the
conviction that all
societies, modern or
traditional, face the
same basic
problems; only the
answers differ.
1950s~
Attempted to identify
what problems were
common to all societies,
through conceptual
reasoning and reflection
on field experiences as
well as through statistical
studies.
1974
IBM Research: to study
a large body of survey
data about the values of
people in more than fifty
countries; could serve for
identifying differences in
national value systems.

5. 2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions
Power Distance
Individualism
vs Collectivism
Masculinity
vs Femininity
Uncertainty
Avoidance
Uncertainty
Avoidance
Long-/Short-
Term
Orientation
Long-/Short-
Term
Orientation
Hofstede’s Dimensions
of Cultural Differences

6. 2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions
Power Distance Index (PDI): measuring the inequality in society
Express the degree to which the less powerful members
of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally;
Reflect the range of answers to the basic question of how to handle
the fact that people are unequal.

7. Inequality within CountiesInequality within Counties
Higher education
makes at least
middle class;
also determines
occupation.
 Upper
 Middle
 Lower
Education
Level
Social Class Occupation
 Opportunities
 Closely linked
with other two

8. Basic Survey Questions:Basic Survey Questions:
Employees Afraid
Autocratic or Paternalistic
Preference

9. PDI Differences within CountriesPDI Differences within Countries
PDI Values based on Three Items in the
IBM Database Plus Extensions
High power distance values for
most Asian countries, Eastern
European countries, Latin
countries, Arabic-speaking
countries and African countries;
Low values for German-
speaking countries, Israel,
Nordic countries and the Baltic
State, US, UK and white parts of
its former empire.

10. Power Distance Differences AmongPower Distance Differences Among
Countries:Countries:
In the Family

11. Power Distance Difference Among Countries:Power Distance Difference Among Countries:
At School

12. Power Distance Differences AmongPower Distance Differences Among
Countries:Countries:
In the Workplace

13. Origins of Power Distance DifferencesOrigins of Power Distance Differences
 The country’s geographic latitude
(higher latitudes associated with
lower PDI)
 Its population size
(larger size associated with higher
PDI)
 Its wealth
(richer countries associated with
lower PDI)

14. Individualism Collectivism
 Preference for a loosely-knit
social framework
 Individuals are expected to take
care of only themselves and
their immediate families
 Measuring the degree of
individualism
 Preference for a tightly-knit
social framework
 Individuals can expect
members of a particular in-
group to look after them in
exchange for loyalty.
2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions

15. Basic Survey Questions ( 14 work goals)Basic Survey Questions ( 14 work goals)

16. IDV Differences within CountriesIDV Differences within Countries
IDV Values based on 14 Items in the
IBM Database Plus Extensions
Nearly all wealthy countries
score high on IDV while nearly
all poor countries score low ;
There is a strong relation ship
between a country’s national
wealth and the degree of
individualism in its culture.

17. Collectivism VS Power DistanceCollectivism VS Power Distance
 Many countries that
score high on the PDI
score low on the IDV,
and vice versa.
 The two dimensions tend
to be negatively
correlated: large-power-
distance countries are
also likely to be more
collectivist, and small-
power-distance countries
to be more individualist.

18. Individualism & Collectivism among CountriesIndividualism & Collectivism among Countries
In the Family

19. At School
Individualism & Collectivism among CountriesIndividualism & Collectivism among Countries

20. In the Workplace
Individualism & Collectivism among CountriesIndividualism & Collectivism among Countries

21. Origins of Individualism-Collectivism DifferencesOrigins of Individualism-Collectivism Differences
 The country’s wealth
(richer countries associated with
higher IDV)
 Its geographical latitude
(countries closer to the equator
associated with lower IDV)

22. Masculinity Femininity
 Preference for achievement,
heroism, assertiveness and
material rewards for success;
 Society at large is more
competitive;
 A dimension as societal culture.
 Preference for cooperation,
modesty, caring for the weak
and quality of life;
 Society at large is more
consensus-oriented;
 A dimension as societal culture.
2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions

23. The Survey Questions ( 14 work goals)The Survey Questions ( 14 work goals)

24. MAS Differences within CountriesMAS Differences within Countries
MAS Values based on 14 Items in the IBM
Database Plus Extensions
This dimension is the only one
on which the men and women
among the IBM employees
scored consistently differently.
The most feminine-scoring
countries were Sweden, Norway,
the Netherlands, and Denmark;
Finland came close.
The lower-scoring ones are some
Latin countries, France, some
Eastern European countries, and
some Asian countries.

25. Power Distance VS MasculinityPower Distance VS Masculinity
 The family contains two
unequal but complementary role
pairs: parent-child and
husband-wife.
 In the right, inequality between
parents and children is a
societal norm. In the left,
children are controlled by the
examples set by parents.
 In the lower, inequality between
fathers’ and mothers’ roles is a
norm. In the higher, both men
and women are allowed to
handle with facts and feelings.
In the Family

26. In Education
Masculinity & Femininity among CountriesMasculinity & Femininity among Countries

27. In the Workplace
Masculinity & Femininity among CountriesMasculinity & Femininity among Countries

28. Origins of Masculinity-Femininity DifferencesOrigins of Masculinity-Femininity Differences
 Genesis 1:which suggests equal partnership between the sexes.
 Genesis 2:which gives a clear priority to the male partner and defines
the woman as “ a help meet” for him; justifies a society in which
there is male dominance.
 Plato describes the sexes equal in principle and only statistically
different.
 The German sociologist Norbert Elias argued that the balance of
power between the genders varies with the development of a society.
……
 All these historical examples show that differences among countries on
the masculinity-femininity dimension were noticed and described:
the way in which a country deal with gender roles is deeply rooted.

29. Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)
 Expresses the degree to which
the members of a society feel
uncomfortable with
uncertainty and ambiguity;
 Measures the (in)tolerance of
ambiguity in society;
 The fundamental issue is how
a society deals with the fact
that the future can never be
known: should we try to
control the future or just let it
happen?
2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions

30. Basic Survey QuestionsBasic Survey Questions

31. UAI Differences within CountriesUAI Differences within Countries
High scores occur for Latin
American, Latin European, and
Mediterranean countries.
Also high are the scores of
Japan and South Korea.
Medium high are the scores of
German-speaking countries
Austria, Germany, and
Switzerland.
Medium to low are some Asian
countries, and Anglo and
Nordic countries.
UAI Values based on 14 Items in the IBM
Database Plus Extensions

32. Uncertainty Avoidance DifferencesUncertainty Avoidance Differences
Among CountriesAmong Countries
In the Family

33. At School
Uncertainty Avoidance DifferencesUncertainty Avoidance Differences
Among CountriesAmong Countries

34. Uncertainty Avoidance DifferencesUncertainty Avoidance Differences
Among CountriesAmong Countries
In the Workplace

35. Uncertainty Avoidance VS IndividualismUncertainty Avoidance VS Individualism
 In countries with strong
uncertainty avoidance, there tend
to be more and more precise laws
than those with weak uncertainty
avoidance.
 The effect of uncertainty
avoidance on a society’s
legislation depends also on its
degree of individualism or
collectivism.
 In strongly uncertainty-avoiding,
individualist countries, rules will
tend to be explicit and written into
laws. In strongly uncertainty-
avoiding, collectivist countries,
rules are often implicit and rooted
in tradition.

36. Origins of Uncertainty-Avoidance DifferencesOrigins of Uncertainty-Avoidance Differences
 Deep Historical Roots
Those heirs of the Roman Empire
all score on the strong
uncertainty-avoidance side. The
Chinese-speaking countries score
low on uncertainty avoidance, as
do countries with important minorities
of Chinese origin.
 No broad statistical relationships
with geographic latitude,
population size, and national
wealth could be found.

37. Short-Term Orientation Long-Term Orientation
 Stands for fostering of virtues
related to the past and present;
 In particular, respect for
tradition, preservation of
“face”, and fulfilling social
obligations.
 Stands for fostering of virtues
oriented toward future rewards;
 In particular, perseverance and
thrift.
2.Cultural Dimensions2.Cultural Dimensions

38. LTO Index Scores for 23 CountriesLTO Index Scores for 23 Countries
Based on the Chinese Value SurveyBased on the Chinese Value Survey
 The top positions are occupied
by China and other East Asian
countries.
 Continental European
countries occupied a middle
range.
 Great Britain and its Anglo
partners scored on the short-
term side.
 The African countries scored
very short-term, as did the
Philippines and Pakistan.

39. Short- and Long-Term OrientationShort- and Long-Term Orientation
Differences among CountriesDifferences among Countries
In the Family

40. Short- and Long-Term OrientationShort- and Long-Term Orientation
Differences among CountriesDifferences among Countries
Business and Ways of Thinking

41. 3. Future of Cultural Dimensions3. Future of Cultural Dimensions
 PDI: Nobody has offered evidence of a convergence of countries toward
smaller differences in power distance. The picture of national variety
presented is likely to survive at least for some centuries.
 IDV: Differences in values associated with the individualism-collectivism
dimension will continue to exist and to play a big role in international
affairs.
 MAS: MAS decreased with age, so an older population will shift toward
more feminine values. Lower fertility rate also predicts for the wealthier
countries a shift toward more feminine cultures. As long as a country
remains poor, it is unlikely to shift toward more feminine values.
 UAI: UAI scores based on IBM studies are not available over time.
 LTO: The economic importance of East Asia is likely to increase. One
precious gift the wise men and women can carry from the East would be a
shift toward global long-term thinking.

42. 4. Open Discussions4. Open Discussions