HOFSTEDE’S CULTURAL
DIMENSIONS THEORY
Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory is a framework
for cross-cultural communication, developed by
Geert Hofstede. It describes the effects of a society's
culture on the values of its members, and how these
values relate to behavior, using a structure derived
from factor analysis.
High Power Distance v/s Low Power
Distance
-Higher levels of - lower levels of
inequality inequality
-more willing to -less willing to accept
accept that without unequal power distribut
question ion.
-relationship between -relationship between
bosses and bosses and subordinates
subordinates is one of is one of friendliness.
dependence
- Non Hierarchical
-Hierarchical in nature
- U.S.A 40
- PDI: Malaysia 104 - U.K 35
- Philippines 94 - New Zealand 22
Individualism v/s Collectivism
-Root of happiness is to -Groups are most
personal fulfillment important unit
-They are more -They are
independent interdependent eg:
(Part time jobs while Family system,
studying) neighbours, work group
-Individuals are given -Relationships are key
more importance in to collectivistic society
relationship between Relationship between
individual and larger employer and employee
social group is based on
-Children are taught to expectations
think for themselves (Protection from
right from the time employer and loyalty
from the time they are from employee)
in school(old age
homes common) India 48
Masculinity v/s Feminity
-Society driven by - Individuals care for
Achievement, each others success and
competition and
success -Good quality of life
-Success defined by
winners -Good relations
-More ambitious
-Work, center of ones -Not much importance
life given to money
-Visible symptoms at
work place -Satisfied with what they
-Success equals have
money between
competitors - Sweden 5
-Japan 95 - Norway 8
-Austria 79
High Uncertainty Avoidance v/s Low
-Culture resistant to
change -Culture adapts to changes
(High tolerance) -
- Perfection /precision -Need not be perfect(Risk
important taking)
-Culture is threatened by
ambiguity(uncertainty) -Favorable destination for
-Structured learning (less outsiders to establish
interactive) business
-More formal rules Open ended learning(more
-Low labour turnover interactive)
-Leader is the expert -Few rules
-High labour turnover
-Leader is the facilitator
-Greece 112 -Patient country
-Portugal 104
-Mexico 82 -Hong Kong 29
-Singapore 8
-Denmark 23
Long Term Orientation v/s Short Term
-Focuses on future - Focus on present or
success what has happened in
past
-Willing to delay short
term material success -Do not consider future,
for future gains important
-Motivation: Incentives -Current social hierarchy
-Indians also believe in -Philippines 19
Karma -U.K 25
-China 118
-Hong Kong 96
-India 60
Indulgence v/s Restraint
-Relatively weak control is - Restraint is relatively stronger
called Indulgence control
-People are given more
importance as individuals -Sense of helplessness about
and have freedom of speech personal destiny and actions
restrained by social norms
-More likely to leave an
organization if not happy -Less likely to voice their
opinion if not happy
-Customer service people
visibly demonstrate their -Friendliness considered
happiness with a smile inappropriate and unnatural
-Relationship more friendly
-Relationship more formal
- Nigeria: 84
- Sweden:78 - India 26
- U.S.A- 68 - Bangladesh 20
- Iran 40
