Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions

What are Hofstede's five Cultural Dimensions?Read the About . . . section on the right side of this page. Then review the definitions of each Hofstede Dimension listed below. Following that, you can select the country or countries you're interested in from the list in the left margin of this page.On each country page you will find the unique Hofstede graphs depicting the Dimension scores and other demographics for that country and culture - plus an explanation of how they uniquely apply to that country.* Description for each of Hofstede's Dimensions listed belowPower Distance Index (PDI) that is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society and anybody with some international experience will be aware that 'all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others'.Individualism (IDV) on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are inte-grated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word 'collectivism' in this sense has no politicalmeaning: it refers to the group, not to the state. Again, the issue addressed by this dimension is an extremely fundamental one, regarding all societies in theworld.Masculinity (MAS) versus its opposite, femininity, refers to the distribution of roles between the genders which is another fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. The IBM studies revealed that (a) women's values differ less among societies than men's values; (b) men's values from one country to another contain a dimension from very assertive and competitive and maximally different from women's values on the one side, to modest and caring and similar to women's values on the other. Theassertive pole has been called 'masculine' and the modest, caring pole'feminine'. The women in feminine countries have the same modest, caring values as the men; in the masculine countries they are somewhat assertive and competitive, but not as much as the men, so that these countries show a gap between men's values and women's values.Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) deals with a society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; it ultimately refers to man's search for Truth. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel eitheruncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it'. People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to; they try to have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. People within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their environment to express emotions.Long-Term Orientation (LTO) versus short-term orientation: this fifth dimension was found in a study among students in 23 countries around the world, using a questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars It can be said to deal with Virtue regardless of Truth. Values associated with Long Term Orientation are thrift and perseverance; values associated with Short Term Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one's 'face'. Both the positively and the negatively rated values of this dimension are found in the teachings of Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher who lived around 500 B.C.; however, the dimension also applies to countries without aConfucian heritage.Websites directly related to Geert HofstedeGeert Hofstede's personal WebsiteItim - An international consulting organization utilizing Prof. Hofstede's concepts.Itimfocus - An international consulting organization in the field of culture & change management that uses scans and tools based on scientific research undertaken by Professor Hofstede.Gert Jan Hofstede's personal WebsiteGeert Hofstede™ is a trademark of Geert Hofstede BV, Velp, the Netherlands What are the practical applications for Geert Hofstede's research on cultural differences?Geert HofstedeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, searcherard Hendrik Hofstede (born 3 October 1928, Haarlem) is an influential Dutch psychologist, who studied the interactions between national cultures and organizational cultures. He is also an author of seve ng Culture's Consequences[1] and Cultures and Organizations,Software of the Mind, co-authored by his son Gert JanHofstede.[2] Hofstede's study demonstrated that there arenational and regional cultural groupings that affect thebehaviour of societies and organizations, and that arevery persistent across time.Contents[hide]• 1 Hofstede's Framework for Assessing Culture• 2 Criticism• 3 Bibliographyo 3.1 Articles• 4 See also• 5 Notes• 6 External links[edit] Hofstede's Framework for Assessing Cultures found five dimensions of culture in his study of n ational work related values:•Low vs. high power distance - This dimension measures how much the less powerful members of institutions and organizations expect and accept that power isdistributed unequally. In cultures with low power distance (e.g. Ireland, Austria, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand), people expect and accept power relations that are moreconsultative or democratic. People relate to one another more as equals regardless of formal positions. Subordinates are more comfortable with and demand the right tocontribute to and critique the decisions of those in power. In cultures with high power distance (e.g. Malaysia), the less powerful accept power relations that are autocratic orpaternalistic. Subordinates acknowledge the power of others based on their formal,hierarchical positions. Thus, Low vs. High Power Distance does not measure or attempt to measure a culture's objective, "real" power distribution, but rather the way people perceive power differences.•Individualism vs. collectivism - This dimension measures how much members of the culture define themselves apart from their group memberships. In individualist cultures, people are expected to develop and display their individual personalities and to choose their own affiliations. In collectivist cultures, people are defined and act mostly as amember of a long-term group, such as the family, a religious group, an age cohort, a town, or a profession, among others.•Masculinity vs. femininity - This dimension measures the value placed on traditionally male or female values (as understood in most Western cultures). In so-called 'masculine' cultures, people value competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition, and the accumulation of wealth and material possessions. In so-called 'feminine' cultures, people value relationships and quality of life. This dimension is often renamed by users ofHofstede's work, e.g. to Quantity of Life vs. Quality of Life. Another reading of the same dimension holds that in 'M' cultures, the differences between gender roles are moredramatic and less fluid than in 'F' cultures•Low vs. high uncertainty avoidance - This dimension measures how much members of a society attempt to cope with anxiety by minimizing uncertainty. In cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, people prefer explicit rules (e.g. about religion and food) and formally structured activities, and employees tend to remain longer with their present employer. In cultures with low uncertainty avoidance, people prefer implicit or flexible rules or guidelines and informal activities. Employees tend to change employers morefrequently.Michael Harris Bond and his collaborators subsequently found a fifth dimension which was initially called Confucian dynamism. Hofstede later incorporated this into his framework as:•Long vs. short term orientation - This dimension describes a society's "time horizon," or the importance attached to the future versus the past and present. In long term oriented societies, people value actions and attitudes that affect the future:persistence/perseverance, thrift, and shame. In short term oriented societies, people value actions and attitudes that are affected by the past or the present: normative statements, immediate stability, protecting one's own face, respect for tradition, and reciprocation of greetings, favors, and gifts.ndencies and not characteristics of individuals. A Japanese person for example canhave a very low 'uncertainty avoidance' compared to a Filipino even though their'national' cultures point strongly in a different direction. Consequently, a country'sscores should not be interpreted as deterministic.[edit] CriticismHofstede's conceptualization of culture as static and essential has attracted somecriticism. In a recent article in the Academy of Management's flagship journal, TheAcademy of Management Review, Galit Ailon deconstructs Hofstede's book Culture'sConsequences by mirroring it against its own assumptions and logic[3]. Ailon findsseveral inconsistencies at the level of both theory and methodology and cautionsagainst an uncritical reading of Hofstede's cultural dimensions.Hofstede's work has not just also been criticized because he seems to identify cultureswith nations based on the supposition that within each nation there is a uniformnational culture. Other types of cultures are acknowledged to exist but allowed little,if any, influence.[4][edit] Bibliography日本The Buddhist-Shinto societies also have an additional Dimension, that of LongTerm Orientation (LTO). Geert Hofstede added this Dimension after the originalstudy, and it was applied to twenty-three of the fifty original countries in hisstudy. The Buddhist/Shinto Countries of Taiwan and Japan have LTO as themost closely correlating Dimension.* * *Power Distance Index (PDI) that is the extent to which the less powerfulmembers of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expectthat power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versusless), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's levelof inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society and anybody with some international experience will be aware that 'all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others'.Individualism (IDV) on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are inte-grated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word 'collectivism' in this sense has no political meaning: it refers to the group, not to the state. Again, the issue addressed by this dimension is an extremely fundamental one, regarding all societies in the world.Masculinity (MAS) versus its opposite, femininity, refers to the distribution of roles between the genders which is another fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. The IBM studies revealed that (a) women's values differ less among societies than men's values; (b) men's values from one country to another contain a dimension from very assertive and competitive and maximally different from women's values on the one side, to modest and caring and similar to women's values on the other. The assertive pole has been called 'masculine' and the modest, caring pole 'feminine'. The women in feminine countries have the same modest, caring values as the men; in the masculine countries they are somewhat assertive and competitive, but not as much as the men, so that these countries show a gap between men's values and women's values.Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) deals with a society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; it ultimately refers to man's search for Truth. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it'. People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to; they try to have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. Peoplewithin these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their environment to express emotions.Long-Term Orientation (LTO) versus short-term orientation: this fifth dimension was found in a study among students in 23 countries around the world, using a questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars It can be said to deal with Virtue regardless of Truth. Values associated with Long Term Orientation are thrift and perseverance; values associated with Short Term Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one's 'face'. Both the positively and the negatively rated values of this dimension are found in the teachings of Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher who lived around 500 B.C.; however, the dimension also applies to countries without a Confucian heritage.文化维度文化维度是荷兰国际文化合作研究所所长霍夫斯塔德(Geert Hofstede)及其同事在对文化因素进行定量研究时采用的概念。