Differences Of Geert Hofstede Six Dimensions Of Cultures

The rapid growth of globalisation and internationalisation of trade in resources, especially human capital, has made managerial of culture differences ever so important as to understanding the different variables (Hofstede G, 2010). In this paper, the Power Distance Index (PDI) of both Chinese and aboriginal traditional cultural value and belief in family, social life and workplace is going to be examined under the scope of Hofstede’s dimensions. To a truthful stereotype, both culture heavily emphasis upon power distance in a form of age-grade social hierarchy, the variance in its operation however made these cultures unique. The value and beliefs of Confucianism has embedded upon every aspect of Chinese life, putting emphasis upon power

Understanding the differences and similarities inherent in other cultures may provide opportunities when working with individuals (or groups) who may have different cultural values, beliefs, and/or norms. There are multiple ways to explore different cultures. One way is through Hofstede’s (2017) cultural dimension; which are currently made up of six broad categories, including high-low power distance, individualism-collectivism, masculinity-femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long-short term orientation, and indulgence-restraint. It is beyond the scope of this paper to explore all these cultural dimensions in great detail; however, it is important to understand some of the implications of these scores. The scores for both the US and China can be seen in Table 1, along with the differences between each score.

Power Distance dimension according to Hofstede (2010) shows the degree of less or more accepts of inequalities within a culture; Canada was 94 while the Philippines was 32 clearly difference; therefore, showing one culture accept power inequalities more than the other. Power distance lower ranking is showing a culture expect and accept relationship that are more democratic. On the other hand, higher ranking accepts hierarchical. This cultural may believe that who every holds the power is right. On the Power Distance Index Hallale find that individuals have a solid dislike with saying "no'! especially in Asian nations. Saying no may be seen as form of disrespect Hallale (2013). I lived in the Philippines when President Ferdinand E. Marcos was President and the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino. At that time, I was unaware of a hierarchical society but thinking back; I can now see how 32 power distance scale ranking is believable because social positions and statuses have more prestige in their culture. While working, and traveling to Canada; I was able to see human equality especially with respect to socials issues; rules are used to determine what is right; for example, health care. all

First, power distance is the first dimension in Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions. Power distance is the “extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.” (Hofstede, 2017). When comparing China and the United States, China had twice as high power distance score than the United States. The high-power distance score in China shows that it is acceptable to have inequalities in their society, and that the people accept and expect power is distributed unequally.

The Geert Hofstede cultural dimensions seek to explain the culture of a country along five dimensions power distance, individuality, masculinity/femininity, uncertainty avoidance and long term orientation. Power distance reflects the degree to which a culture is accepting of differences in power. The higher the score, the more the country accepts inequalities among the people in the culture. The United Kingdom scores 35 and Japan 54. This means that the UK is in particular a low power distance culture, in that the people in the culture generally do not tolerate inequality in the society. For a society that has historically been class-based, this is an interesting finding, but Britain has also been home to many Enlightenment thinkers and their ideals about equality. Japan is a mildly hierarchical society with its score, and Japanese people are generally conscious of their hierarchical position. Japan tends to be fairly hierarchical in a business

Question 1. How might the troubles with the tourism company be explained by Hofstede’s dimension of culture. Make sure to look at both Japanese and American cultures.

Masculine society, a high score indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement, and success.

Dr. Hofstede performed a comprehensive study of how values in the workplace are influenced by culture. In the 1970’s, as a Dutch researcher Dr. Geert Hofstede, collected and analyzed data from 116,000 surveys taken from IBM employees in forty different countries around the world. From those results, Hofstede developed a model that identifies four primary dimensions of differentiate cultures. These include: Uncertainty Avoidance (UA), Masculinity-Femininity (MAS), Individualism-Collectivism (IND), Power and Distance (PD). After a further study of the Asian culture by researcher Michael Bond in 1991, Hofstede added a fifth dimension in his theory, Long- and Short-term time orientation (LTO), also referred to as the Confucian Dynamism. His research has framed how cultural differences can be used in professional business transactions. Geert Hofstede 's dimensions analysis can assist the business person in better understanding the intercultural differences within regions and between countries.

Using Hofstede’s four cultural dimensions as a point of reference, what are some of the main cultural differences between the United States and France?

The United States and China aspire to command the world economy, but their lifestyle and standpoints look like east and west. When comparing the U.S. and China in Hofstede 6 dimensions model, there were four main dimensions that are strikingly distinctive. These dimensions include individualism, power distance, long-term orientation, and indulgence. Recognizing cultural differences is the first step towards understanding each other. The difference between the United States and China are pronounced, and they merit rigorous examination.

American companies rely heavily on systems and processes, which is viewed as highly efficient by the American standard while the Chinese workers with ECL aren’t accustomed to this and believe that it’s not always necessary to establish a system to follow in order to complete a task. The difference in views on this could also present some serious problems for ECL, as the Chinese workers may view the American management style as inefficient or sluggish.

Power Distance is the dimension that deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. At 80 China sits in the higher rankings of power distance a society that believes that inequalities amongst people are acceptable, therefore subordinate-superior relationship tends to be polarized and there is no defence against power abuse by superiors. Individuals are influenced by formal authority and sanctions and are in general optimistic about people’s capacity for leadership and initiative. People

A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the “winner” or “best-in-the-field”. This value system starts in childhood and continues

When a business decides to venture internationally into different countries with its products, services, and operations, it is very important that the company gains an understanding of how the culture of the different societies affects the values found in those societies. Geert Hofstede conducted one of the most famous and most used studies on how culture relates to values. Hofstede study enabled him to compare dimensions of culture across 40 countries. He originally isolated four dimensions of what he claimed summarized different cultures — power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism versus collectivism, and masculinity versus femininity (Hill, 2013, p.110). To cover aspects of values not discussed in the original paradigm Hofstede has since added two more dimensions — Confucianism or long-term orientation and indulgence versus self-restraint (Hofstede, n.d.). Because of the way Hofstede’s cultural dimensions are given an index score from 0-100, it is easy for a company to get a general comparison between the cultures they are expanding into and the culture they are already in.

The United States and China boast the two largest economies in the world but, despite this fact, these two countries have very little in common. At first glance, this may seem very obvious to most people but, what exactly is it that makes these two countries so different? How is it that such different perspectives and approaches can both lead to great success? Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture are an attempt to answer these questions and more. Dr. Geert Hofstede, studied employees of the computer firm IBM in over fifty different countries. When he examined his findings he found “clear patterns of similarity and difference along the four dimensions” (Manktelow, Jackson Edwards, Eyre, Cook and Khan, n.d.). The fact that he focused his research on solely IBM employees allowed him to eliminate company culture as a differentiating factor and “attribute those patterns to national and social differences” (n.d.). He used his findings to originally identify four dimensions, later expanded to six, that could “distinguish one culture from another” (n.d.). The six dimensions all on a scale from 0 to 100 are: