Hofstede 's Five Dimensions : Cultural Differences Between Saudi Arabia And Australia

Saudi Arabia is commonly known for its strict moral values and customs regarding religion and women. Gender discrimination is a global conflict but it is prevalently seen in Saudi Arabia. Gender discrimination is so poignant in Saudi Arabia because there are strict sets of moral guidelines and ideologies that Saudi Arabian culture implements on its people. Although Saudi Arabian men impose restrictions on women for the sake of upholding their cultural beliefs and family’s honor, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabian culture is male dominated and holds misogynistic views on women, but progress is being made.

I think the situation is different between Australia and Saudi Arabia; Australia accepts the migrants to get permanent residence and being citizens at the end. However, Saudi Arabia gives a work permit and, which must be renewed annually.

States is the food. In fact, each country has its own style of cooking food.

This literature review will make use of four pieces of academic work to discuss how the concept of culture can intrinsically affect leadership. The literature finds that the link between culture and leadership is an important, yet complicated relationship. I will begin by discussing and defining the central concepts of culture and leadership. I will then explain and analyse the significance of culture upon leadership. Finally I will review Hofstede’s cultural framework to assess its significance and relevance to the topic at hand.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is the largest arid country (Al-Ibrahim, 1991). The country covers some 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula (Al-Hamzi, 1992). The area of Saudi Arabia is 2.25 million square kilometers, equivalent (1.4) million square miles (Batayneh, 2012). The total number population in Saudi Arabia is 25.7 million (Al-Shayaa et al., 2012). Saudi Arabia climate is broiling in the summer and chilly in the winter, and Saudi Arabia does not have well-defined season. In addition, Saudi Arabia is waterless country, and it does not have rivers or lakes (Al-Shayaa et al., 2012).

It goes without saying that throughout society there exists varying degrees of gender stratification. Although many have attempted to understand why this difference between the distribution of property, power and prestige exists amongst genders, the answer is still somewhat ambiguous. Although the United States isn’t a perfect example of equality amongst genders, compared to a majority of nations across the globe, its conditions for both genders are relatively similar. One country notorious for its massive discrepancy in terms of access to property, power and prestige between genders is Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia and a number of Middle Eastern countries, there exists a great deal of gender stratification. According to the 2008 Human Rights

Culture is the characteristics and understanding of a specific group of individuals, defined by everything from religion, beliefs, and human thoughts of behaviors and interactions. There is a variety of different cultures which encourage different perspectives or ways of thinking. The Australian culture and Saudi -Arabia culture both encourage a range of different opinions and views in regards to religion and gender. Gender in the Australian culture and Saudi-Arabia culture plays a major role in the perspectives of equality and how both cultures perceive it. Thus, Religion in the Australian culture and sudi Arabia culture is based on beliefs, morals, ethics and customs and in general the perspectives of what are right and wrong. Culture perspectives

The education in Saudi Arabia and Australia had started in length of time. The education system in both countries has some similarities in the options of choosing any type of schools and years of study. Also, the education goals were developed by technology tolls to be useful for the teacher gives the targets easily by different methods. However, there are some differences exist between the dresses and segregated in both countries, as well as the times of holidays in each country. As can be seen, both countries have a great history of highly qualified since started.

Cultures across the world differ in just about everything. Why would leadership be any different? While listening to Sayaka Isoda, from Japan, and Ali Al-Tameemi, from Iraq, I saw just how different their countries were from the United States. These differences led to differences in leadership between the three countries.

After reading about many gender roles in different cultures, I have decided to research Saudi Arabia. I chose this because I have heard how strict their gender roles are, and wanted to read more into it. One thing I learned about Saudi Arabia is that women, regardless of age, must ask a male to do almost anything, such as working, traveling, studying, seeking medical attention, and, of course, marrying (Mandea, 2013). Women are also not allowed to make many decisions for her children, unlike women in America, who usually play a huge part in parenting (Mandea, 2013).

The Middle East is by no means a westernized area of the world; however there are staple factors that make it seem “democratized.” Its legitimacy weary, the Middle East is fantastic at growing its governments based on the Medina Constitution. However, there is one particular area of the world that is both deeply religiously rooted and contemporary at the same time. Saudi Arabia has created the impossible through economic, political, and social legitimacy that not only defies western ideology but is accepted as the most modern version of the Middle East using their economic and religious legitimacy. It can be described as a single tribe full of all chiefs and no Indians and as seen as any other Arab country, only

“When Cultures Collide”, Richard D. Lewis charted 24 leadership styles from around the world and I noted some similarities of the leadership styles that he made between an American and British that echoed that of a Kenyan and Tanzanian: British managers are diplomatic, casual, helpful, willing to compromise, and seeking to be fair, though they can be ruthless when necessary. Unfortunately, their adherence to tradition can result in a failure to comprehend differing values in others. American managers are assertive, aggressive, goal and action oriented, confident, vigorous, optimistic, and ready for change. They are capable of teamwork and corporate spirit, but they value individual freedom and their first interest is furthering their own career

Saudi Arabia has recently been making reformist noises lately about women rights. Although women in Saudi Arabia are still unable to vote, drive, or marry non-Saudi men, they are slowly moving towards equality, just like American women had to do. Although almost half of Saudi Arabian people are women, women are not treated like equals. The differences in the two cultures are extreme. If a Saudi Arabian women was to do half the things an American woman is able and willing to do, it would be considered frowned upon and rude.

Every nation has its own unique individual identity. For many of these areas, their current condition is a blend between history and tradition. Saudi Arabia, like many others, is a perfect example of a kingdom influenced heavily by its experiences, and is also known to grow on a basis of tradition. In fact, Saudi Arabia is specifically known to adhere to one specific aspect: religion. It can be seen that this kingdom has intertwined culture and religion to dictate the rules and regulations of its people. This, in turn, navigates the political system; which ultimately results in an impact on the behavior or social construction of the populase there. For instance, a contemporary issue that is heatedly in discussion currently is about the rights of women in this kingdom.

Mismanaging cultural differences can render otherwise successful managers and organisations ineffective when working across cultures. As stated byOsland (1990, p. 4) ``The single greatest barrier to business success is the one erected by culture''. Hofstede (1983) defines culture as "the mental programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another" (Hofstede 1983 p. 25). Through the comparison of Chinese culture and Australian culture using Hofstedes five cross-cultural dimensions: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, individualism, and long-term orientation an insightful view into the differences and similarities of the cultures can be obtained (Chong & Park 2003). Human Resource Management