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CH-3 (GLOBAL TRADE)

HOFSTADE DIMANSIIONS OF CANADA

* Description for each of Hofstede's Dimensions listed below

Canada has Individualism (IDV) as the highest ranking (80) Hofstede Dimension, and isindicative of a society with a more individualistic attitude and relatively loose bonds with

others. The populace is more self-reliant and looks out for themselves and their close

family members. Privacy is considered the cultural norm and attempts at personalingratiating may meet with rebuff.

The majority of Canadians, as well as citizens of other English speaking countries, (see

United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States) have Individualism as

their highest ranking Dimension.

Among high IDV countries, success is measured by personal achievement. Canadianstend to be self-confident and open to discussions on general topics; however, they hold

their personal privacy off limits to all but the closest friends. Canadian's lowest rankingDimension is Long Term Orientation at 23, compared to the average of 45 among the 23

countries surveyed for which scores have been calculated. This low LTO ranking is

indicative of societies' belief in meeting its obligations and tends to reflect anappreciation for cultural traditions.

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Canada's Power Distance (PDI) is relatively low, with an index of 39, compared to a

world average of 55. This is indicative of a greater equality between societal levels,including government, organizations, and even within families. This orientation

reinforces a cooperative interaction across power levels and creates a more stable culturalenvironment.

Canada is uncertainty avoidance according to hofstade chart ranked Almost 41. Soaccording to the chart most of the Canadian people prefer flexible rules and guideline and

informal activities.

Long-Term Orientation (LTO): Acoording the graph Canada follow Short Term

Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one's'face'.

Canadian culture is mixed with both feminine and masculinity because of its british and

French mixe culture.It should be noted there is tension between the French province of

Quebec and other Canadian provinces. Citizens of Quebec tend to be more private andreserved.

* 1991 Census

Monochronic Time

A monochronic time system means that things are done one at a time and time issegmented into precise, small units. Under this system time is scheduled, arranged and

managed.

The United States is considered a monochronicsociety. This perception of time is learnedand rooted in the Industrial Revolution, where "factory life required the labor force to be

on hand and in place at an appointed hour" (Guerrero, DeVito & Hecht, 1999, p. 238).

For Americans, time is a precious resource not to be wasted or taken lightly. "We buy

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time, save time, spend time and make time. Our time can be broken down into years,

months, days, hours, minutes, seconds and even milliseconds. We use time to structure

both our daily lives and events that we are planning for the future. We have schedulesthat we must follow: appointments that we must go to at a certain time, classes that start

and end at certain times, work schedules that start and end at certain times, and even our

favorite TV shows, that start and end at a certain time. [1]

As communication scholarEdward T. Hall wrote regarding the Americans viewpoint oftime in the business world, the schedule is sacred. Hall says that for monochronic

cultures, such as the American culture, time is tangible and viewed as a commodity

where time is money or time is wasted. The result of this perspective is thatAmericans and other monochronic cultures, such as the German and Swiss, place a

paramount value on schedules, tasks and getting the job done. These cultures are

committed to regimented schedules and may view those who do not subscribe to the sameperception of time as disrespectful.

Monochronic cultures include Germany,Canada,Switzerland, United States, andScandinavia.

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory80.htm#How_we_use_Chronemicshttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Edward_T._Hallhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Germanyhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Canadahttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Canadahttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Switzerlandhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Switzerlandhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/United_Stateshttp://wapedia.mobi/en/United_Stateshttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Scandinaviahttp://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory80.htm#How_we_use_Chronemicshttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Edward_T._Hallhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Germanyhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Canadahttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Switzerlandhttp://wapedia.mobi/en/United_Stateshttp://wapedia.mobi/en/Scandinavia