Hofstede Cultural Framework

1. Power Distance

2. Individualism vs. Collectivism

3. Masculinity vs. Femininity

4. Uncertainty Avoidance

5. Long Term Orientation

Power Distance

• “...the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.”

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Power Distance at Work

• Hierarchy• Centralization• Salary range• Participation• Ideal Boss• Privilege & status

symbols

Individualism vs. Collectivism

• Individualist societies: ties are loose and everyone looks out for himself or herself

• Collectivist societies: people integrated into strong, cohesive groups; protection is exchanged for loyalty

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Individualism / Collectivism at Work

• Employee-employer relationship

• Hiring and promotion decisions

• Managerial focus• Task vs. relationship

priority

Masculinity vs. Femininity

• Masculine societies: social gender roles are distinct (men focus on material success; women on quality of life)

• Feminine societies: social gender roles overlap (both quality of life)

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Masculinity / Femininity at Work

• Centrality of work• Ways of managing &

decision making• Fem: equality,

solidarity, quality of work life

• Mas: equity, compete, performance

• Conflict resolution

Uncertainty Avoidance

• “…the extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by uncertain or unknown situations.”

• NOT the same as risk avoidance

• Presence of rules

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Uncertainty Avoidance at Work

• Necessity of rules• Time orientation• Precision &

punctuality• Interpretation of

“What is different…”• Appropriateness of

emotional displays

Long term orientation Confucian Dynamism

• The ‘newest’ dimension

• three universal dimensions and two fourth dimensions

• Truth vs. Virtue: What one believes vs. What one does

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Confucian Dynamism

• Short-term orientation• Social pressure to

‘keep up with the Joneses’

• small savings• expect quick results• concern with

possessing Truth

• Long-term orientation• Thrift: being sparing

with resources• large savings• perseverance toward

slow results• concern with

respecting the demands of Virtue

Hofstede Framework Comparisons

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Idiosyncrasies of North American Management Theory

• Stress on Market Processes

• Stress on the Individual

• Stress on Managers rather than Workers