Hofstede’s cultural dimensions identifies cultural patterns or dimensional which influence people

behavior in significant ways. The dimensions were introduced to analyses and understand
national cultures. In this paper will look at Zimbabwe cultural profile looking at his six
dimensions.

There are six dimensions that Hofstede look at such as Power Index Distance, Uncertainty
Avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism, Masculinity/Feminist, Long/Short Term orientation and
Indulgence/Restraint. Culture has been defined in many ways: Culture is collective programming
of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others. The
culture of the nation involves political science, sociology and management.

Power Distance (PDI) reflects the extent to which society accepts that power is distributed
unequally. Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), measures the degree to which members of society are
comfortable in unstructured situations. Highly uncertainty avoidant cultures are characterized by
a strong need for predictability and control over the environment. Individualism (IDV) denotes
the extent to which society sees people mainly as individuals looking after themselves (high
individualism), or primarily as members of tightly knit communities (low individualism).
Masculinity/Femininity (MAS) reflects the emphasis in society on caring for others, solidarity,
and quality of life (Femininity), as opposed to achievement and success (Masculinity).

According to the Hofstede website www.geert-hofstede.com, power distance refers to the degree
of existing and acceptable inequality among those employees with and those without power, that
is, the leaders and the led. A high employee power distance is an indication that unequal
distribution of power is acceptable in that society and that those without power clearly
understand their actual place in the system (Hofstede, 2003). In a high-power distance culture,
the government is often autocratic or oligarchic and it does not stress equality of power, the tax
system protects the wealthy, power and inequality are facts of life, in general people feel more
threatened, and there is a weaker perceived work-ethic. (Hofstede, 1991). In Zimbabwe there is
higher power distance culture the people have high dependence as we look at the economic
situation of Zimbabwe majority they depend on informal employment and the society have
accepted in equality that the power holders have privileges for example land distribution and
housing schemes those in high positions have advantage over resources and benefits more than
those lower to them. For example, the land distribution the elite benefits large scale of land
which was meant to benefit the nation as whole. Superior are inaccessible there is need of
protocol to reach to the superior hierarchy is needed to reach to the superior.

Individualistic versus Collectivism

According to Hofstede individualism -collectivism reflect the degree to which the identity of
members of particular culture are shaped by either personal choices or by the group to which
they belong .Individualism and collectivism have helped to illuminate and explain differences
among culture under the assumption that people in the same culture are largely homogeneous. In
individualistic cultures, individuals prefer self-sufficiency, management is done at the individual
level, and tasks prevail over relationships. People are supposed to take care of themselves and
remain emotionally independent from the group. The individuals decide and take actions by
themselves instead of with others (Marcus and Kitayama, 1991). It is also important for a person
in this culture to advance more than others and to succeed in different kind of ways. Self-interest
is the dominant motivation. Independence, creativity, self-reliance, solitude, and self-
actualization are valued in individualistic cultures.

In collectivistic value orientation, people's major concern is their in-group. According to Triandis
(1988) an in-group can be defined as a group of people who share Individualism Individualist
The interests of the individual take precedence Collectivist The interests of the group take
precedence Relative importance of the interest of the individual vs. the interest of the group
common interests and have a concern for each other’s welfare, and whose members may include
family, distant relatives, co-workers, and members of religious groups to which an individual
belongs. People value the welfare of the group higher than the welfare of the individual (Rafferty
& Tapsell, 2001). The in-group is expected to look after an individual in exchange for loyalty.
Triantis (1996) stated that individuals are very loyal to each other and resources are shared
within the family. If a person has got a job, the rest of the family members who are unemployed
get support (Hofstede, 2001). Collectivist cultures regulate behavior through shame or loss of
"face. Reciprocity, obligation, duty security, tradition, dependence, harmony, obedience to
authority, and equilibrium are valued in collectivistic cultures (Triandis, 1989).
In Zimbabwe there is high of collectivism than individualism people tend to look after each
other and caring for one another especially in the family and religious set up.In an organization
employess there is higher dependence