HOFSTEDE’S

CULTURAL DIMENSIONS
DISCUSSION

ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE

CHANDRA MOHGAN A/L LECHMAN

M181101001
 CULTURE
Culture as “the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one
group or category of people from others”.
The six dimensions of national culture are based on extensive research done by
Professor Geert Hofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov and their research
teams.
i. Power Distance Index (PDI)
ii. Individualism Vs. Collectivism (IDV)
iii. Masculinity Vs. Femininity (MAS)
iv. Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)
v. Long Term Orientation Vs. Short Term Normative Orientation (LTO)
vi. Indulgence Vs. Restraint (IND)
 POWER DISTANCE INDEX (PDI)
This dimension expresses the degree to which the less powerful members of
a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. The
fundamental issue here is how a society handles inequalities among people.

In societies with high Power Distance accept a hierarchical order in which

everybody has a place and which needs no further justification.

In societies with low Power Distance, people strive to equalize the

distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power.
 COMPARISON
High Power Distance
• Members accept power distance as part of social order, it
determines what is right and wrong.
• More powerful members of society perceive their
subordinates as unequal.
• Subordinates fear the more powerful members.
• There is not much trust among co-workers
• Majority of people are dependent on others.
• Subordinates are blamed for mistakes.
• There is a strong conflict between the strong and the weak
members
• Social inequalities are accepted; every person has a high or
low place in the social order and is protected by law
Low Power Distance
• Power is exerted only where it is necessary.
• People are equal, they consider social inequalities obsolete.
• Cooperation should be based on the principle of solidarity.
Inequality is considered wrong & it should be reduced if
possible.
• Subordinates are considered as older, more experienced
colleagues.
• Co-workers are prone to trust one another.
• The system is blamed for mistakes.
• Everyone should have equal rights
• Strong and weak members coexist in harmony
 COMPARISON
High Power Distance Low Power Distance

• Centralized organizations • Flatter organizations

• More Complex hierarchies • Supervisors and employees are considered almost equals
• Large gaps in compensation, authority and respect.
 INDIVIDUALISM VS. COLLECTIVISM
(IDV)
Individualism, can be defined as a preference for a loosely-knit social
framework in which individuals are expected to take care of only themselves
and their immediate families.

Its opposite, collectivism, represents a preference for a tightly-knit framework

in society in which individuals can expect their relatives or members of a
particular in-group to look after them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.
 COMPARISON
Individualism
• Everyone has the right to have their own opinions.
• A person’s commitments include: their own interest, self-
education, their own debts.
• Education is a lifelong process, one learns how to learn and
acquire useful information and skills.
• People are expected to care for themselves and their
immediate family.
• People have high self-awareness and are independent.
• Friendship is a basic human need.
• Decisions are made individually and are influenced by
people’s beliefs and opinions
Collectivism
• Opinions are shaped by the group.
• Commitments towards the family: harmony, respect, family
honor and loyalty.
• Education is for young people, one learns how to behave.
• Everyone is a part of a larger group and is expected to be
loyal and care for its well-being.
• Group awareness precedes, mutual relationships and ties
are emphasized.
• Friendships are determined by group membership.
• The group makes all decisions.
 COMPARISON
Individualism Collectivism
• High value placed on people’s time and their need for • Emphasis on building skills and becoming master of
privacy and freedom something.
• An enjoyment of challenges and an expectation of • People work for intrinsic rewards.
individual rewards for hard work • Maintaining harmony among group members overrides
• Respect for privacy. other moral issues.
 MASCULINITY VS. FEMININITY (MAS)
The Masculinity side of this dimension represents a preference in society for
achievement, heroism, assertiveness and material rewards for success.

In Masculine cultures, difference between gender roles are more rigid.

Its opposite, Femininity, stands for a preference for cooperation, modesty,

caring for the weak and quality of life.

In Feminine cultures, difference between gender roles are less rigid.

 COMPARISON
Masculinity
• Gender roles are explicit and concrete.
• Men should dominate in a society.
• Independence is the highest ideal.
• People who achieve success are worthy of
admiration.
• Ambitions lead to action.
• The great and the fast are beautiful.
• You live to work.
• Strong egos – feelings of pride and importance are
attributed to status.
• Money and achievement are important.
Femininity
• Gender roles are interchangeable.
• Genders should be treated equally.
• Mutual dependence is the highest ideal.
• People who handle adversity deserve appreciation.
• Service is the greatest motivator to action
• The little and the slow are beautiful.
• You work to live.
• Relationship oriented/consensual.
• More focus on quality of life.
 UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE INDEX
(UAI)
The Uncertainty Avoidance dimension expresses the degree to which the
members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity.

Countries exhibiting Strong UAI maintain rigid codes of belief and behavior
and are intolerant of unorthodox behavior and ideas.

Weak UAI societies maintain a more relaxed attitude in which practice

counts more than principles.
 COMPARISON
Strong
• Uncertainty is an inevitable; therefore it is a
constant threat of life.
• I feel anxious and stressed.
• I feel an inner imperative to work.
• I find people’s deviant tendencies and ideas
threatening – lack of tolerance.
• I do not trust young people.
• I am unwilling to take risks.
• I need strict rules and regulations.
• Experts’ knowledge is the source of my
convicitons.
Weak
• Life’s uncertainty is inevitable; therefore, accepting
it should be easier.
• I feel peaceful. I do not experience stress.
• Hard work is not a value in itself
• I do not treat deviance as a threat – tolerance
• I am friendly to young people.
• I am ready to take risks.
• The fewer rules, the better.
• My convictions are shaped by my own common
sense.
 COMPARISON
Strong Weak

• Conservative, rigid and structured, unless the • Openness to change or innovation, and generally
danger of failure requires a more flexible attitude. inclusive.
• Many societal conventions. • More inclined to open-ended learning or decision
• People are expressive, and are allowed to show making.
anger or emotions, if necessary. • Less sense of urgency.
• A high energy society, if people feel that they are
in control of their life instead of feeling
overwhelmed by life's vagaries.
 LONG TERM ORIENTATION VS.
SHORT TERM NORMATIVE
ORIENTATION (LTO)
Those with a culture which scores high (Long Term Orientation), on the other
hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in
modern education as a way to prepare for the future.

Societies who score low on this dimension (Short Term Normative

Orientation), for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and
norms while viewing societal change with suspicion.
 COMPARISON
Long Term
• Tradition needs to be adjusted to the present
conditions.
• Frugality, even meanness
• Expecting delayed gratification
• Importance of preserving one’s own face
• Saving for future investments
• Fulfilling social obligations within reason
• People often wonder how to know what is true.
For example, questions like "What?" and "How?"
are asked more than "Why?"
• Thrift and education are seen as positive values.
• Modesty.
• Virtues and obligations are emphasized.
Short Term
• Respect for tradition
• A need to behave as others do regardless of
consequences
• Expecting immediate gratification
• Do anything to achieve a goal
• No money saved for investments
• Fulfilling social obligations no matter the cost
• People often want to know "Why?"
• Strong convictions.
• As people tend to oversell themselves, others will
assess their assertions critically.
• Values and rights are emphasized.
 INDULGENCE VS. RESTRAINT (IND)

Indulgence stands for a society that allows relatively free gratification of

basic and natural human drives related to enjoying life and having fun.

Restraint stands for a society that suppresses gratification of needs and

regulates it by means of strict social norms.
 COMPARISON
Indulgence
• More healthier & happier.
• Societies have leisure ethic.
• Optimistic.
• Extroverted societies. (Prefer to being social)
• Participate actively in sports.
• Less moral disciplines.
• Optimistic.
• Importance of freedom of speech.
• Focus on personal happiness.
Restraint
• Less healthier & happier.
• Societies have work ethic.
• Pessimistic.
• Introverted societies. (Prefer to being alone)
• Less active participation in sports.
• Strict moral disciplines
• Pessimistic.
• More controlled and rigid behavior.
THANK YOU