G. Hofstede

1. Cultural Dimensions Theory (68-72) G. Hofstede

2. Overview Background Application Methodology 4 Dimensions UK examples Agenda Introduction/ recap of Hostedes cultural dimensions theory

3. Social action (mental programs)- 40 Nations childhood learnt- reinforced in schools & organisations (culture) Express different values- different countries 4 main dimensions- dominate values (predictability) Overview

4. Empirical data, survey 1968 & 72 116,000 questionnaires • Four main dimensions (theoretical reasoning & statistical analysis empirical) incl. additional studies • Power distance • Uncertainty avoidance • Individualism • Masculinity Background

5. Significant meaningful correlations- geographic, economic, & political indicators Divided into cultural areas e.g. southern Europe Some case point to historical reasons e.g. cold war Profound consequences for the validity of theories & working methods Collaboration issues Application

7. Measurement of “mental programs”- values & culture indicate universal, collective & individual levels values defined- desired & desirable values Culture: collective programming of the mind Human behaviour- not random!! Values and culture

8. Accuracy & predictions (mental programming) Social science vs. natural science Methodology- mental programming

9. Unable to be touched; not having physical presence: the moonlight made things seem intangible Mental programs- intangibles e.g. forces in physics

10. For example, the concepts of intelligence and motivation are used to explain phenomena in psychology, but neither is directly observable Level of subjectivity Constructs- we define them

11. Objective SUBJECTIVE • (Of a person or their judgement) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts: • historians try to be objective and impartial • Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions: • his views are highly subjective there is always the danger of making a subjective judgement

12. Hofstedes joining forces using models to create INTERsubjectivity

13. Mental Programming origins

14. Shared by most of mankind- most basic Includes expressive behaviour Universal (Biological operating system)

15. Shared with some not all- specific to certain groups Language- we express ourselves Respect we show to elders Physical distance we maintain to feel comfortable Perception of human activity e.g. eating, making love, defecating, etc Collective mental programming

16. Everyone's programmed differently individual personality within collective culture Individual level (unique part)

17. Passing on mental programs from generation to generation with an obstinacy which people tend to underestimate

18. Mental programming origins- Hofstede Partly inherited- personality Majority MP learned e.g. America mixed gene pool common depicts a collective mental programming Most likely entirely inherited

19. degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expectthat power is distributed unequally fundamental issue here is how a societyhandles inequalities among people Power distance

21. People in societies exhibiting a large degree of 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 equalise the distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZqX0z3g5bE Power distance

22. Interestingly is that research shows PD index lower amongst the higher class in Britain than amongst the working classes. Power distance luxury brands as status symbols in high power distance cultures

23. way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. Uncertainty avoidance

24. At 35 the UK has a low score on UA as a nation they are quite happy to wake up not knowing what the day brings and they are happy to ‘make it up as they go along’   the term ‘muddling through’ is a very British way of expressing this Uncertainty avoidance

25. The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members.  It has to do with whether people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “We”. Individualism

26. score of 89 the UK is amongst the highest of the individualistic scores, beaten only by some of the commonwealth countries it spawned i.e. Australia and the USA.  • The British are a highly individualistic and private people. • Children are taught from an early age to think for themselves and to find out what their unique purpose in life is and how they uniquely can contribute to society. Individualism

27. A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner/best in field – a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational behaviour. Masculinity

28. At 66, Britain is a masculine society – highly success oriented and driven. A key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent contradiction between the British culture of modesty and understatement which is at odds with the underlying success driven value system in the culture Critical to understanding the British is being able to ‘’read between the lines’’ What is said is not always what is meant. In comparison to feminine cultures such as the Scandinavian countries, people in the UK live in order to work and have a clear performance ambition Masculinity

29. Masculinity & Individualism

31. Conditioned by western perceptions How can a national score be used to explain cultural influence on individual behaviour Conceptual drawbacks

32. fonstrompenaars(1993) • Sought to extend Hofstedes work • Expand on individualist/ collectivist culture dimension • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS1K_rl8PrQ • Example

33. Overview Background Application Methodology 4 Dimensions UK examples Summary