Understanding Intercultural Dimensions: A Guide to Hofstede's Survey

1. Value dimensions Intercultural Communication

2. What is a dimension? • A tendency to act and think • A line between two extremes (0 – 100) • Applies to countless different situations in a complex society • Makes it possible to compare cultures • “A broad tendency to prefer certain states of affairs over others” • Extremely abstract (Subjective?)

3. Hofstede’s survey • 1970’s • 20,000 respondents • One company culture • 51 countries • Levels and professions similar • Abstracted dimensions from statistical tendencies

4. Power distance • Equality 0–20–40–60–80–100 Inequality • Children treated as equals by their parents ↔ Children are taught to obey and respect • Teachers expect initiatives from the students ↔ Teachers take all initiatives • Teachers are treated as equals by students ↔ Teachers are respected by students • Small differences in salaries ↔ Big difference in salaries • Coworkers expect to be consulted ↔ Coworkers expect to receive orders

5. Individualism • Extended families 0–20–40–60–80–100 Nuclear families • Identity is rooted in the social network ↔Identity is based on the individual • Children learn to think “we” ↔ Children learn to think “I” • Harmony ↔ Honesty • High context in communication ↔ Low context in communication • Workplace relations like family ↔ Workplace relations like contract

6. Masculinity • Care of others and wise use of resources 0–20–40–60–80–100 Materialism • Warm relations are important ↔ Money and things are important • All are expected to behave in a humble way ↔ Men are expected to be assertive and ambitious • Compassion for the weak ↔ Sympathy for the strong • To fail in school is of minor importance ↔ To fail in school is a disaster

7. Uncertainty Avoidance • Uncertainty is a normal ingredient in life 0–20–40–60–80–100 Uncertainty is a perpetual threat • Low stress, well-being ↔ High stress, anxiety • Aggressivity is not shown ↔ Aggressivity may be shown • Tolerant rules for children of what is dirty and dangerous ↔ Strict rules for children of what is dirty and dangerous • What is different is interesting ↔ What is different is dangerous

8. Long-term Orientation • Respect for traditions 0–20–40–60–80–100 Modern adjustment to traditions • Respect for social obligations regardless of cost ↔ Respect for social obligations within limits“ • Keeping up with the Joneses” ↔ Conservation of resources • Little savings ↔ Big savings and investment • Care not to lose face ↔ Willingness to work for a greater purpose • Interest in truth ↔ Interest in virtue

9. Organisations and Business • By Fons Trompenaars • Relationship between employees • Attitude to authority • Ways of thinking and learning • Attitudes to people • Managing change

12. Universalism - Particularism • Different rules for friends and family? • Will you break the law for your friend? • Will you help your boss more than others?

14. Specific - diffuse • Specific: Compartments separate from the ”true” self • Diffuse: All or nothing • Specific: Easy to start communication with • Diffuse: Feels hard to be accepted • Specific: Feels superficial for the diffuse

15. M time – P time • Monochronous like a time line • Polychronous like a surface or space • M time follows the machines, one thing • P time follows people, many things • M: Time is money, the same for all • P: Planning is seen as overdoing things, time is plentiful, live in the present, important people get more and before

16. Context • Low: The communication is contained, mainly, in the words and images themselves.  • A court of justice • High: Attention to surrounding details and content - for example: physical location, ambiance, attire, individual, organisation  • A pair of twins • Bernstein’s codes analoguous

17. And add as many as you like • The dimensions are invisible lines in cultures • They show attitudes and worldview • Differences in dimensions may surface as clashes of culture

18. Assignment • Quickly estimate the position on the dimension (index) for ”your” culture • Use the • State if it is ashore or at sea