Cultures Influence on Cultures Influence on Workplace ValuesWorkplace Values

Theory of 6 Cultural DimensionsTheory of 6 Cultural Dimensions

There are several theories that help to There are several theories that help to explain how culture influences values in the explain how culture influences values in the workplaceworkplace

Dutch anthropologist Geert Hoftsede Dutch anthropologist Geert Hoftsede described specific aspects of culture using described specific aspects of culture using five cultural dimensions, which help those five cultural dimensions, which help those doing business in other countries doing business in other countries understand the cultural differences between understand the cultural differences between two countriestwo countries

Keep in mind that the following dimensions Keep in mind that the following dimensions reflect a society’s overall tendencies NOT reflect a society’s overall tendencies NOT those of specific individualsthose of specific individuals

5 Cultural Dimensions5 Cultural Dimensions

1. Low power distance vs. high power 1. Low power distance vs. high power distancedistance

2. Low uncertainty avoidance vs. high 2. Low uncertainty avoidance vs. high uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance

3. Masculinity vs. femininity3. Masculinity vs. femininity

4. Individualism vs. collectivism4. Individualism vs. collectivism

5. Pragmatism5. Pragmatism

6. Indulgence6. Indulgence

1. Power Distance1. Power Distance

Used to measure the difference how power Used to measure the difference how power between people is perceivedbetween people is perceived

Cultures that consider superiority on the Cultures that consider superiority on the basis of social status, gender, race, age, basis of social status, gender, race, age, education, birth, wealth and personal education, birth, wealth and personal achievements, or family background achievements, or family background accept a accept a high power distancehigh power distance

Cultures that tend to assume equality Cultures that tend to assume equality among people and focus more on earned among people and focus more on earned status than prescribed status are status than prescribed status are described as having adescribed as having a low power distance low power distance

Power Distance Cont’dPower Distance Cont’d According to Hofstede’s research, Mexico, According to Hofstede’s research, Mexico,

Indonesia, and India have high power Indonesia, and India have high power distancedistance

Austria, Israel and Canada have low power Austria, Israel and Canada have low power distancedistance

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India is a strong example of high power India is a strong example of high power with their caste systemwith their caste system• People are born into 1 of 5 caste levels or People are born into 1 of 5 caste levels or

groups, each having a higher status than the groups, each having a higher status than the one below itone below it

• Indian citizens belong to the caste they are Indian citizens belong to the caste they are born into and cannot aspire to enter anotherborn into and cannot aspire to enter another

• From birth, their power is defined by the casteFrom birth, their power is defined by the caste

2. Uncertainty Avoidance2. Uncertainty Avoidance Has to do with the way in which various Has to do with the way in which various

cultures adapt to changecultures adapt to change Countries that tend to attempt to avoid Countries that tend to attempt to avoid

uncertainty prefer formal rules & rituals, uncertainty prefer formal rules & rituals, and hold especially strong religious and hold especially strong religious convictionsconvictions

These cultures tend to have These cultures tend to have high high uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance

High value on conformity, little tolerance High value on conformity, little tolerance for outsiders perceived as untrustworthyfor outsiders perceived as untrustworthy

Countries: Saudi Arabia, Mexico, JapanCountries: Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Japan

Uncertainty Avoidance Cont’dUncertainty Avoidance Cont’d

Cultures with low uncertainty avoidance Cultures with low uncertainty avoidance tend to value risk-taking, seek change tend to value risk-taking, seek change instead of avoiding it, and demonstrate instead of avoiding it, and demonstrate a high tolerance for differencea high tolerance for difference

Outsiders find it much easier to Outsiders find it much easier to establish business relationships in these establish business relationships in these countriescountries

Countries: Canada, Sweden, SingaporeCountries: Canada, Sweden, Singapore

3. Masculinity vs. Femininity3. Masculinity vs. Femininity Hofstede uses the term masculinity to refer to Hofstede uses the term masculinity to refer to

the degree to which a culture values the degree to which a culture values assertiveness, competitiveness, ambition and assertiveness, competitiveness, ambition and the accumulation of material goodsthe accumulation of material goods

Femininity refers to the degree to which Femininity refers to the degree to which cultures value nurturing, family relationships, cultures value nurturing, family relationships, and social support systemsand social support systems

Highly masculine cultures: Japan, Mexico Highly masculine cultures: Japan, Mexico (more rigid gender roles)(more rigid gender roles)

Scandinavia, Thailand, and Portugal more Scandinavia, Thailand, and Portugal more feminine; value co-operation and solidarity feminine; value co-operation and solidarity with those less fortunatewith those less fortunate

4. Individualism vs. Collectivism4. Individualism vs. Collectivism

This dimension refers to the extent to This dimension refers to the extent to which people are expected to make their which people are expected to make their own decisions re: education, job, or even own decisions re: education, job, or even life partnerlife partner

Highly individualistic cultures encourage Highly individualistic cultures encourage each citizen to make personal choices and each citizen to make personal choices and stand up for themselvesstand up for themselves

Collectivist cultures value the greater Collectivist cultures value the greater good, and many members have their good, and many members have their future prescribed by the government, future prescribed by the government, family or churchfamily or church

Individualism vs. Collectivism Individualism vs. Collectivism Cont’dCont’d

High levels of collectivism are seen in High levels of collectivism are seen in Communist societies, such as Cuba Communist societies, such as Cuba and Chinaand China

Canada, U.S., Australia have high Canada, U.S., Australia have high levels of individualismlevels of individualism

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# 5 - Pragmatism# 5 - Pragmatism• How people in the past as well as today How people in the past as well as today

relate to the fact that so much that relate to the fact that so much that happens around us cannot be explained. happens around us cannot be explained.

• In societies with a normative orientation, In societies with a normative orientation, most people have a strong desire to most people have a strong desire to explain as much as possibleexplain as much as possible

• In societies with a pragmatic orientation In societies with a pragmatic orientation most people don’t have a need to explain most people don’t have a need to explain everything, as they believe that it is everything, as they believe that it is impossible to understand fully the impossible to understand fully the complexity of life. The challenge is not to complexity of life. The challenge is not to know the truth but to live a virtuous lifeknow the truth but to live a virtuous life

Pragmatism Cont’dPragmatism Cont’d Normative societies have a strong concern with Normative societies have a strong concern with

establishing the absolute Truth…ex Canadaestablishing the absolute Truth…ex Canada They exhibit great respect for traditions, a They exhibit great respect for traditions, a

relatively small propensity to save for the future, relatively small propensity to save for the future, and a focus on achieving quick resultsand a focus on achieving quick results

China and Japan are highly pragmaticChina and Japan are highly pragmatic• In societies with a pragmatic orientation, people believe In societies with a pragmatic orientation, people believe

that truth depends very much on situation, context and that truth depends very much on situation, context and time…very much oriented for the long termtime…very much oriented for the long term

• They show an ability to adapt traditions easily to They show an ability to adapt traditions easily to changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and invest, thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving resultsinvest, thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving results

#6 - Indulgence#6 - Indulgence the extent to which people try to control their the extent to which people try to control their

desires and impulses, based on the way they desires and impulses, based on the way they were raisedwere raised

Relatively weak control is called “indulgence” Relatively weak control is called “indulgence” and relatively strong control is called and relatively strong control is called “restraint”“restraint”

Canada, Australia and U.S are “indulgent”Canada, Australia and U.S are “indulgent”• exhibit a willingness to realize their impulses and desires with exhibit a willingness to realize their impulses and desires with

regard to enjoying life and having funregard to enjoying life and having fun• positive attitude and have a tendency towards optimismpositive attitude and have a tendency towards optimism• they place a higher degree of importance on leisure time, act they place a higher degree of importance on leisure time, act

as they please and spend money as they wishas they please and spend money as they wish

Indulgence Cont’dIndulgence Cont’d

China is a “restrained” societyChina is a “restrained” society• have a tendency to cynicism and have a tendency to cynicism and

pessimismpessimism• do not put much emphasis on leisure do not put much emphasis on leisure

time and control the gratification of their time and control the gratification of their desiresdesires

• perception that their actions are perception that their actions are restrained by social norms and feel that restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves is somewhat indulging themselves is somewhat wrongwrong

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