Hofstede's Dimensions

BUS 105

Cross Cultural Studies

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Geraldi Chandra

201615714

Trininad Navarro      [pic 4]

November 29, 2016[pic 5]

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Culture, by the definition of the Oxford dictionary (n. d.), is the ideas, backgrounds, customs, and the social behavior of an individual, a group, or society. Expanding the definition of culture, culture defines the system, value, or a compiled knowledge consisted of taught values, beliefs, experiences, communications, attitudes, behaviors, and concept that has existed throughout a group of people in the span of generations through each individuals, families, or societies which was shared. Culture is the background of people that has been adapted since the birth of the individual (Hofstede, 1997; Li & Karakowsky, 2001).

Based by Schneider and Barsoux (2003), culture of an individual works on three layers. The first being the observable and tangible characteristics: language, eye contact, eating, and daily rituals. Moving to the second layer are the norms and values, which include the beliefs on how things are, and determine the values of right or wrong, good or bad. The third layer being the complex and deepest: the basic assumptions and interpretation of what is happening on the previous layers (Browaeys & Price, 2011).

The more in-depth psychological analysis for a country cross-cultural adaption method based by the social anthropologist Kluckholn and Strodtbeck (1961) has been established with a theory invented by Dr. Geert Hofstede from Netherland in 1983 that identified the methods into five categories, then added another one last categories alongside Drs. Michael H. Bond and Michael Minkov, which would not be discussed. (Mind Tools Editorial Team, n. d.; Zimmermann, 2015).

Different Culture, Different Background, Different Individual

Having different cultural background could lead to a different way of mindset and thinking, which progressed to a cross-cultural exchange and communication where two different cultures found something in common and elaborate to combine the two characteristics onto the same mutual understanding ground or misunderstanding and cultural clash caused by the difference (Lambardo, n. d.; Billikopf, n. d.), such as my case where in my home country, Indonesia, showing a simple affection like hugging between close friends that are the opposite gender were considered unusual and odd, especially to the public eye, considering that affection were usually given to a family member or a life partner. While most western hemisphere of the world has more liberty regarding to public show of affection which includes, but limited to, kissing and hugging (Khana Academy, n. d.).

        Hofstede’s Dimensions

Professor Geert Hofstede invented of what now to be the 5 dimensions of culture a country has based on the extensive surveys conducted in IBM within 64 countries. Each dimension determined the basic assumptions of the people. From the outer look of the theory, Hofstede provided a way of how culture can be measured, and that the difference matters. Employees working on the same workplace from other nations could also reduce the chance of cultural shock as the theory provided a method of cross-cultural studies to help with understanding of the new culture (Hoftstede, 1980, 1997).

On the contrary point however, the method did not determine an individual’s characters or the way a person think, but only to provide basic information of what to expect and to react from such individual as culture is far too complex to have a pin-point accuracy of the  measurement. (Browaeys & Price, 2011; Hofstede, 1980).

The 5 cultural dimensions discussed are, with abbreviation included, Power Distance Index (PDI), Individualism/Collectivism (IDV), Masculinity/Femininity (MAS), Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI), and Long-term/Short-term Orientation (LTO). Power distance discussed the accepted and expected unequal distribution of power. Individualism versus collectivism referred the connection or loyalty of the people among a group of others within society or community. Masculinity versus femininity referred to the distribution of assigned roles of men and women within the society. Uncertainty avoidance recounted of how people dealt with anxiety and uncontrollable situations. Long-term versus short-term orientation, one of the recent theory added, mentioned the connection and the mindset of people based of how society view the future and the needs to explain the unaccountable, which could be tied to the nationalism or religiosity (Hofstede, 1980, 1993; Anastasia, 2015; Mind Tools, n. d.; Browaeys & Price, 2011).

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