Hofstede 's theory of cultural dimensions

Hofstede 's theory of cultural dimensions

The theory of cultural dimensions put forward by Hofstede is the most influential intercultural theory in the world. Here are Hofstede's dimensions of culture values, including Inpidualism versus Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Power Distance, Masculinity versus Femininity, Long-term orientation versus Short-term orientation, Indulgence versus Restraint.

First, Inpidualism and Collectivism, how to judge them? In inpidualistic cultures, people values of inpidual achievement, freedom, and competition are stressed. People give priority to the task and are supposed to look after their own self-interests. While in collectivistic cultures, people values of group harmony, cohesiveness, and consensus are very important. And priority is given to relationship with people and group interest. For example, American advocates inpidualism. When they speak, they emphasis more on "I".While Chinese advocates collectivism, they emphasis more on "we".

Second, talk about the Uncertainty Avoidance. Uncertainty avoidance is the tendency to behave so as to arrange things in a way that minimizes unforeseen consequences. In strong uncertainty avoidance cultures, people tend to be rigid and intolerant. In weak uncertainty avoidance cultures, people are more easygoing. In Japan, people emphasis formal communication, planning, regulations, rituals and ceremonies. They

strong need for rules. In Singapore, value persity and are able to tolerate differences in belief and behavior.

Third, it is about power distance. The degree to which a country accepts the fact the differences in its citizens’ physical and intellectual capabilities give rise to inequalities in their well-being. In High power distance cultures, allow inequalities to persist or increase and organizations tend to be hierarchical and inequality is accepted. Malaysia is a very typical high power distance country. In low power distance cultures, people dislike the development of large inequalities in rights and opportunity in the workplace. What’s more, government use taxation or social welfare programs to reduce inequalities. And it is very typical in Austria.

Fourth, Masculinity versus Femininity. According to Hofstede, masculinity is a way to characterize cultures that value assertiveness, competitiveness, and material success; femininity characterizes cultural preferences for collaboration, nurturing, and harmony. Sweden have the most rich bottom feminine temperament, Japanese culture, there are significant masculine culture, American masculine culture should be relatively mild some.

Fifth, Long-term orientation versus Short-term orientation.In Long-term orientation countries, values towards the future, like thrift (saving) and persistence. Such as Japan, the country with a long-term

vision to investment, annual profit is not important, the most important is the progress year after year to achieve a long-term goal. In Short-term orientation countries, people values towards the past and present, and maintaining personal stability or happiness and living for the present, they concerned with short-term results. For example, the United States, the company pay more attention to the quarterly and annual profit results, managers in the year or quarter by quarter on staff performance assessment in profit.

Sixth, Indulgence versus Restraint. 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. Australia is a typical country that indulgence. On the contrary, Pakistan is a typical country that restraint.

Above all, Hofstede's theory is very important for international business, of course, it also has defects. First of all, Hofstede assumes, culture and between countries is a one-to-one relationship, but many countries have multiple culture. Hofstede’study did not seize this classification mode. Secondly, this study may be subject to the limitations of culture. The last but the most important, Hofstede’work is out of date now. Culture is not static, although slowly, but along with the time development and change. In the 60 's and 70's have sufficient basis

characteristics, this may not be reasonable.

So, When we refer to Hofstede's theory of cultural dimensions to begin the international business, we must combine the contemporary cultural situation.

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