Understanding languages and other cultures builds bridges.
- Suzy Kassem 1
Are you a part of a multinational group and wondering about cross-cultural differences between your group's members? Have you ever questioned why some of your foreign friends' values and beliefs differ from yours? Perhaps this article on Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory can enlighten your understanding of different cultures and traditions. So keep reading to learn more!
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory
In the 1970s, Dr. Geert Hofstede, the famous Dutch psychologist, first introduced his cultural dimensions theory after years of doing surveys and field studies at IBM, a multinational computer manufacturing business.2
Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory introduces a cultural dimensions model that describes the influence of culture on its members' values and behaviors.
Currently, not only has Hofstede's cultural dimension theory proliferated studies of cross-cultural psychology, but it also has provided practical insights into modern fields of international business management and effective cross-cultural communication.
How did Geert Hofstede come up with his Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory?
In the 1960s, Dr. Geert Hofstede spent most of his time surveying about 100,000 employees of IBM, a multinational computer manufacturing company. Together, his sample population came from 50 countries across 3 regions. Thus, Hofstede was interested in studying the respondents' values and behaviors, given their diverse cultural backgrounds. Afterward, based on the precise quantitative analysis results, Hofstede managed to include four value dimensions in Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory in the 1970s.2
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Model
Hofstede's cultural dimensions model consists of six value dimensions, which are:
Power distance
Individualism and collectivism
Uncertainty avoidance
Masculinity and femininity
Long-term and short-term orientation (time orientation)
Indulgence and restraint
The development of Hofstede's cultural dimensions model
Initially, the 1970s Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory included only four value dimensions, namely individualism and collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity and femininity. 2
Later on, in the 1990s, successive Chinese sociologists suggested the fifth value dimension, known as long-term and short-term orientation, into Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. 3
Eventually, Hofstede's replication of his previous study in IBM, which analyzed 93 countries worldwide, identified and validated the final fifth and sixth value dimensions, which were indulgence and restraint.4
Accordingly, in assessing any culture, Hofstede suggests the use of a grading scale from 0 to 100 to rate each of the culture's value dimensions based on his cultural dimensions model.4
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Power Distance
The power distance value demonstrates the ways a culture addresses inequalities among its members.
Power distance indicates the degree to which members within a society accept or reject the unequal distribution of power within their societies.
Accordingly, members from countries with high levels of power distance naturally follow a hierarchical order without questioning the justification for their places within their societies and vice versa.
What are countries with different power distance values?
Some Asian countries, such as China and Japan, are societies with high power distance levels. Accordingly, members within these countries value formality, respect, and hierarchy. Oppositely, America and Australia are countries with low levels of power distance.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Individualism and Collectivism
Hofstede's cultural dimension of individualism and collectivism clearly varies across cultures.
The individualism and collectivism value dimension reflects the perception of societal members about individual versus group interests.
On a 0-100 grading scale, the higher a country's score gets, the more individualistic it is as a society. Accordingly, while an individualistic culture embraces a loosely-knit social framework, a collectivistic culture values a tightly-knit one within its society.
How do social frameworks differ between individualistic and collectivist cultures?
For instance, the loosely-knit social framework in individualistic cultures makes its members care mostly for themselves in most cases. By contrast, members in tighly-knit collectivistic cultures take care not only of themselves but also of their relatives, families, and close acquaintances.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Uncertainty Avoidance
As the future is always unknown, how will members within similar cultures respond to this fact? Uncertainty avoidance measures societal members' responses to such questions.
Uncertainty avoidance value dimension implies the comfortable degree of a culture towards uncertain situations, such as risks or changes.
Accordingly, countries that are high in uncertainty avoidance levels prefer predictability, rigidity, and structural orders. By contrast, countries with a low uncertainty avoidance index demonstrate relaxed attitudes and openness to changes and a high tolerance for ambiguity.
Countries with low uncertainty avoidance index
Countries such as Singapore, Ireland, and Sweden, are known for their willingness and openness to changes and unpredictable scenarios.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Masculinity and Femininity
Essentially, a culture's masculinity implies its emphasis on achievement, assertiveness, and materialism. Oppositely, a culture's femininity suggests its priority in feelings, relationships, and life quality.
The masculinity and femininity value dimension identifies which value, masculinity or femininity is more critical to society.
Accordingly, masculine cultures are generally competitive and tough, while feminine ones are highly consensus-oriented and tender.
The common evidence of a culture's masculinity and femininity
One of the most visible evidence of a culture's masculinity and femininity lies in the culture's perception and attitudes toward gender roles. For instance, in masculine cultures such as Japan, social norms have it that women's roles are to be full-time housewives. By contrast, in feminine cultures such as the Netherlands, women, and men have equal opportunities to thrive at work.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Time Orientation
Time orientation entails a culture's preference for short-term and long-term objectives.
The time orientation value dimension implies the preference of culture over short-term or long-term purposes.
Accordingly, cultures with a high time orientation index are often future-focused, which persistently prepare themselves for the future through modern education. Yet, cultures with a low time orientation index are past and present-oriented. Thus, they tend to develop upon long-standing norms and conventional traditions.
What are the characteristics of short-term and long-term societal members?
Often, members of short-term cultures are impatient and easily discouraged. Therefore, they tend to desire instant gratification. However, members of long-term cultures value perseverance and patience. Thus, they persistently strive toward long-term success.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Indulgence and Restraint
The indulgence and restraint dimension offers modern insights into the understanding of cultural differences.
The indulgence and restraint dimension indicates the degree to which members within a culture control their impulses and desires.
While indulgence implies an individual's weak control, restraint suggests a strong control of oneself. Accordingly, indulgent cultures grant their members free gratification to enjoy life and have fun. By contrast, restraint cultures control such gratification through strict social norms and regulations.
What are examples of indulgent countries?
For instance, countries such as Australia, the US, Chile, and Brazil, are considered indulgent ones as they consider having fun and fulfilling one's desires as basic and natural human needs.
Limitation of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Despite the popularity and practicality of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, it still entails certain limitations.
Accordingly, there are two main limitations of Hofstede's cultural dimensions:
Inconclusive original research methodology: accordingly, Hofstede's original study at IBM manufacturing firm only consisted of personnel from IBM's sales and marketing department. Thus, the results were inconclusive in general.5
Being outdated: since the 1970s, the business world has undergone various cultural and political movements. Further, recent decades have witnessed dramatic technological advances across modern societies, which have greatly altered people's perceptions and behaviors. Thereby, critics argue that Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory should be revised to reflect modern business modifications.5
Impact of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Indeed, ever since its introduction, Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory and model have had impact on various areas of study ranging from international business management to international communication and negotiation.
Impact of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: International Business Management
Considering the field of international business management, Hofstede's cultural dimensions assist businesses in their internationalization strategies.
How can Hofstede's cultural dimensions assist businesses in their internationalization strategies?
Businesses can rely on Hofstede's cultural dimensions model to critically evaluate their strategic expansion and marketing strategies to different cultures worldwide. For example, organizations that enter new countries with long-term time orientation should market their products' long-lasting features and long-term practicality to attract such countries' consumers.
Further, Hofstede's cultural dimensions model can help leaders to critically explain their employees' certain traits and behaviors at work. Thus, Hofstede's cultural dimensions model can indirectly influence their leadership styles and communication tactics.
How can leaders utilize Hofstede's cultural dimensions model to understand their employees?
At company X in Japan, the Japanese marketing manager has difficulties engaging the American marketing intern with effective teamwork practices. However, as the manager is aware of Hofstede's cultural dimensions model, the manager easily identifies the core reason to be the difference between America's individualistic and Japan's collectivist culture.
Impact of Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Communication and Negotiation
In modern communication and negotiation, Hofstede's culture dimensions theory enhances individuals' cross-cultural awareness and tolerance, thus increasing their effectiveness in cross-cultural communication.
How can Hofstede's culture dimensions theory help in cross-cultural negotiation?
Hofstede's cultural dimensions are useful in anticipating how members of different cultures will communicate with each other. Thus, business practitioners can rely on Hofstede's cultural dimensions to prepare for different scenarios beforehand by taking their negotiation partners' cultures into consideration.
Further, Hofstede's cultural dimensions provide reasonable theoretical explanations of why certain traits and behaviors are more or less widespread across different cultures. By understanding such reasons, people can become more culturally sensitive and tolerant.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Comparison
In this section, a comparison between four example countries, namely Finland, China, America, and Australia, will be made based on Hofstede's culture dimensions model and a 0-100 grading scale.6
| Value dimension | Finland | China | America | Australia |
| Power Distance | Low (33) | High (80) | Low (40) | Low (38) |
| Individualism | Individualism (63) | Collectivism (20) | Individualism (91) | Individualism (90) |
| Uncertainty Avoidance | Moderate (59) | Low (30) | Moderate (46) | Moderate (51) |
| Masculinity/Femininity | Femininity (26) | Masculinity (66) | Masculinity (62) | Masculinity (61) |
| Time Orientation | Moderate (59) | Long-term (87) | Short-term (46) | Short-term (21) |
| Indulgence and Restraint | Moderate (57) | Restraint (24) | Indulgence (68) | Indulgence (71) |
Table 1 - Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Comparison
As every culture is unique and distinctive, Hofstede's cultural dimensions offer a firm starting point for individuals to ease into the mysterious world of cultural differences. Although Hofstede's cultural dimensions still have certain limitations, their influences in connecting cultures and individuals are undeniable.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Key takeaways
- Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory introduces a cultural dimensions model that describes the influence of culture on its members' values and behaviors.
- Hofstede's cultural dimensions model consists of six value dimensions, which are: power distance, individualism and collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and femininity, long-term and short-term orientation (time orientation), indulgence, and restraint.
- There are two main limitations of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which includes its inconclusive original research methodology and outdated possibility.
- Not only has Hofstede's cultural dimension theory proliferated studies of cross-cultural psychology, but it also has provided practical insights into modern fields of international business management and effective cross-cultural communication.
References
- Suzy Kassem. Quoteable Quote. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7404268-understanding-languages-and-other-cultures-builds-bridges-it-is-the#:~:text=%E2%80%9CUnderstanding%20languages%20and%20other%20cultures%20builds%20bridges.,see%20their%20similarities%20before%20differences.%E2%80%9D
- Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture and organizations. International studies of management & organization, 10(4), 15-41.
- Bond, M. H. (1991). Beyond the Chinese face: Insights from psychology. Oxford University Press, USA.
- Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model in context. Online readings in psychology and culture, 2(1), 2307-0919.
- Fahad Usmani. Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: Explanation, Limitation, and Examples. https://parsadi.com/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions/
- Hofstede Insights.https://www.hofstede-insights.com/
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