EQUFAS

Culture differencesCulture differences

Culture is more often a Culture is more often a source of conflict than of source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural synergy. Cultural differencesdifferences are a nuisance are a nuisance at best and often a at best and often a disaster."disaster."          Prof. Geert Hofstede,  Prof. Geert Hofstede,  

EstoniaFormal Name: Republic of Estonia

Local Name: Eesti

Local Formal Name: Eesti Vabariik

Location: Europe

Status: UN Country

Capital City: Tallinn

Main Cities: Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, Pärnu

Population: 1,574,000

Area: 45,000 km2

Currency: Now Euro was 1 kroon = 100 senti

Languages: Estonian (61%), Russian (30%)

Religions: Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Baptist

For those who work in international For those who work in international environmentenvironment, it is sometimes , it is sometimes amazing how different people in amazing how different people in other cultures behave. We tend to other cultures behave. We tend to have a human instinct that 'deep have a human instinct that 'deep inside' all people are the same - but inside' all people are the same - but they are not. Therefore, if we go into they are not. Therefore, if we go into another country and make decisions another country and make decisions based on how we operate in our own based on how we operate in our own home country - the chances are we'll home country - the chances are we'll make some very bad decisions.make some very bad decisions.

Differences between people within Differences between people within any given nation or culture are any given nation or culture are much greater than differences much greater than differences between groups. Education, social between groups. Education, social standing, religion, personality, standing, religion, personality, belief structure, past experience, belief structure, past experience, affection shown in the home, and affection shown in the home, and a myriad of other factors will affect a myriad of other factors will affect human behaviohuman behaviouur and culture.r and culture.

What are Hofstede's five Cultural What are Hofstede's five Cultural Dimensions? Dimensions?

1.1. Power Distance Index (PDI)Power Distance Index (PDI)

2.2. Individualism (IDV)Individualism (IDV)

3.3. Masculinity (MAS)Masculinity (MAS)

4.4. Uncertainty Avoidance Index Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)(UAI)

5.5. Long-Term Orientation (LTO)Long-Term Orientation (LTO)

Power Distance Index (PDI)Power Distance Index (PDI) is the is the extent to which the less powerful extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society and anybody with some of any society and anybody with some international experience will be aware that international experience will be aware that 'all societies are unequal, but some are 'all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others'.more unequal than others'.

Individualism (IDV)Individualism (IDV) on the one side versus its on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, is the degree to which opposite, collectivism, is the degree to which individuals are inte-grated into groups. On the individuals are inte-grated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word 'collectivism' in this sense has no political 'collectivism' in this sense has no political meaning: it refers to the group, not to the state. meaning: it refers to the group, not to the state. Again, the issue addressed by this dimension is Again, the issue addressed by this dimension is an extremely fundamental one, regarding all an extremely fundamental one, regarding all societies in the world. societies in the world.

Masculinity (MAS)Masculinity (MAS) versus its opposite, femininity, versus its opposite, femininity, refers to the distribution of roles between the refers to the distribution of roles between the genders which is another fundamental issue for any genders which is another fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. The society to which a range of solutions are found. The IBM studies revealed that (a) female values differ IBM studies revealed that (a) female values differ less among societies than male values; (b) men's less among societies than male values; (b) men's values from one country to another contain a values from one country to another contain a dimension from very assertive and competitive and dimension from very assertive and competitive and maximally different from women's values on the one maximally different from women's values on the one side, to modest and caring and similar to women's side, to modest and caring and similar to women's values on the other. The assertive pole has been values on the other. The assertive pole has been called 'masculine' and the modest, caring pole called 'masculine' and the modest, caring pole 'feminine'. The women in feminine countries have 'feminine'. The women in feminine countries have the same modest, caring values as the men; in the the same modest, caring values as the men; in the masculine countries they are somewhat assertive masculine countries they are somewhat assertive and competitive, but not as much as the men, so and competitive, but not as much as the men, so that these countries show a gap between men's that these countries show a gap between men's values and women's values.values and women's values.

Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) deals with a deals with a society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; it society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; it ultimately refers to man's search for Truth. It indicates to ultimately refers to man's search for Truth. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it'. People Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it'. People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to; they try to opinions different from what they are used to; they try to have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. People within these cultures are more flow side by side. People within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their environment to express emotions.environment to express emotions.

Long-Term Orientation (LTO)Long-Term Orientation (LTO) versus versus short-term orientation: this fifth dimension short-term orientation: this fifth dimension was found in a study among students in 23 was found in a study among students in 23 countries around the world, using a countries around the world, using a questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars questionnaire designed by Chinese scholars It can be said to deal with Virtue regardless It can be said to deal with Virtue regardless of Truth. Values associated with Long Term of Truth. Values associated with Long Term Orientation are thrift and perseverance; Orientation are thrift and perseverance; values associated with Short Term values associated with Short Term Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling Orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one's 'face'. social obligations, and protecting one's 'face'. Both the positively and the negatively rated Both the positively and the negatively rated values of this dimension are found in the values of this dimension are found in the teachings of Confucius, the most influential teachings of Confucius, the most influential Chinese philosopher who lived around 500 Chinese philosopher who lived around 500 B.C.; however, the dimension also applies to B.C.; however, the dimension also applies to countries without a Confucian heritage.countries without a Confucian heritage.

Hofstede's DimensionsHofstede's Dimensions, , Europe versus the USAEurope versus the USA

                           

 

  

  

                          

  

                                                                                                                                    

  

                                                                                                                                    

                          

  

The scores for Greece are PDI 60, IDV 35, MAS 57 and UAI 112.

                                                                                                                                    

 

                            

Greece

                                                                                                                                    

 

The highest ranking Hofstede Dimension for Austria is Masculinity (MAS) at 79. This typically translates into a greater gap between the values of male and female. It may also generate a more competitive and assertive female population, although still less than the male population.  The second highest Hofstede Dimension for Austria is Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) at 70.

AustriaAustria

  

                          

  

 

                                

                                                                             

Estonia is not really investigated by Hofstede.

Their estimated values are here to be seen in comparing with Finland and Spain

The score is

PDI Power Distance 32

IDV Individualism 62

MAS Masculinity 28

UAI Uncertainty Avoidance Index 60

The Netherlands highest Hofstede Dimension is Individuality (IDV) at 80, which ties with Canada as the fourth highest worldwide IDV ranking, behind the United States (91), Australia (90), and the United Kingdom (89).  The high Individualism (IDV) ranking for the Netherlands is indicative of a society with more individualistic attitudes and relatively loose bonds with others. The populace is more self-reliant and looks out for themselves and their close family members.                                                                                                                                      

The Netherlands' Index Scores PDI=38, IDV=80, MAS=14, UAI=53, LTO=44

                          

  

 Country PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO

Austria 11 55 79 70  

Estonia 40 60 30 60  

Finland 33 63 26 59  

Greece 60 35 57 112  

Netherlands 38 80 14 53 44

Spain 57 51 42 86  

Culture differences partners Culture differences partners EQUFASEQUFAS

Geert Hofstede™ Cultural DimensionGeert Hofstede™ Cultural Dimension

Compare your home culture with your host culture Home culture: SpainHost culture: EstoniaIn the website of Geert Hofstede you can compare nearly every culture.

More information about Hofstede’s culture dimensions:

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_dimensions.php

This power point is made for EQUFAS and can be found on our website. André HuigensProject leader.