According to Hofstede’s Cultural Taxonomy, differences in cultural lifestyle can be explained by:
• Individualism and collectivism• Power distance• Uncertainty avoidance• Masculinity• Time orientation
Dimensions of culture
Definitions
• Individualism: People look after themselves and their immediate blood relations only.
-Loosely knit social framework
• Collectivism: A tight social framework in which people expect others in groups of which they are a part to look after them and protect them
-Tightly knit social framework
Individualism-Collectivism Individualism= “I”• High value on autonomy -
Self is most important• Freedom• Individual achievement• Privacy• Personal goals• More direct language• View conflict as positive
and tend confront it head on
Collectivism= “We”• High value on group-
Other is more important• Interdependent with
others• Loyalty• Family relations• Social harmony• Less direct language• View conflict negatively
and avoid it
Determining Factors
• Power Distance
• Economical development
Some of Individualistic Cultures
• Australia• Canada• England• Ireland• New Zeeland• South Africa• U.S.A.
On the other hand
• Latin American, Sub-Saharan African, Middle East and Asian societies tend to be more collectivistic.
Why is this concept important for work
environment?
• Competition vs. harmony• Motivation• Reward
As a result
• Members of collectivistic cultures have a clear demarcation between in-group and out-group members while those of individualistic cultures do not have such a clear demarcation between the two.
• In resolving conflicts, members of individualistic cultures are encouraged to speak out while those of collectivistic cultures use avoidance, the third party intermediaries, and face-saving strategies.
How reliable is Hofstede’s Individualism vs. Collectivism
dimension?
• Ignores differences within clusters
• Culture is not static- It evolves over time
References
• Lustig, M. W., Koester, J. (2006). Cultural patterns and communication: Taxonomies. In M.W. Lusting & J. Koester Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures, (pp. 116-124). Boston: Pearson Education.
• Hill, Charles W.L. (2011). International Business: Differences in Culture. In Hill Charles W.L. Competing in the global marketplace, (pp. 120-135). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.