Hofstede Cultural Dimension (2)

Another main topics that Hofstede speaks us consists on long-term orientation against short-term orientation: this dimension describes the time horizon of a society. Cultures with a short-term orientation value traditional methods, spend a considerable amount of time developing relationships and, in general, consider time as a circular dimension. This means that the past and the present are interconnected, and that what can not be done today can be done tomorrow. The opposite to this is long-term orientation, which considers time a linear dimension and looks to the future instead of the present or the past. It is goal-oriented and values the rewards.

Indulgence against contention: this dimension measures the capacity of a culture to meet the immediate needs and personal desires of its members. Those that value contention have strict social norms that regulate and discourage the satisfaction of impulses.

 

Besides, With this theory we are able to explain why people from different  cultures react different in similar situations?

According to Geert Hofstede, this discrepancy in behavior can be explained by the cultural differences. When a foreigner, like Sarah, visits another country, he or she may feel left out of place, with aversion or stress due to how different the natives of that country act. These feelings can also occur when someone interacts with people from other subcultures, as well as from different social classes, religion, gender and even from different regions within the country itself. But why do people from other cultures seem to behave and think differently?

The Distance to Power Index (PDI) describes how the less powerful members of a society They accept and expect an inequity of power. In societies with a large distance to power index, members of society do not question those who are at the highest levels. Also, they They expect the most powerful members to guide them. The PDI is typically larger in the societies in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. In cultures with little distance to power, people have equal power among their members, and advance to Higher status (via education, income, employment position, etc.) is possible. Some cultures Nationals with little distance to power are: the Nordic countries, New Zealand and Australia.

In an individualistic society, members tend to take decisions independently and care about themselves themselves and their immediate relatives. Some cultures Individualist nationals are: The United States, Australia, and England. On the other hand, in collectivist societies, group ties are strong and the family includes the family extended (aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.). Some national cultures collectivists are: Guatemala, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Finally, to sum up Hofstede Cultural Dimension provides a framework of trends related to behavior, perspective and values that are associated with 50 national cultures about the following dimensions:

1. Power Distance (PDI)

2. Individualism versus Collectivism (IDV)

3. Masculinity versus Femininity (MAS)

4. Evasion to Uncertainty (Uncertainty Avoidance - UAI)

5. Long Term Orientation (LTO)

6. Complacency versus Moderation (Indulgence versus

Restraint - IVR)

This increase understanding of intercultural contexts and

Interactions between people with different cultural backgrounds.