HALLS CULTURAL CONTEXT MODEL: CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH

AND LOW CONTEXT CULTURES

Factor
Directness of
messages /
message speed

Use of nonverbal
communication

Level of
commitment to
relationships

Attitudes to time
(polychronic vs
monochronic)

High-context culture

Low-context culture

Many implicit messages:

information given
indirectly i.e. hints at
meaning .. meaning is
suggested

Many explicit messages that are simple

and clear: information given directly..
meaning is stated

Much nonverbal
communication

More focus on verbal communication than

body language

Strong people bonds with

strong sense of
community identity.
High commitment to longterm relationships.
Relationship more
important than task.

More flexible bonds between people i.e.

form new groups more easily. Less strong
sense of belonging to a community. Lower
commitment to long-term relationships.
Task is more important than relationships.

Time is more open and

flexible; polychronic:
many things can be done
at same time).
Process (how a task is
completed) is more
important than product
(result / outcome)

Time is highly organized / structured /

inflexible:monochronic: focus on
completing one task then start another).
Product is more important than process.

HOFSTEDE AND HALL : COMMONALITIES

HOFSTEDE
HALL
High PD cultures are invariably also

HCC

Low IDV (High Collectivism) are invariably also

HCC

High UA is not as strongly correlated to context

may occur in HCC or

LCC
may occur in HCC or
LCC

High MAS is not as strongly correlated to context

i.e. high PD cultures are highly likely to be HCC; low PD cultures are highly
likely to be LCC.
high COLL (low IDV) cultures are highly likely to be HCC; low COLL (high
IDV) are highly likely to be LCC.

BUT high MAS may be HCC or LCC ie high MAS is not a good predictor of
context, nor is high UA.

Examine the readings for Wks 6+7 carefully: what model do they use (Hall or
Hofstede?) do they link HCC/LCC analysis to Hofstedes dimensions? which
Hofstede dimensions do they focus on?