INTERPRETING CULTURES ACCORDING TO THE LEWIS AND HOFSTEDE MODELS

MARION AMAYA
JESÚS MUÑÓZ
KARINA LIBREROS
JOSÉ SILVERA

UNIVERSIDAD DEL ATLÁNTICO

BARRANQUILLA
2020
 Interpreting cultures according to the Lewis and Hofstede Models

For this work, we decided to interpret the cultures of these 4 countries: Brazil, India, Vietnam
and Switzerland.

As we can see in Lewis's model, Brazil is a multi-active Country since its

cultures can be different, also has a great variety of religions, beliefs, and
values. As behaviorally they follow the same pattern with the following traits
and
commonalities: emotion, talkativeness, rhetoric, drama, eloquence,
persuasion,
expressive body language, etc.

Vietnam is a reactive country, they listen most of the time, they do not
interrupt, they are educated and well oriented. Diplomacy reigns and they are
patient.

India is between being a multi-active country and being a reactive country, it

has characteristics of both types of cultures.

Switzerland is a linear- active country, they are very methodical, they plan step
by step what they do, and they do one thing at a time. They are not very
expressive and sometimes impatient.
The Hofstede Model for Cultural Understanding

Power Distance:
At 67 Colombia scores high on the scale is a society that believes that
inequalities amongst people are simply a fact of life, in comparison with
Switzerland which with a score of 34 on the scale, is an egalitarian country.
Collectivism vs Individualism:
At a score of 13 is amongst the lowest individualist scores as in Vietnam with a
score of 20 on the scale, which means that we prefer to work as a team than
individually. Compared to Switzerland which has 68 percent on the scale.

Masculinity vs Femininity:
At a score of 64, Colombia is a Masculine society. These four countries have
high levels, but Vietnam is the lowest with 40 percent on the scale.

Uncertainty Avoidance Index:

At a score of 80, Colombia has a high score on the Uncertainty Avoidance
Index:
as Brazil with 76 percent on the scale, which means that as a nation they are
trying to avoid ambiguity.

Short-term vs Long-term Orientation:

At a score of 13, Colombia's culture is classified as normative and traditional.
On the other hand, we have Switzerland, which with a score of 74, is a
futuristic country.

Restraint vs Indulgence:
At 83 Colombia scores high on the scale, they possess a positive attitude and
optimist. On the other hand, India, with a score of 26, refers to the fact that it is
a country with normative repression and they do not enjoy life very much.