The practical application of culture 1

theory

The practical application of culture theory

STUDENT NAME: Akashdeep singh

SYUDENT ID: :@00615558

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Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
Section A: The Hofstede theory ......................................................................................................

1.1 Justification of the Hofstede's theory ....................................................................................

1.2 Theoretical advantages..........................................................................................................

1.3 Theoretical disadvantages .....................................................................................................

1.4 Extent of the application of Hofstede’s theory......................................................................

Section B: comparison between UK and Columbia ........................................................................

2. Comparisons;.............................................................................................................................

2.1 Power distances.....................................................................................................................

2.2 Uncertainty avoidance index.................................................................................................

2.3 Individualism ........................................................................................................................

2.4 Masculinity ...........................................................................................................................

2.5 Long-termed orientation ......................................................................................................

2.6 Indulgence............................................................................................................................
Section C: potential issues and differences...................................................................................1

Major issues identified ...............................................................................................................

Strategies for minimisation of issues .........................................................................................

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................1

References......................................................................................................................................1
 The practical application of culture 3
theory

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to determine how the Hofstede Theory of Cultural Dimensions may

aid in the elimination of different difficulties that arise as a result of cultural differences. This

study discusses the theoretical merits and weaknesses of the theory. The six aspects of the

Hofstede theory were used to conduct a comparison study between the two countries of Columbia

and the United Kingdom. The power distance index (PDI), uncertainty avoidance index (UAI),

individuality (IDI), masculinity (MAS), long term orientation (LTO), and indulgence or constraint

are the six aspects of analysis (IND). In this project, the differences in cultures were examined, as

well as the identification of potential problems that may develop when the two countries

collaborated. Appropriate solutions and options that would remove or minimize these issues have

also been considered. For the completion of the task, legitimate sources of information such as

journals were used.

Section A: The Hofstede theory

1.1 Justification of the Hofstede's theory

 The practical application of culture 4
theory in 1980 by Geert Hofstede, a Dutch
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory was founded

management expert. This hypothesis was utilized as a foundation for identifying cultural

differences in different places throughout the globe. The following are six categories that

Hofstede recognized as defining culture in any country:

● Power Distance Index (PDI)

● Collectivism vs. Individualism (IDI)

● Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)

● Femininity vs. Masculinity (MAS)

● Short-Term vs. Long-Term Orientation (LTO)

● Restraint vs. Indulgence (IND)

Each of these six areas is assigned a number or a score, with each score indicating how

the culture is impacted inside the country. The power distance index measures the degree of

disparity or equality among the people of a country who share the same culture (Minkov and

Kaasa, 2020). The figures in the "collectivism vs. individualism" category may assist determine

whether a group or an individual was accountable for a certain action or result. A nation's

femininity or masculinity score may be used to predict certain features of the people who live

there, such as whether they are fiercely competitive, subtle, or somewhere in between. The score
 The practical application of culture 5
theoryassist forecast whether a nation's
provided to the "short term vs. long term orientation" might

motivation is to gain from current circumstances or to pursue long-term objectives and lofty

aspirations. The restraint vs indulgence score is used to assess if individuals in a certain culture

desire to be immediately rewarded or satisfied; in general, a restrained civilization would strive

to withhold enjoyment and control it via rigorous social rules. Before beginning a company

enterprise, all of these characteristics must be identified and thoroughly researched.

1.2 Theoretical advantages

The application of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, as well as the implications of the six

categories he defined, may aid in the formation of a shared bond of trust between two countries

eager to do business together. The analysis of the power distance index score may be used to

discover the demographic that is responsible for the greatest amount of capital production

(Beugelsdijk et al. 2017). We can understand the technique used by people to attain particular

objectives by examining collectivism or the individualism score; some people may like to

work together in harmony, while others may prefer a more independent approach. The statistics

related with femininity and masculinity may be used to identify whether the workforce is

competitive or modest. A detailed assessment of the short and long-term orientation may also

be used to calculate the average time it takes to complete a task. One of the most significant

benefits of employing this paradigm is the merging of national culture with work culture. All

of these things may be quite beneficial and helpful when starting a business relationship with a

foreign nation.
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1.1 Theoretical disadvantages theory

Despite the fact that the Hofstede model is widely acknowledged and lauded for its role in

identifying cultural variations across countries, it has a number of drawbacks. The model may

have flaws as a result of the fact that it was based on responses from a single firm, making the

study limited, biassed, and inconclusive. Questionnaires were used as the study tool for

developing the hosted model, making the model less accurate (Rojo et al. 2020). According to

some experts, Hofstede's concept of culture was outmoded and neglected the implications of

globalization, causing the study to be questioned. One of the major drawbacks of this paradigm

is that it ignores geography as a component that affects a worker's attitude.

There is sufficient evidence that an individual worker's mindset or discipline may alter

depending on the distance between his office and his home. They may also perform poorly if

compelled to labour in an unfavorable environment with poor working circumstances.

1.1 Extent of the application of Hofstede’s theory

Communication is an important tool for every form of organization. Hofstede's theory

aids in delving into numerous sectors of human social life and extracting useful knowledge that

may aid in corporate growth (Dhaundiyal et al. 2020). The hypothesis aids in the development of

cultural awareness and the maintenance of cross-cultural dialogue. This is a critical criterion that

must be met before any economic relationship between two countries can be established. It may

assist a firm in blending into a totally new setting by obtaining knowledge about what is accepted

in a culture and what is not

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The cultural features of a community nearly always impact gestures, body language,

conventions, speech and etiquettes, thus learning about these protocols will come in helpful in

any scenario. International negotiating, international asset and resource management, and

ultimately international marketing are the main areas that gain from the use of the idea. After

doing background research, all of these transactions become simple and painless.

Section B: comparison between UK and Columbia

Figure 1: Hofstede’s parameters of UK (purple) vs. Columbia (blue)

(Source: Hofstede-insights.com, 2021)

 The practical application of culture 8
Comparisons; theory

2.1 Power distances

The idea of power gap refers to the reality that no two people in a society are equal, which

implies that the culture's attitude is directly proportional to the extent of inequality (Minkov

et al. 2017). It is defined as the degree to which less privileged members of an institution or

organisation accept the reality that power is allocated unequally within a nation.

Columbia received a 67 out of 100 on the scale (Hofstede-insights.com, 2021). This indicates

that practically everyone in the area accepts the idea that inequity is a way of life. This

unequal distribution of power is acknowledged by individuals from all walks of life, from

corporate executives to the highest levels of government. On the same scale, the United

Kingdom earned a 35, indicating that practically the whole population believes in the

elimination of inequities when it comes to dealing with power. According to recent research,

when the demography is drawn only from the upper class, the power distance index displays

lower scores. This clearly demonstrates and shows the profound cultural notion among British

people that one's place of origin should not restrict one's ability to achieve success in life. The

United Kingdom has often urged its inhabitants to believe in fair play and to treat one another

with respect.
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2.1 Uncertainty avoidance index theory

When it comes to the future, the uncertainty avoidance index is a simple assessment of how

individuals feel about the possibilities for the future and how society cope with the unknown.

Anxiety is triggered by the unknown, and it has been shown that various cultures have

different coping techniques for dealing with such circumstances in the past. Columbia has a

score of 80 on the uncertainty avoidance index, which indicates that the country is looking

for or experimenting with specific approaches to prevent ambiguity in the future (Hofstede-

insights.com, 2021). There are already strong standards for all social activities, including the

display of emotions, and the manifestation of emotions is done in a free way. The norms are

typically established by the most powerful members of society, but they are not always

strictly adhered to by all members of society. The work culture is similarly of a similar kind,

in that the planning is carried out in great detail, but the implementation is not observed

(Watts et al. 2020). Changes in the existing situation can only be seen if a metaphorical

authority is able to manage a huge number of people and bring them into a more positive

direction. The United Kingdom maintained a score of 35, which indicates that the people of

the United Kingdom feel comfortable with confusing circumstances (Hofstede-insights.com,

2021). In every scenario, no matter how dire the situation seems to be, they are always

determined to make it up as they go and get at their objective. In today's culture, there aren't

many regulations that must be followed. The work ethic of the British has seldom been

characterized by a lack of organization and meticulous attention to detail. There are plenty of

individuals in the country who are interested and have a strong desire for innovation; as a
 The practical application of culture 10
result, the various sectors have experienced an increasetheory
in consumer spending, new goods,

highly creative businesses such as finance, engineering, and marketing.

2.1 Individualism

Columbia receives a score of 13 in this category, which may be the lowest individual score

ever received by a country. It is important to note that the Colombian people are a strongly

collectivistic set of people with strong identities that are mostly grouped according to

socioeconomic class divisions. Colombians place a greater emphasis on establishing good

relationships among themselves than they do on doing a task or performing a job (Gerlach et

al. 2018). In certain cultures, anybody who does not identify with or belong to a group is

referred to as an outsider, and in other situations, such outsiders are considered enemies.

The British are most usually regarded for being private individuals or very individualistic, and

as a result, they have received an overall score of 89. (Hofstede-insights.com, 2021). Only

Australia and the United States have done a better job of discovering. Early on, children are

taught to be self-sufficient, to think for themselves, to choose what function they would serve

in society, and to determine their level of contribution to that society. This begins at a young

age and continues throughout life. According to what they were taught, the most direct path to

pleasure is the attainment of personal objectives and successes.

 The practical application of culture 11
2.1 Masculinity theory

It is considered masculine when the driving force for a society is to be the best, and feminine

when the majority of people like doing what they do and are not under any extra pressure to

seek anything else in their lives (such as higher education). Columbia received a score of 64

in this area and is seen as a macho culture owing to the fact that its citizens are very

motivated to achieve achievement (Miller et al. 2018). Even though they are fierce

competitors by nature, they want to operate as groups (social classes) and compete against

one another in a more healthier manner than they would wage an individual battle.

After achieving a score of 66, Britain is also deemed to be a manly culture, which means that

all of the people that come after retain are motivated by achievement (Hofstede-insights.com,

2021). Almost all of the individuals who reside in the United Kingdom have certain goals and

a clear vision of what they want to achieve in their life. The vast majority of the population is

working or employed and has a strong sense of what they want to achieve in life. In terms of

nature, the British culture has a propensity to be modest, which becomes a source of

contention when you consider that the majority of the population is equally eager for success.
 The practical application of culture 12
2.1 Long-termed orientation theory

With this criteria, we may assess a society's capacity to preserve ties to the past while coping

with present and future issues (Zhou and Kwon, 2020). The normative societies seek to

adhere to century-old traditions of punctuality while entirely disregarding the social changes

that are going place. As a result of receiving an extremely low score of 13, Columbia has

been classed as a normative society. Colombians hold their traditions in high regard and

adhere to them with a passionate devotion. They are more concerned with discovering the

exact truth than they are with adopting new advances. They are always concerned with

attaining instant results and do not adhere to a long-term strategy. The United Kingdom

received a poor score of 51, and as a result, it is impossible to determine the preferences of

individuals living in the United Kingdom based on the present data source (Hofstede-

insights.com, 2021). In order to get more accurate findings, further research must be

conducted.

2.1 Indulgence

When it comes to controlling one's inner urges and impulses, indulgence is a metric of

measurement that may be used to determine how far one will go. A great deal of this is

impacted by the family environment in which they were raised as well as the community to

which they belong. A person who exhibits relatively limited control over their inner desires

and impulses is said to be indulgent, while a person who exhibits excellent control over their

desires and impulses is referred to as restrained (Miller et al. 2018). These are the two major

categories that may be applied to a culture.

 The practical application of culture 13
theory
Having received a high score of 69, the British culture demonstrates that their society is

indulgent (Hofstede-insights.com, 2021). People in society have an optimistic outlook on life

and a great deal of optimism in their hearts and minds. They are also typically willing to act

on their instincts and to take pleasure in their surroundings. They place a high value on having

a good time in their spare time, and they have the urge to behave in whatever way they see fit

and spend any amount they feel is appropriate for their circumstances. Columbia has managed

to outperform the United Kingdom in this category, earning an 83, demonstrating that they,

too, are a generous nation. The inhabitants of Columbia have little control over their needs

and aspirations, and as a result, they can constantly be observed enjoying their lives to the

utmost extent possible. A highly hearty lifestyle, full of energy and hope, is followed by

them.

Section C: potential issues and differences

Major issues identified

There are already a lot of factors that separate the two nations in terms of their social

philosophies that have previously been identified. For starters, there is a noticeable difference

in the way people think about equality within a society. The inhabitants of Columbia have

accepted their lot in life from the day they were born, and they have no desire to ascend the

social ladder in the near future. This is diametrically opposed to the philosophy promoted by

the British government. They are constantly under the impression that equality and fair play

are required.
 The practical application of culture 14
The inhabitants of Columbia are constantly subjected totheory
the rigorous laws of society, which

causes them to be a victim of having a poor psychological state (Glick et al. 2018). They are

always concerned about the uncertainties that may occur in their line of work and are

unwilling to go outside their comfort zone. This restricted attitude is diametrically opposed to

the culture of the United Kingdom. When confronted with one or more challenges, they

believe in taking the road less travelled.

Columbians have a collectivist attitude on life, which is diametrically opposed to the values of

British culture. This is the third point of contention. In terms of collective activities, the

Colombian people's collectivist viewpoint has a good influence, but it also has the unintended

consequence that the skills of a single person are restricted. It is necessary for a person to

think in a highly selfish attitude in order to succeed in a given industry. This is how the

British are the greatest in the world when it comes to developing cutting-edge technology and

ideas.

Strategies for minimization of issues

Colombians must be allowed the freedom to consider their own desires and to act in accordance

with those desires. Everyone in society must alter their mindset; they must have the confidence

in themselves to think that they, too, can climb the social ladder. This will take time and effort.

In order to succeed, they must comprehend and think that social inequity is not a part of their

life, and that they must break free from a century-old tradition. They should confront those in

positions of authority, whether they come from a commercial company or are affiliated with a
 The practical application of culture 15
government agency. If you want to maximize potential theory
that might otherwise be squandered, fair

play is a highly appealing technique of doing it.

Figure 2: Recommendations

(Source: created by author)

Liberation from the constraints and limits of their society, as well as from all of the laws and

regulations that govern it, is essential for Colombians. Generally, they need to have a more

upbeat and positive outlook on life in general (Minkov et al. 2017). This is the only way they

will be able to get over the problem of ambiguity and the anxiety that comes with it, and go

forward. Having a strong authority figure is critical in instilling the confidence that will allow

the
 The practical application of culture 16
theory
people to emerge from their position and move ahead into a more hopeful future, in which the

workplace culture will get a significant boost and all individuals will live more meaningful lives.

Likewise, working in groups is an issue that has to be addressed, but without interfering with the

usual flow of work that occurs in groups. Instead of outright outlawing work done in groups, it is

suggested that it should be encouraged rather than discouraged. However, appropriate counsel

should be offered to the individuals so that they may make the decision to separate from the

group while still operating at their maximum levels of performance.. The concept of working

alone should be conveyed to the diverse groups that exist throughout society and belong to

various socioeconomic strata, as well as to the military. It is expected that as a consequence of

this, individuals will become more motivated, less fearful of the unknown and unpredictable

circumstances, and more ambitious.

Conclusion

It is obvious from an in-depth examination of the cultural aspects model created by

Hofstede and others that an exchange of trade practices between Columbia and the United

Kingdom is a doable endeavor. Even if there are significant cultural differences between the two

nations, none of them is significant enough to prevent trade between the two countries from

proceeding as intended. When it comes to starting a company in Columbia, there are a lot of

factors to consider, such as the people's tendency to work together as a group. As stated by the

organization, senior management will be able to easily comprehend the cultural values and

ethical principles of the Columbian people due to the firm's exposure to their language. As a

result, they will be in a better position to bargain with the appropriate authorities in order to
 The practical application of culture 17
theory
reach a fair settlement. This book also includes a thorough examination of Hofstede's theoretical

weaknesses, which have been thoroughly explored in this study, which also includes a complete

appraisal of the theory's pros and disadvantages. Several factors have been extensively

researched, and the results will aid in the identification of the most important considerations to

keep in mind while negotiating, for example, a contract between the United Kingdom and

Columbia.

References

Journals

Beugelsdijk, S., Kostova, T., & Roth, K. (2017). An overview of Hofstede-inspired

country- level culture research in international business since 2006. Journal of

International Business Studies, 48(1), 30-47. Retrieved from:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41267-

016-0038-8

Dhaundiyal, D., Chakravarty, R. and N. Joshi, A. (2020), November. Hofstede and Hobbitses:

Generational Evolution of Power Distance and Masculinity in UK in Popular

Literature. In IndiaHCI'20: Proceedings of the 11th Indian Conference on Human-

Computer Interaction (1-11). Retrieved from:

https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3429290.3429291
 The practical application of culture 18
theory R. M., & Huot, S. (2018).
Gerlach, A. J., Teachman, G., Laliberte-Rudman, D., Aldrich,

Expanding beyond individualism: Engaging critical perspectives on

occupation. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 25(1), 35-43.

Retrieved from:

https://www.academia.edu/download/62919543/Expanding_beyond_individualism_En

ga ging_critic.pdf

Glick, P., Berdahl, J. L., & Alonso, N. M. (2018). Development and validation of the

masculinity contest culture scale. Journal of Social Issues, 74(3), 449-476. Retrieved

from: https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josi.12280

Miller, J., Snyder, G., Antoniou, D., Bitar, E., Garrett, C., Alcocer-Loredo, F., ... & Norman,

G. (2018). HOFSTEDE’S 6 DIMENSION COMPARISON OF THE UNITED

KINGDOM,

CHINA, COLUMBIA, CHILE, CANADA & THE UAE. Copyright 2018 by

Institute for Global Business Research, Nashville, TN, USA, 149. Retrieved from:

https://www.igbr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-Internet-Conference-

Proceedings.pdf#page=150

Minkov, M., & Kaasa, A. (2020). A test of Hofstede's model of culture following his own

approach. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management. Retrieved from:

 The practical application of culture 19
theory
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCSM-05-2020-

0120/full/html

Minkov, M., Dutt, P., Schachner, M., Morales, O., Sanchez, C., Jandosova, J., ... & Mudd, B.

(2017). A revision of Hofstede’s individualism-collectivism dimension. Cross

Cultural & Strategic Management. Retrieved from:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCSM-11-2016-0197/full/html

Rojo, J., Everett, B., Ramjan, L. M., Hunt, L., & Salamonson, Y. (2020). Hofstede's cultural

dimensions as the explanatory framework for performance issues during clinical

placement: A mixed methods study. Nurse Education Today, 94, 104581. Retrieved

from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260691720314313

Watts, L. L., Steele, L. M., & Den Hartog, D. N. (2020). Uncertainty avoidance moderates the

relationship between transformational leadership and innovation: A meta-

analysis. Journal of International Business Studies, 51(1), 138-145.

Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41267-019-00242-8

Zhou, Y., & Kwon, J. W. (2020). Overview of Hofstede-inspired research over the past 40

years: The network diversity perspective. SAGE Open, 10(3), 2158244020947425.

Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244020947425

Website

Hofstede-insights.com (2021). Country comparison, Retrieved on: 21 April 2021,

Retrieved from:

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/colombia,the-uk/
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