Johanna Kauppinen

Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
Restonomi REB23KHA1

Blog post

6D models of Hofstede

When I read and checked Geert Hofstede’s 6D model about cultures I got at first confused and then
exited but all together not in a good way.
I presume this 6D model has it´s floes because you simply cannot generalize everything and not
everybody fits in the same model.
Considering Finland, I thought the results were pretty accurate at least considering being independent
and having equal rights. We are an individualist and feminine society that respects hierarchy for
convenience only. We often tend to compromise. We focus on well-being and chase the absolute
truth. We seek knowledge and respect for cultures. We appreciate different leisure possibilities and
often are positive about the future. We are known as the happiest country in the world.
But if you dig deeper and consider for example the long term orientation it sounds a bit too idealistic to
read about morals, obligations and pride. The good and the evil. We are all individuals and we
definitely do not share the same morals or the idea of good and evil.
Habits are definitely not the same for everyone and thinking of the current situation I dare to question
is this model really the correct tool to measure anything except the vision of it. I have always hated to
put people in boxes. Even though I consider myself as an individualist with a capitol I, I have also a
strong We spirit. “I am because We are” is an African proverb that is very close to heart even thought
it does not correlate or fit in the model.
In the future I have a dream of running my own hotel. If I get too carried away with the western so
called “easylife” and only think with the capitol I, I will never succeed in my dream. Hotel runs like a
machine if you handle the parts with good care and appreciation you shall overcome everything.
The first different country I want to compare the Europe for is Russia. There even the news are so
corrupt you simply do not know what’s happening in the real world. They seem to appreciate more
about duty, nonexistent freedom and nationalism that anything else. And yet again this is not the
whole country. There are always exceptions. Uncertainty avoidance brings anxiety, stress and
aggression. Considering the power distance, they seem to accept leadership and hierarchy.
Dictatorship.
Second super interesting country is India. I traveled there for many winters. It is interesting how happy
can a nation be even though they have nothing. They are a masculine country but it all seems to flow
fluently. Cows and people. Makes me wonder is about the gods they worship. They cannot read and
write but the smiles are bigger than ours in Finland. It feels like progress and time has lost its
meaning.
Maybe how you see the world is something that you have learned from your parents. Maybe it is all
about the location and religion. But I do keep wondering how the future will look like.
Hopefully evolution will go forward, and we shall unite in the future. I will always put my vote on equal
rights and independence but not everyone is built like that. Some people will never want to question
the unknits built the society. They become hermits or the great minds of the future.
We need diversity in the world but to have tolerance for it is another story. We need new ideas and
innovations not 6D models. We need to move together to the future as one nation.