KAREN CLAIRE F.

PALARCA BSAC 2-1

COUNTRY COMPARISON BETWEEN

SINGAPORE AND UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are frequently seen as ideal places to
live and visit by the rest of the world. Both countries rate well in terms of safety and security,
and they have a reputation for elegance and comfort. Aside from that, let us compare and
contrast the two countries in terms of Power Distance, Individualism, Uncertainty Avoidance,
Long-term Orientation, and Indulgence.

POWER DISTANCE

The perspective of the culture toward these differences among us is reflected in this
dimension, which addresses the fact that not all people in civilizations are created equal. The
degree to which less powerful members of a nation's institutions and organizations expect and
accept unequal power distribution is known as power distance.

The United Arab Emirates scores high on this dimension (score of 74) indicating that people
there are receptive to a hierarchical structure in which everyone has a position and is justified
by its existence alone. Organizational hierarchy is perceived as reflecting innate inequities,
centralization is preferred, employees expect to be given instructions, and the ideal boss is a
kind despot.

Similar to Singapore which also scores high on this dimension (score of 74). The Chinese,
who have a Confucian heritage, typically have a syncretic approach to religion, which is also
the prevalent viewpoint in Singapore. The stability of society, which is founded on unequal
connections between people, is one of the basic ideas of Confucian doctrine. Ruler-subject,
father-son, older brother-younger brother, husband-wife, and a senior friend-junior friend
were Confucius' five fundamental relationships. These connections are built on
complementary and reciprocal duties. Here, the high PDI is evident as a result.

Power is centralized and managers rely on their leaders and on rules. Workers anticipate
being given instructions. Control is expected, and managers are treated formally. Information
flow is selective, and communication is indirect. The administration has identified five
"shared values" that reflects its high PDI: 1) Country before community and society above
self.

INDIVIDUALISM

The degree of dependency that a society maintains among its members is the primary issue of
this dimension. It has to do with whether or not people use "I" or "We" when describing how
they see themselves. Individualist societies demand that people only take care of themselves
and their immediate family. In collective societies, people are members of "in groups" that
provide for them in exchange for loyalty.
With a score of 36, the United Arab Emirates is categorized as a collectivist society. This is
demonstrated by a strong, ongoing dedication to the member "group," which could be a
family, an extended family, or a network of close friends. In a collectivist culture, loyalty is
of the utmost importance and supersedes the majority of other social norms. In society,
everyone accepts responsibility for their fellow group members, fostering deep bonds.
Offense results in humiliation and face loss in collectivist cultures, employer-employee
interactions are seen morally (like a family link), hiring and promotion decisions take the
employee's in-group into consideration, and management is the administration of groups.

Similar to Singapore, which received a score of 20, Singapore is a collectivistic society. This
demonstrates the significance of the "We," and that people are members of in-groups
(families, clans, or organizations) that care for one another in exchange for allegiance. The
family is the model for all social organizations, according to the second fundamental tenet of
Confucian theory. A person is primarily a family member rather than an independent being.
To keep the peace in the family, children need to learn self-control and how to put aside their
individualism. When everyone maintains their dignity, respect, and status, harmony is
achieved. Social interactions should be carried out in a way that protects everyone's face.
Giving face is the act of showing someone respect.

Indirect communication is used, and open confrontations are avoided in order to preserve the
group's unity. A "yes" doesn't always mean "yes"; deference to politeness trumps candid
criticism. The moral foundation of the relationship always takes precedence over task
completion. It's crucial to respect other people's faces, and a manager in particular ought to
project respectability and tranquility.

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE

How a society responds to the reality that the future is unpredictable—should we try to
influence it or just let it happen—is referred to as uncertainty avoidance. Because of the
distress this ambiguity produces, various societies have developed various coping
mechanisms. The Uncertainty Avoidance score represents the degree to which members of a
culture are scared of ambiguous or unclear circumstances and have created institutions and
beliefs to avoid them.

Arab Emirates has a high desire for avoiding ambiguity with a score of 66 on this dimension.
High Uncertainty Avoidance nations uphold strict moral and behavioral standards and are
intolerant to unconventional conduct and ideas. Time is money, people have an innate need to
be busy and work hard, accuracy and timeliness are the norms, innovation may be rejected,
and security plays a significant role in motivating individuals in these cultures—even though
the rules seldom appear to work.

Singapore, on the other hand, only receives an 8 on this dimension, which is incredibly low.
Because of the high PDI, people in Singapore follow many rules, not because they require
structure. Singaporeans refer to their nation as "a lovely country. With every offense, you'll
receive a fine.
LONG TERM ORIENTATION

This dimension shows how societies prioritize these two existential goals differently and how
each civilization must maintain some ties to its own past while dealing with present and
future issues. societies that abide by the laws. Those who score poorly, for instance, strive to
maintain time-honored customs and standards while harboring misgivings about how society
is changing. On the other side, those who come from high-scoring cultures take a more
pragmatic approach and promote saving money and investing in modern education as a way
to get ready for the future.

The Emerati society's low score of 22 on this dimension reveals how normative it is.
Individuals in these societies are normative in their thinking and strongly concerned with
discovering the unchanging Truth. They show a high regard for traditions, a low propensity to
invest in the future, and a concentration on getting things done quickly.

Singapore receives a score of 72, and this high score is reflected in Singapore, where cultural
traits that support long-term investment include perseverance, sustained efforts, slow results,
and thrift; people there are also frugal with resources, prioritize relationships based on status
and feel shame (see also again the Confucian teaching). One of the five dragons with the
greatest economic success in Singapore.

Singaporeans emphasize virtue and the manner they do things, whereas westerners have been
searching for the truth. As there are numerous ways to skin a cat, they are always keeping
their options open. Westerners assume that if A is correct, B must be incorrect, however,
individuals from East and Southeast Asian nations realize that combining A and B results in
something better. A more practical approach to business is made possible by this philosophy.

INDULGENCE

The degree to which young children are socialized is one issue that humanity has faced both
in the past and in the present. We don't become "human" without socialization. Based on how
they were raised, this dimension is described as the degree to which people attempt to
regulate their impulses and inclinations. Indulgence and restraint are terms for comparatively
strong and weak control, respectively.

With a low score of 22 on this dimension, the United Arab Emirates can be categorized as a
Restrained society. Restrained civilizations, in contrast to Indulgent societies, place less value
on leisure time and restrict the satisfaction of their desires. Individuals with this perspective
feel that enjoying themselves is somewhat bad and that their activities are constrained by
social norms. Due to Singapore's intermediate score of 46, it is impossible to identify a
preference for this dimension.