UNDERSTANDING CULTURES

 Hofstede’s Dimensions
Culture represented by values, symbols, heroes, and rituals
Power Distance
• Dependence of subordinates on the boss
• Equality/inequality of opportunity for different social
classes
• High PD=> hierarchical , centralization of power, huge gap
in salaries, status symbols, powerful can get away with
anything!
• Low PD=> flat structures, decentralized power, salary
differences small, skills equals status!
• Catholic countries, Asia, Africa, LatAm hi PD; Romance
Europe medium PD; Germanic cultures low PD
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURES
 Geography and PD
- higher latitude = low PD
- high population = high PD - richer the country =
lower the PD

Individualism V/S Collectivism

•Loose ties between people versus cohesive groups – In
and out groups important
•Collectivism = hi PD; no conflicts; how to do
•Individualism= low PD, conflicts healthy, how to learn
• Most management practices western, in- applicable in
the East!!
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURES

Masculine versus Feminine

• Gender roles distinct in masculine cultures;
in feminine society, they overlap
• Jante’s law in Scandinavia
• Professional jobs based on opportunities in
masculine cultures; based on interest in
feminine cultures
• Focus on performance v/s welfare society
• Reward for performance versus reward as
per need
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURES

Uncertainty Avoidance
Extent to which a culture feels threatened by
ambiguous/ unknown situations
LATAM, Latin Europe; Japan and Korea = hi UA
Germanic Europe = Medium UA
Asia, Africa, Scandinavia = low UA
Hi UA = hi anxiety, highly structured / rule based
organizations
Lo UA = Willingness to learn new unfamiliar skills,
key to innovations in society
 Understanding Cultures
Hall’s silent languages of culture
Language of Time
Language of Personal Space
Language of Material Possessions
Language of Friendships
Language of Agreements

High Context versus Low Context cultures

 APPLICATIONS FIRST CULTURES
 Applications – first (inductive reasoning)
 Anglo-Saxon culture, popularized by Francis
Bacon. Americans /Australians/Canadians are
foremost proponents!!
 General conclusions based on empirical / factual
observations from the field.
 Extract learning from practical examples (case-business
problems, induce general lessons from it)
 Discussions are practical; avoid
theoretical/philosophical discussions. You want to
know “how to do”
 PRINCIPLES FIRST CULTURES
 Principles first (deductive reasoning)
 Conclusion derived from general principles
 First teach general principles, use it to
develop formulae, apply to problems!
 Understand frameworks before moving to
practical applications!
 Latin Europe, Latin America, Germanic cultures=> 80%
concept, 20% applications
 Know “why” of a boss’ request before you act
 PRINCIPLES FIRST CULTURES
Friedrich Hengel’s dialectic
- Begin with a foundation argument (Thesis);
opposed by conflicting arguments (anti-thesis),
and reconcile both (syn-thesis).
- Introduce topic; build logic/argument, develop
theory/concept (Thesis), address potential
concerns with the argument (anti-thesis), and then
seek consensus of the group (syn-thesis).
 PRINCIPLES FIRST CULTURES
- In Germany, begin with parameters and
methodology, show data to show your reasoning,
then conclusion and recommendations. Key is
anti-thesis – shows interest not hostility!!
- Europe uses Napoleonic code: General
principle is applied on case by case basis
- Anglo-Saxon code: Common law - judgment in
one case is precedence for others.
 ASIAN THINKING
- Holistic thinking, think from macro to micro
v/s west micro to macro!!
- See ecosystem impact of decisions, need to
see the big picture and how it all fits together
e.g. Japanese will ask to know how their task fits
into the overall goals of the company – no
specifics.
 CULTURAL METAPHORS
- Metaphors rely on one critical phenomenon in society to
describe entire society. Danger of falling prey to stereotypes!!
- Japanese Garden (wet = Tsukiyama), Dry/Zen (Karesansui) =>
elements of Japanese society from this form, wa(harmony) +
Shi Kata (way of doing things), kata for eating, treating
foreigners => form of an activity as impt as activity!!
- Carp is a symbol of endurance/tenacity. Sheisin(spirit) -> self
discipline/duty is key. Self-development /mastery thru self-
control key.
- Strong sense of community, intuition, sensitivity to other’s
feelings; address by rank, not name!!
 CULTURAL METAPHORS
- Shintoism is nature based, animistic. Silence is valued and
used to gauge feelings. Don’t fill gaps with conversation
- Swedish Stuga: summer home; small wooden house,
reddish brown with white doors and windows. Represents
farm/village culture. Loners, no long term relationships
beyond immediate family. Living alone is common!!
- Stuga is escape to nature, live by oneself, don't do
overtime! All interactions formal, quality of life key
- Concept of Allmansratt-> everyone’s right
- Equality -> don’t strive for social status
 CULTURAL METAPHORS
American Football: high degree of specialization, intense
competition, aggression.
Each coach has 10 sub-coaches, specialist in one area e.g.
defence/passing etc!
Loser is forgotten/ignored. Each player assigned a specific
role in the game.
People in same team get different rewards
Competition/specialization is the norm!
Aggression is a desired trait
No sense of history, present alone counts!