Hofstede’s cultural

dimensions

TEAM of SEPUGS VASIL ANTEVSKI DREN

 Geert Hofstede
(1928-2020)

• Dutch social psychologist who did a

pioneering study of cultures across modern
nations.
• He developed a theory to understand the
differences in culture across countries that
was named after him “Hofstede’s Cultural
Dimensions Theory”.
• His theory is a framework used to understand
the differences in cultures across countries
and to discern the ways that business is done
across different cultures.
Hofstede’s 6 Cultural
Dimensions
 1. Power distance
index
• Hofstede defines it as “the extent to
which the less powerful member of
institutions and organizations
within a country expect and accept
that power is distributed
unequally”. The fundamental issue
here is how a society handles
inequalities among people.
• People in High PDI expect that
power will be distributed unequally
whereas the people in Low PDI do
not expect unequal power
distribution.
Comparison High and Low PDI

High Power Distance Culture Low Power Distance Culture

People certainly accept the unequal power In contrast, people complain about unequal
distribution in society. power distribution.

Junior people respect the senior people in the Senior and junior people respect each other
society and seniors expect obedience equally.

Discrimination is prevalent in every sector in

On the other hand, people raise voices against
the country; for example, social, government,
discrimination.
and non-government organizations.

The political leaders and managers/bosses are The political leaders and managers/bosses are
autocratic people. democratic people.
 2.
INDIVIDUALISM
VS.
COLLECTIVISM

Individualism represents a society in which individuals are expected to

take care of themselves and their self-interest.

Collectivism on the other hand represents a society in which

individuals can expect their relatives or members to look after them
and look after the interest of the group.
 3.
MASCULINITY
VS. FEMININITY

The masculinity side of this dimension

represents a preference in society for
achievement, heroism, assertiveness
and material rewards for success.

Femininity stands for a preference for

cooperation, modesty, caring for the
weak and quality of life.
4. Uncertainty
Avoidance Index
(UAI)
• This dimension expresses the
degree to which the members
of a society feel
uncomfortable with
uncertainty and ambiguity.
The fundamental issue here is
how a society deals with the
fact that the future is
unpredictable.
5. Long term orientation VS. Short term
normative orientation

• This is the degree to which a

society emphasizes short-term
or long-term goals
• People in long term orientation
are focused on the future
considering it more valuable
than the past.
• People in short term
orientation are focused on the
past and the present,
considering it more valuable
than the future.
 6. INDULG ENCE VS.
RESTRAINT

• Indulgence stands for a society

that allows relatively free
gratification of basic and human
drives related to enjoying life
and having fun,
• Restraint stands for a society
that suppresses gratification of
needs and regulates it by means
of strict social norms
North Macedonia compared to Turkey
 The 6 Cultural Dimensions in our countries

Macedonia Turkey
1. Power distance – society that accepts a 1. Power distance – Dependent, hierarchical
hierarchical order
2. Individualism vs. Collectivism –
2. Individualism vs. Collectivism – Collectivist culture
Collectivist culture
3. Masculinity vs. Femininity – Turkey is
3. Masculinity vs. Femininity – no clear on the Feminine side of the scale
dominant cultural value
4. Uncertainty avoidance – huge need for
4. Uncertainty Avoidance – people do not laws and rules
readily accept change 5. Long-term orientation – no dominant
5. Long-term orientation – people believe cultural preference
that truth depends on the situation, 6. Indulgence – vs. Restraint – a
context and time. corresponding characteristic cannot be
6. Indulgence vs. Restraint – culture of determined
restraint.
 CONCLUSION

With the rise in global business, many people

are working with, or managing, individuals and
groups from cultures other than their own.
Hofstede is keen to emphasize that the
'dimensions' are not a prescription or formula
but merely a concept or framework equipping
us with an analytical tool to help us understand
intercultural differences.
 Hope you
enjoyed the
presentation!

Thank you for

Nikolina Kirkova, MSc, Professor
of Law Subjects
your
lina.kirkova@yahoo.com attention!
September 2022