DIMENSIONS OF CULTURAL VARIABILITY

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DIMENSIONS OF CULTURAL VARIABILITY
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FRAMEWORKS FOR STUDYING
CROSS-CULTURAL VARIABILITY

• Halls concepts of time, space and context
• Hofstedes value dimensions
• Trompenaars value dilemmas
• ? Cultural Dimensions

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HALLS CONCEPTS

• Polychronic versus monochronic time orientation
• Space
• High versus low context of information

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HOFSTEDES VALUE DIMENSIONS

• Individualism versus Collectivism
• Power Distance
• Uncertainty Avoidance
• Masculinity versus Femininity

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Individualism pertains to societies in which the
ties between individuals are loose everyone is
expected to look after himself or herself and
his or her immediate family. Collectivism as its
opposite pertains to societies in which people
form birth onwards are integrated into strong,
cohesive in-groups which throughout peoples
lifetime continue to protect them in exchange for
unquestioning loyalty.
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Power distance- amount of respect and deference
between those in superior and subordinate
positions
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Uncertainty Avoidance- the focus on planning
and the creation of stability as a way of
dealing with lifes uncertainties
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Masculinity- emphasis on dominance,
achievement, recognition, task-orientation
Femininity - emphasis on Harmony,
co-operation, social relationships
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TRIANDIS CULTURAL PATTERNS

• Individualism-collectivism
• Cultural looseness-tightness
• Cultural Complexity

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Individualist culturesI consciousness,
prioritizing personal goals, independence Collec
tivist cultures We consciousness, relational,
group oriented
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Cultural tightness cultures where norms are
clear, deviations are prohibited Cultural
complexity developed, industrialized, urbanized
societies
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TROMPENAARS DIMENSIONS

• Individualism-Communitarianism
• Universalism-Particularism
• Ascription Oriented- Achievement Oriented
• Diffuse-Specific

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TROMPENAARS DIMENSIONS

• Neutral- Affective
• Internal-External control
• Past, present, future time orientation

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ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS

• Direct versus indirect style of communication
• Saving face
• Focus on past, presence or future
• Matter-of-fact versus building up social
  relationships
• Action versus results
• Problem-solving styles

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I. Attitudes towards Work I. Attitudes towards Work I. Attitudes towards Work I. Attitudes towards Work
Power Distance High ? Low
2. Uncertainty Avoidance Ready to take risks ? Sceptical
3. Attitudes Performance ? Quality of life
4. Key to Productivity Facts ? Harmony
5. Problem-solving Style Results ? Action
II. Social Relationships II. Social Relationships II. Social Relationships II. Social Relationships
1. Social Relations Less important ? Very important
2. Significance of Group Low ? High
III. Time Orientation III. Time Orientation III. Time Orientation III. Time Orientation
1. Concept of Time Monochronic ? Polychronic
2. Time and Other People One after another ? All at once
3. Orientation Past ? Future
IV. Communication IV. Communication IV. Communication IV. Communication
Style direct ? indirect
2. Context Low ? High
3. Saving Face Less important ? More important
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QUESTIONS

• Why are dimensions of cultural variability
  important?
• Does New Zealands positioning on
  Individualism,Uncertainty Avoidance,
• Masculinity, Power Distance surprise you?