Masculinity vs. Femininity
Hofstede’s Framework
Power Distance
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Uncertainty Avoidance
Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation
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Geert Hofstede found managers and employees varied on five value dimensions of national culture.
Power distance is the extent to which a society accepts that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally. Low distance occurs when there is relatively equal power between those with status and wealth and those without. Higher distance occurs when there is unequal power distribution between groups.
The second component in Hofstede’s framework is individualism vs. collectivism. Individualism is the degree to which people prefer to act on their own rather than in a group. Collectivism is the idea that people operate within a social framework where they help others out and they expect help when they need it.
Hofstede offers a third component in his model that distinguishes between masculinity and femininity. Masculinity is the extent to which the culture prefers achievement, power, and control versus characteristics that reflect little differentiation between male and female roles.
The fourth component is uncertainty avoidance. This is the extent to which a society is willing to live with uncertainty and ambiguity. High uncertainty avoidance cultures will try to avoid ambiguous situations as much as possible. Lower uncertainty avoidance cultures do not mind ambiguity.
The final component is time orientation. Long-term orientation societies will emphasize the future and what it takes to get to the future they desire – thrift and persistence. Short-term orientation societies will emphasize the here and now.
In recent years, Hofstede has proposed an additional dimension, indulgence versus restraint. This refers to the emphasis on enjoying life and having fun versus regulating conduct through strict social norms.