Bulgaria has a high power distance culture where there is an accepted hierarchical structure. It is a collectivist society where loyalty and strong relationships are valued over individual goals. Bulgaria also has a relatively feminine culture where consensus is preferred, equality and quality of life are emphasized, and conflicts are resolved through compromise. Bulgaria has high uncertainty avoidance, meaning society fosters rules and order to reduce uncertainty and ambiguity.

1. BULGARIA
CULTURAL ASPECTS
According to Geert Hofstede’s 5 Dimensions

2. High Power
Distance
Low Power
Distance

3. Power Distance
the way that the less powerful members
of organizations within a country expect
that power is distributed unequally

4. Power Distance
Bulgaria
80 •people accept a hierarchical order
in which everybody has a place
60 •centralization is popular
•subordinates expect to be told
40 what to do
20 •the ideal boss is a benevolent
autocrat
0
Bulgaria USA China

5. Individualism
Collectivism

6. Individualism
the degree of interdependence a society
maintains among its members

7. Individualism
Bulgaria
100 •a collectivistic society
80 •loyalty is paramount
•society fosters strong relationships
60
•offence leads to shame and loss of
40 face
20 •hiring and promotion decisions take
account of the employee’s in-group
0
Bulgaria USA China

8. Masculinity
Femininity

9. Masculinity/Femininity
what motivates people:
wanting to be the best (masculine) or
liking what you do (feminine)

10. Masculinity/Femininity
Bulgaria
•a relatively feminine society
70
60
•the focus is on “working in order to
live”
50
40 •managers strive for consensus
30 •people value equality, solidarity and
20 quality in their working lives
10 •conflicts are resolved by
0 compromise and negotiation
Bulgaria USA China •focus is on well-being, status is not
shown

11. High
Uncertainty
Low
Uncertainty

12. Uncertainty Avoidance
the extent to which people feel
threatened by unknown situations and
have created beliefs and institutions that
try to avoid these

13. Uncertainty Avoidance
Bulgaria
• intolerant of unorthodox behavior
100
and ideas
80 • there is an emotional need for rules
60 • time is money
40
• people have an inner urge to be
busy and work hard
20 • precision and punctuality are the
0 norm
Bulgaria USA China • innovation may be resisted
• security is an important element in
individual motivation