Hofstede identified four key dimensions of cultural differences - power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs collectivism, and masculinity vs femininity - based on a large study of employees at an American multinational company across 50 countries. Power distance relates to unequal distribution of power in societies. Uncertainty avoidance relates to a society's tolerance of ambiguous situations. Individualism vs collectivism relates to the strength of social frameworks and prioritization of self vs group. Masculinity vs femininity relates to assertiveness and social gender roles. Hofstede's work provides insight into how national cultures vary along these dimensions and their implications.

1. Dimensions of Cultural
Difference

2. Introduction
A pioneer in the field of cultural difference and
their implications for styles of leadership is
Hofstede (Prof. Geert Hofstede) (1991).
Works
how values in the workplace are influenced by
culture
There are national and regional cultural
groupings that affect the behaviour of societies
and organizations, and that these are persistent
across time

3. The Cultural Dimensions - Background
• In the mid-sixties (1967 - 1973) Hofstede under
took research in the field of national cultural
differences.
• Circa 116,000 employees of a major US
multinational company across 50 countries were
involved.
• From the data Hofstede derived the conclusion
that 4 major dimensions could describe a
national culture:
•

4. Four (4) dimensions
He compares national Cultures in terms of
their difference on four dimensions:
• Power Distance
• Uncertainty Avoidance
• Individualism verses Collectivism
• Masculinity and Femininity

5. Power Distance
• This dimension measures ‘equality of power
distribution’.
• Power distance focuses on how a society deals
with inequalities among people in physical,
educational, political & economic terms.
• Indicates the extent to which a society accepts
the fact that power in institutions (political,
religious, economic, & cultural) is distributed
unequally; reflected in values of the most and
least powerful.

6. Uncertainty Avoidance
• This dimension relates the extent to which countries
establish formal rules & fixed patterns of life to
establish, maintain and enhance security.
• The extent to which a society feels threatened by
uncertain & ambiguous situations and demonstrates a
belief in absolute truths, etc.
• A high degree of uncertainty avoidance is
characterized by high levels of anxiety &
aggressiveness creating an inner urge to work hard.
• High uncertainty avoidance cultures like to control the
future via ‘dogmatism (rigidity)’ & ‘authoritarianism’

7. Individualism versus Collectivism
This dimension refers to what degree people
feel they are supposed either to care for
themselves or immediate families or be cared
for by themselves or immediate families(loose
social framework) as against being part of a
much larger group with a tight social frame
work. (in-groups and out-groups)

8. Masculinity vs. Femininity
This dimension expresses the extent to which
the dominant values in society are ‘masculine’
(assertive, tough, acquisitive, materialist,
focused on ‘success’, socially clearly-defined
gender roles) or on the other hand ‘feminine’:
concerned with quality of life issues,
overlapping gender roles, etc.

9. Thanks for your time
• Have a nice cup of tea with our own
expense???
• HAHAHAHAH