Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions: A Critical Analysis

This assignment provides a comprehensive review of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which are widely used in international business and cross-cultural research. The document critically evaluates the four dimensions - individualism vs collectivism, power distance index, masculinity vs femininity, and uncertainty avoidance - and discusses their implications on human behavior and society. It also suggests changes to the Power Distance Index to make it more inclusive and equitable.

STUDY SKILLS
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
ASSIGNMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Culture is a manner of existence. It accommodates language, religion and unique life and it's
about continuously developing, having driving entity, which distinguish the whole life-style of a
positive institution of human beings(Bakir, and et.al.2015). However, this report will highlight
the Hofstede's four cultural dimensions that describes the lifestyle of human beings within each
of these cultures. Further, the assignment will also frame the justifications and the suggestions
regarding the dimensions which are suitable or not for the people of society and thus, will
suggest some certain modifications regarding the power distance index to provide equal
opportunities to every individual of society.
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Hofstede's cultural dimensions principle is a structure for cultural verbal exchange, proposed via
Geert Hofstede. It explains the effects of a society's subculture on the values of the members, and
the way the values relate to their behaviour(Hofstede Cultural Dimensions.2018).
This unique concept proposed four dimensions inclusive of cultural values can be
analysed: individualism-collectivism; uncertainty avoidance; Power distance and masculinity-
femininity (task-orientation versus person-orientation). These are referred to as dimensions of
tradition and each of them has been expressed on a scale that runs kind of from 0 to
100.However, each measurement has been derived by means of evaluating many, but not all,
international locations around the globe.
 Individualism And Collectivism: As per the article, the Individualism/Collectivism
factor describes the relative significance of man or woman versus organization interests.
In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Society exists most effective as an intellectual idea; inside
the actual world there are only individual people.” However, we believe that
individualism is the degree to which human beings have an impartial definition of self
and thus, a person is free to exert his personal rights and attributes like one's very own
desires, rights, and wants are taken into consideration crucial(Beugelsdijk, Kostova, and
Roth.2017). On contrary, Collectivism is the degree to which humans outline the self as
interdependent and as a member of specific corporations in preference to independent of
others. Thus, Collectivism is based on the philosophy that a man or woman has to restrict
himself inside the framework set up through the organization, or in larger phrases, the
society.
1

 Power Distance Index : As per the article, everyone is unique means that all human
beings are unequal. This measurement includes the fact that each one of the individuals in
societies are not equal, and it expresses the culture closer to those power inequalities
among the members of society. On the contrast, Individuals in power culture
demonstrates that power distance are very referent to figures of authority and typically
take delivery of an unequal distribution of power, at the same time as people in cultures
demonstrating a low power distance with ease query authority and count on to take part
in selections that affect them.
 Masculinity Versus Femininity:As per the article, A masculine society has tendencies
that are categorised as male, including power, dominance, self-assertiveness, and swelled
headed. Feminine society is traditionally notion of as having customary trends, which
includes being supportive, being solicitous, and relationship directed and Each form of
this society will respond differently, as an assemblage within the world. Nevertheless, a
masculine way of life is made of male gender roles that target values along with money,
fulfilment, and competition. These cultures include a want for power, assertiveness,
dominance, and wealth and material achievement(Tekeş,and et.al.2018). This form of
tradition believes that success is equal to money that means if the person's lifestyle is
wealthy than he is successful. Its contrary, Femininity means orientation for cooperation,
decency, being concerned for the weak and excellent of existence of life.
Justifications In Regard of Suggestions
However, from the above discussion, Collectivism is viable as it specializes in collective
'true', instead of the 'excellent' of the individual person, who genuinely forms the institution. It
promotes loyalty of a man or woman in the direction of the group that he or she belongs
to(National Culture.2019).
The objectives of a person, and that of his organization are typically one and the equal
and if in case, there exists any distinction between the two individual's aims than they are
avoided, and the desires of the groups are highly considered. Thus, the conduct of a person
within collectivism is ruled by way of guidelines, code of behaviour, social obligations, one's
own responsibilities and so on.
On contrary, Individualism is not viable as the idea of individualism doesn't trust inside
the norm that a majority can lay over their critiques on that of the minority(Minkov and et.al.
2

2017). The goals and desires of the man or woman, and that of any organization inside the
society are not been the equal, and in this kind of case, the man or woman's desires are given
more priority over that of a group. And thus, a person is free to end any disappointing kinship.
Suggestions
However, from the above evaluation, their should be changes in Power Distance Index
because the people who are in less power feel demotivated as they are treated as left out and are
not given equal powers to make their own decisions(Yuan,and Zhou.2015). Thus, every human
being from all over the world must be given equal rights to control their own life and every
person should control their own behaviour instead of exerting power on less advantages people
of society.
CONCLUSION
This project summarizes the cultural dimensions proposed by Geert Hofstede who have
introduced four factors of cultures namely : Individualism vs collectivism, power distance index,
Masculinity Versus Femininity and unavoidance practice. Further, This report have framed about
concept of three cultural dimensions that the human being follows in their daily lifestyles. On the
flip side, the assignment have commented on the justifications regarding the collectivism which
is applicable for the human beings as it considers groups goals as whole whereas, it has justified
that individualism is not viable as it focuses more on individual person objectives. Moreover, the
report have framed about the suggestions regarding the power distance index which require
changes as it doesn't treat every human being as an equal member of the society.
3

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bakir, A.and et.al., 2015. A preliminary investigation of the reliability and validity of Hofstede’s
cross cultural dimensions. In Proceedings of the 2000 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS)
Annual Conference (pp. 226-232). Springer, Cham.
Beugelsdijk, S., Kostova, T. and Roth, K., 2017. An overview of Hofstede-inspired country-level
culture research in international business since 2006. Journal of International Business
Studies.48(1).pp.30-47.
Tekeş, B. and et.al., 2018. The Relationship Between Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions,
Schwartz’s Cultural Values, and Obesity. Psychological reports, p.0033294118777965.
Minkov, M. and et.al., 2017. A revision of Hofstede’s individualism-collectivism dimension: A
new national index from a 56-country study. Cross Cultural & Strategic
Management.24(3).pp.386-404.
Yuan, F. and Zhou, J., 2015. Effects of cultural power distance on group creativity and
individual group member creativity. Journal of Organizational Behavior.36(7).pp.990-1007.
Online
Hofstede Cultural Dimensions.2018.[Online].Available
through:<https://www.toolshero.com/communication-skills/hofstede-cultural-dimensions/>
National Culture.2019.[Online].Available
through:<https://www.hofstede-insights.com/models/national-culture/>
4