An Analysis: Contrast and Comparison of Australian and UK Cultures

This essay undertakes a comparative analysis of Australian and UK cultures, focusing on the cultural dimensions outlined by Geert Hofstede. The paper begins by defining culture and its components, emphasizing the role of norms, behaviors, and beliefs. It then introduces Hofstede's framework, specifically examining masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation dimensions. The essay contrasts the two cultures based on these dimensions, highlighting differences in time management, lifestyles, communication styles, and attitudes. It also explores similarities, such as the lack of close ties with extended families and a shared aversion to unequal power distribution. The analysis includes how these cultural aspects influence business environments, with considerations for individualism and its potential impact on teamwork. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural differences for interpreting individual behaviors and fostering effective interactions.

Running head: CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
Culture refers to the norms and social behaviour that are found in the human
society and also includes the knowledge, arts, beliefs, capabilities and customs. Culture
is therefore made up of the beliefs, values, underlying assumptions, behaviours and
attitudes that are shared by a group of people. The main aim of the paper is to compare
the culture of Australia with that of UK on the basis of the cultural dimensions defined by
Hofstede. The paper will therefore discuss about the definition of the cultural dimension
on which the cultures will be compared and contrasted, identification of the cultural
differences, similarity between the cultures, some generalisations that can be made on
the basis of comparison (Block and Walter 2017).
The cultural dimensions of the Hofstedes cultural dimension framework, that will
be used for the purpose of this study includes- the masculinity dimension, uncertainty
avoidance dimension and long term orientation dimension (Hofstede 2003). According
to Hofstede there are six major dimension upon which the culture of country varies and
these includes- power distance, long term orientation, uncertainty avoidance,
masculinity dimension, indulgence and individualism dimensions. Therefore the
comparison and contrast between the UK and the Australian cultures will be done on
the basis of some of these dimensions. The masculinity dimension discusses about
whether a society of a country is driven mainly by competition, success and
achievement, strives to be the best in the field or if the society is driven by better quality
of life, care for others. Countries that score a higher marks in masculinity have a more
masculine culture and that which score a low have a more feminine culture. On the
other hand, the uncertainty avoidance includes- the thinking of the society related to
their future whether they are open to changes or become anxious with change. A higher
score in this dimension will mean that the society of a country avoids any changes and
get anxious in case a change occurs on the other hand countries with a lower score
shows that they are open to change. The long term orientation dimension discusses
about the way each society maintains links with its past while they are dealing with
present and future challenges. On the basis of this, societies can be of two main types
normative and pragmatic (Hofstede 2009).

2CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
Some of the major differences between the two cultures of-Australia and UK
includes- the way the two culture manages their times, there is differences based on
their lifestyles, there is a difference in their communication style and also their attitudes
(Khlif 2016). British people have value of individual liberty, tolerance for other beliefs
and values and mutual respect. On the other hand, the Australian have values of
freedom of religion, respect for individuals dignity and compassionate and believe in fair
play. Some of the major similarities includes- that both the cultures do not consider
close toes or bonds with the society or their distant families. The Australian people and
people of UK are only concerned about themselves and their close family members
(Ogbu 2017). Moreover both the Australian and people from UK are against any type of
unequal distribution of power I the society or organization. They want equality for all in
all fields.
One of the major similarity between the two cultures includes- their
multiculturalist and therefore both the culture respects cultural diversity. Some of the
major differences between the culture of Australia and UK as has been identified from
the Hofestede’s culture dimension framework includes differences based on- long term
orientation, masculinity and uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede Insights 2020). The
country Australia has scored a high score in masculinity that means the society is
majorly driven by success and achievement, competition, an inner drive for being the
best in all fields. Australian are very proud of their achievements in life. On the other
hand, the score is higher for UK which means that they are even more competitive as
compared to Australians. Further the uncertainty avoidance of the Australians is
intermediary or they are neither afraid of changes nor are they always ready for
changes. While the culture of UK has a lower score for uncertainty avoidance and
therefore the people of UK are comfortable even in ambiguous situations. Further the
culture of Australia has score a low long term orientation which shows that they have a
normative culture as against a pragmatic culture of the UK.
Both the societies have a lower preference for unequal distribution of power and
therefore they do not prefer hierarchy (Minkov 2017). If both show unacceptability to
unequal distribution they can be managed in a better way when they are not forced to

3CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
follow hierarchy in global business context. Each employees will be empowered so that
they can communicate effectively, informal relationships are preferred and all these
factors will shape up the global business environment. Both the societies have a higher
consideration for their individualism. This further means that there will be lower power of
unions and there may be a detrimental impact on their performance in teams as they
may find it difficult to work with others.
Therefore from the above, discussion, it has been understood that it is necessary
to understand different cultures because that can help in understanding the behaviour of
an individuals. This is so because individuals behave according to the norm and the
values and belief underlying their culture.

4CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF CULTURE’S
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