Australia & Germany: A Cross-Cultural Analysis Reflective Journal

This reflective journal presents a cross-cultural analysis of Australia and Germany, focusing on personal experiences and observations during a study tour. The journal explores pre-tour expectations, daily observations, and post-tour critical reflections on various cultural aspects, including education, social interactions, business practices, family life, and acceptance of cultural diversity. The analysis incorporates Hofstede's 6D Model to evaluate both countries across dimensions like Power Distance, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-Term Orientation. The journal provides insights into the cultural nuances of Australia and Germany, highlighting both similarities and differences in their societal values and norms. Desklib offers this document, along with other study resources, to support students in their academic endeavors.

Running Head : CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
Cross Cultural Analysis
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
The Insight
Introduction
Cross cultural analysis is basically the comparative studies specializing in the domain
of the anthropology further more consisting of psychology, sociology and political science
among multiple of culture for the examination of the scope of the nature of the human and the
test of the hypotheses about the culture and the behavior of the human (North and Fiske
2015). While there have been various categories of research, the cross cultural analutical
research is basically the culture comparative research targeting the cultural differences among
the modern societies. The essay explains a criticial reflection on the cross culture analysis of
the culture of Australia and Germant highlighting the major issues and personal insight
concerning the issues in the light of the dimensions.
Describe
This essay illustrates my personal expression, thoughts and feelings regarding the
comparison among the culture of Australia and Germany. I hve chosen this research to
identify the social, psychological amd the cultural charecteristics of both the countries and
compare them with the cultural dimensions or the indicators.
Pre tour
The culture of the country of the Australia is primarily the culture of the west that is
influenced by the Britain but also have the input of the aboriginal people (Arthur 2017). I
expected a lot more similarity of the culture of Australia with that of the Germany. The
culture of the Germany on the other hand from its very roots has been shaped by the terms of

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
secularity. Historically called as the country of the poets and the thinkers, Germany is one of
the countries listed in the Wold Heritage List.
Prior to the conduction of my tour to the two different countries and studying the
cultural factors inside them ,some of the factors or the issues that I have planned to identify
and address or for the creation of the furthermore analysis are the system of the education
system, the pattern of the social interactions, the pattern of the business practices, the family
life and the prelevance and acceptance of the cultural diversity among the two countries.
During Tour
In this section I would explain the daily records of my observation regrading both the
cultures.Firsly I would explain the facts and the statisctics of the country of Australia.
Located in the Oceania, in the continent among the South pacific and the Indina ocean, this
country’s climate is generally arid to semiarid in nature. The temperature in the east and the
south is tropical in nature. The country consist of the ethnic makeup of Asian of 7%,
Caucasian and aboriginal of the rest of the population. With the religious variety of Anglican,
roman catholic , christina and others, the country of Australia consist of the government of
democratic, federal state and the british monarch as sovereign (Raman et al. 2017).While
English serves as the primary language. Yet the colorful accent, volacbulary system in
prevelant in the country of Australia.
On the other hand, what I felt is that the language, the people and the traditions makes
the culture of the german most unique.Holding a key role at the history of the Europe, the
culture and the people call themselves the Deutschland or the country of the thinkers and the
poets. I found some of the most essential facts of the culture of the german which held its
roots from the beginning of the millennium.I found out that though commonly called as
Germany, the country is mostly known as the Deutschlad, Germania in latin and Almanya in

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
the Turkish language. Furthermore I learned that there hs been lots of stereotypes rgerading
the germans, most of which are not true.
Interpret
Issues investigated: The major issues that I investigated while traveling in both the countries
and the cultures aretheir languages, their educational background and their cuisine, their
social interactions, their familylife including the sports, celebrations, art, literature, music,
their business practices and their nature towardsthe acceptance of the prevalent cultural
diversity.
Experiences of the education system.
In the case of the Germany, the education system of the country lies within the
primary responsibility of the state. Education plays a very important role in this country and
also to the government of the country due to the fact of the second oldest population and their
belive that even by the year of 20260, the best outcomes would be the result of the
diminishing working age population (Schmitz 2017). The country focuses mainly on the
internalization of the education and education has been declared as compulsory by the
government.
As per the Australian context, the importantce of education is somewhat reluctant.The
parents of the children in thr country does not tend to instil the respect towards the
essentiality of the norms of the ducation, often ending up for a uphill battle for the teachers of
the school. Furthermore I noticed that the cuts in the bidget and the increasing costs of the
degrees and the schools, the educational system of the country of Australia is falling behind.
Social interactions

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As per the context of the german social interactions and the customs, I noticed some
of the major facts regarding the hard exterior shell of the culture of the germans. Some of the
facts which I gathered while my traveland my staying are as follows. The germans are
generally charecterised by great degree of the reverse (Mesman, van IJzendoorn and Sagi-
Schwarz 2016). They likes to treat politely but not warmly and do jot tend to appreciate
jokes, levity and the ironic wits. They tend to be very polite and gentle mannered and tend to
err on the side of the conservatisms. They prefer to make direct eye contacts and form shaling
of the hands with formla greetings like Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt.The first names of the
german people are generally initiated with the Du and they love to maintain etiquettes
withforeign people through out.
As per the social interactions of the Australia, the people of Australia are very much
down to earth and are always mindful for not giving the impressions. The peole of the
country tends to value authencity and sincerity and do not tend to draw attention and distruct
people. They maintain a friendly attire with the people. Furthermore Australians places a very
high value over the relationships and carry positive mindsets everytime (Mesman, van
IJzendoorn and Sagi-Schwarz 2016).
Business practices in general
While initiating my tour through the german culture I found out some of the major
factors how the values and the attitudes forms the basis of the foundation of the country’s
culture and forms the building vlocks for the development of the business scene. The
germans are the masters on the planning and they tend to provide each and every aspect in
utmost detailing (Kessler 2018).I realized that the people of the Germany belive in the
maintainenec of the clear lines of the demarcation of the business decisions since tey do not

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
prefer sudden changes, The german people do not appreciate humour or negligency in the
context of the business.
Australiasn, as observed by me are not so much formals and they prfere casual nd
relaxed greetings. Australians are very random decision makers and they do not tend to have
any sort of long standing relations before initiating business. They are direct and use colorful
languages and out of the box ideas for glorifieng their business.
Family life.
I realized that the family is very important for the Germans and most of the germand
households consists of nuclear families.Among the germasn, the extended families generally
lives separately.However in the current times as per my insight most of the people of the
Germany chooses not to have children and not toget married. In the cuture of the Germany,
there has been the rising acceptance of the LGBTQ realtionships (Mesman, van IJzendoorn
and Sagi-Schwarz 2016). One of the most satisfying factor that I found in the german tour is
that the gender does not dictate the role or the duty pf any person in their family life.
The culture and the family life of the Australians on the other hand is based on the
equality, enjoyment of the life, the family and the humour. The Australian values are
embraced by the newcomers for the contunuty for molding in the country. The women aer
aften looked down upon in the family and are expected to look after the family and raise the
kids rather than going out for employment. The Australian family consists of the joint
families since they love to value the eralyions and love to live with all the generations
together.
Acceptance and prevalence of cultural diversity

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Most of the germans appreciates the immigrants and the people from the diversed
culture to adapt towards the mainstraen society. Many prefers the people to merge with the
culture while many believe in respecting thri own cultures as well. The young population of
the Germany are more open towards the initiation of the changes and initiates to used the
cultural diversity as an oppertnity for the societal development of the country.
According to my personal insight, Australia has been historically known for the
accepting and celebrating cultural diversity despite the concept of the fair go attitude among
the Austraians. This multicultural country has been badly reputed mostly about not
supporting multiculturasim which is quiete not true.
Post Tour - Crticial reflection on observations regrading issues identified
Evaluate and Plan
Through out the tour I realized some of the major factors and the norms of the cultural
practices of both the Germany and Australia which are essential. I noted the down certain
factors relate dto education, customs, family life, business ettiquettes, diversityacceptance
and the ature of the people of both the culture to draw some of the essentail comaparison. The
Greet Hofstede’s cultural dimensions highlight the six main issues that the society requires to
anluze the organizations itself. The dimensions of the culture includes Indulgence Versus
Restraint, Power Distance, Masculinity Versus Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance Index,
Long-Term Orientation Versus Short-Term Normative Orientation and Indulgence Versus
Restraint.
Through the lens of 6D Model, I would initially analyze the country of Australia and
Germany.

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
Power Distance - The country scores 36 on this dimension . This is because among the
organizations of the Australia, hierarchy is generally established for the superiors and the
convinince that are accessible and the maagers of the Australia tend to rely on the individual
employees and the expertise team.Communication is direct, informal and participative (Geert
Hofstede 2018).
Germans are among the lower power distant countries with a score of 35. The country os
highy decentralized and supported by strong middle class.
Individualism - Australia scored 90 on this particular dimension. This is because this is a
highly individualistic culture. Australia has a loosly knotted society with immediate families
and slef reliant employees (Geert Hofstede 2018).
The German society socre 67 being a truly individualist one. The idea of the self actualization
is readily followed here.
Masculinity Versus Femininity - In Australia, the masculine scre higher while the feminine
targeting the dominent values in the society. The score for this dimension is 61.
With a score of 66, the German can be considered to be driven to masculine society though
the role of an individual is not decided by the gender.
Uncertainty Avoidance Index- Australia Score 51 in this index (Geert Hofstede 2018). This
refkects the ambiguity and the anxiety in the cultures and the way the society deals with the
fact.
German ranks among the countries with uncertaininty avoidant of 65 rate. The score is high
and the people prefer to compensate for their higher rate of unceratininty by their expertise.

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
Long-Term Orientation Versus Short-Term Normative Orientation - Australia scores 21 in
this index. It have a longterm normative culture. The people in these societies tends to have
strong concetion with the estanlishment of the truths.
The germans score 83 targeting a pragmatic country and the abilities for the adapting of the
traditions (Geert Hofstede 2018).
Indulgence Versus Restraint – Australia is an indulgeny country with the overall score of 71
in this index.
On the other hand with a low score of 40 in this tool, the german culture is particularly
restrined in nature.
Conclusion
The essay thus explained my criticial reflection on the cross culture analysis of the
culture of Australia and Germant highlighting the major issues and personal insight
concerning the issues in the light of the dimensions.

CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
References
Arthur, P.L. ed., 2017. Migrant Nation: Australian Culture, Society and Identity. Anthem
Press.
Geert Hofstede. 2018. Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede on culture. [ONLINE]
Available at: https://geerthofstede.com. [Accessed 23 December 2018].
Kessler, S.J., 2018. Mixed Feelings: Tropes of Love in German Jewish Culture by Katja
Garloff. German Studies Review, 41(1), pp.166-168.
Mesman, J., van IJzendoorn, M.H. and Sagi-Schwarz, A., 2016. Cross-cultural patterns of
attachment. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications, third ed.
Guilford, New York, NY, pp.852-877.
North, M.S. and Fiske, S.T., 2015. Modern attitudes toward older adults in the aging world:
A cross-cultural meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 141(5), p.993.
Raman, S., Ruston, S., Irwin, S., Tran, P., Hotton, P. and Thorne, S., 2017. Taking culture
seriously: Can we improve the developmental health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal
children in out‐of‐home care?. Child: care, health and development, 43(6), pp.899-905.
Schmitz, H. ed., 2017. German Culture and the Uncomfortable Past: Representations of
National Socialism in Contemporary Germanic Literature. Taylor & Francis.

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Appendix