Essay on Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions in International Business

This essay delves into Hofstede's cultural dimensions, a framework for understanding the impact of a society's culture on the values of its members, particularly within an organizational context. The essay critically evaluates the importance of Hofstede's model, examining its dimensions such as individualism/collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, and their influence on international business operations. It emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt to different cultural values to succeed globally, offering suggestions for cultural dimensions and highlighting how companies can navigate cultural differences to achieve their goals. The essay also discusses the role of technology and communication in shaping organizational culture and employee satisfaction, concluding that a positive and adaptable organizational culture, informed by Hofstede's insights, is crucial for business success in the global market.

Study Skills for Higher
Education

Abstract
Culture is important for each organisation because it gives a direction for how think and
behave. In this, Hofstede's cultural dimension model must be used because it will help in
describing effects of a society's culture on values of its members. This type of values mainly
related to behaviour, following a structure or framework derived from factor analysis. In this
article, different number of suggestion are made related to culture which will help an
organisation in its growth and success.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY .................................................................................................................................1
Critically evaluate the suggestion and describes importance of Hofstede's cultural dimension.1
Importance of Hofstede's cultural dimension on the international business and justification of
the suggestions. ..........................................................................................................................2
Suggestions on the cultural Dimensions.....................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................3
.........................................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Culture is an social behaviour and the norms according to which individuals in the
society behave. Organisational culture encompasses the values and the behaviour and principles
within which the members performs their business activities (Assiter, 2017). Under this
assignment essay is provided on the Hofstede's cultural dimension which helps in critically
evaluating the the suggestion and importance of this culture model would be discussed.
MAIN BODY
Culture prevailing in the organisation assist the employee to work according to the norms
and values of the organisation. Culture define its five elements as values, rituals, symbols, beliefs
and thought process. These greatly assist the companies to achieve their goals within definite
time period. Hofstede's culture dimension determines four cultural dimensions that have a impact
on the business environment. It includes individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty
avoidance and masculinity/femininity. This factors greatly helps in the understanding of the
culture prevailing in different countries and allows the company to properly understands the
culture and perform its business activities in a effective manner.
Critically evaluate the suggestion and describes importance of Hofstede's cultural dimension
Every organisation has certain values and beliefs which influences employees to work
accordingly. Hofstede's focuses on the individualism and collectivism which is based on the
concept that there are employees within the organisation who wants to work individually for
their self interest only and collectivism focuses on achieving goals through group harmony.
Moreover uncertainty avoidance refers that to how organisations respond towards the
uncertainty. For example Britishers avoids risk taking and place emphasis more on working
according to the accepted standards (Boud and et. al., 2014..). But on the other hand individuals
from Canada are risk taking and innovative in nature to achieve positive outcomes. Hence it is
provided that values and norms are the behavioural expectations and make the employees to
behave in a desirable manner. Therefore changes in the communication should be adopted by the
organisation especially on social media tools which have a impact on the individuals and
organisations. This has positive impact on the working of the organisations and attracts lot of
customers towards the company. Moreover it creates a positive environment at the work place,
and reduces conflicts.
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It is evaluated from the Hofstede's cultural model that values and beliefs greatly helps in
the proper functioning of the organisation and assist the companies in achieving desirable
outcomes. This model explains that when power is distributed unequally in the society it may
lead to dissatisfaction among the employees and impacts their performance in the work,
moreover when companies avoids uncertainties it reduces their ability to compete in this ever
changing environment. This states the importance of culture in the organisation. Hence it is
evaluated that organisation should prevail positive culture within the organisation to do business
tasks in a effective manner (Edwards and et. al., 2014). It is recommended that change is
required in the culture of the organisation which companies like KFC, McDonald's are successful
in most countries because they are prevailing change in their working environment culture and
achieving success globally.
Importance of Hofstede's cultural dimension on the international business and justification of the
suggestions.
Business Organisations should adopt positive culture to achieve success globally as the
company deals with diversity of employees and customers in different countries. Under this
situation Hofstede's describes and plays emphasis on cultural values of people in different
countries ans allows business to expand globally and make them according to the culture
prevailing in the country. As if companies wants to expand its business in US this model
explains that companies over there has adopted participative style of management which
superiors and subordinates are placed equally. On the other hand when company wants to expand
their business operations in Canada (The Importance of Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture, 2019)
This model explains there is a positive culture prevailing over there, individuals are highly
innovative and risk taking to achieve their desirable goals. This allows company to properly
expand their business operations and adopts to the culture of the country. This will allow
business organisation to sustain in this competitive environment for a long period of time.
Organisations expanding business operations globally should determine that employees should
work according to culture of respective country (Terry, 2015).
Organisational values are therefore different from the culture of the respective country.
When companies expand their business globally firstly they have to identify the culture of the
individuals regarding purchasing their product and service, then expanding company should
determine the culture of the country while regulating its business practices in a effective manner.
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It has mentioned in the article that national culture is important in marketing for organisations
and understanding consumer behaviour. This is correct to the belief that nations culture helps the
companies to provide goods according to their consumer behaviour and maintains it
sustainability in the market for a long period of time. Hence it has been suggested that change
should be made in the culture of the organisation in order to attract more employees and make
them to do productive work. This will allow to function its business activities in a proper manner
(Wernersbachand et. al., 2014). Thus Hofstede's model of cultural dimension helps in the proper
regulation of international business. Moreover prior to the facilities of social media and internet
company used to communicate via proper hierarchy level in the organisation, but with the
emergence of Internet company used to share information via email and other tools and
information reaches to all the employees within the short period of time. This also reduce power
distance and maintains high level of satisfaction among employees.
Suggestions on the cultural Dimensions
Culture plays a vital role in the proper functioning of business activities and therefore
assist in achieving goals of the organisation. Hofstede's cultural dimension model helps the
business organisation to understand the prevailing culture in the country and accordingly perform
its work. Therefore it is been suggested that as people of United States prevails a individualistic
culture, their main focus is on individual achievement and self interest. Here companies should
provide them with power to take decisions regarding their work which indirectly helps in the
attainment of organisational goals. Moreover they should be motivated to work collectively
along with group harmony which will assist in achieving personal goals along with
organisational goals. It is also been suggested that companies should not avoid uncertainty
avoidance they should become risk taking and innovative in nature so as to achieve their
desirable outcomes and maintains long term sustainability in the competitive market place.
Therefore when company would adopt to culture of the respective country, it would maintains its
profitability level and creates a harmonious work place environment.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that culture greatly plays a important role in
the performance of the business activities and achieving success through out its period.
Companies when expanding its business operations globally should work according to the
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culture prevailing in the respective country. This will allow them to attract employees and
customers towards the company. Moreover it is also recommended to the company to make
changes in their product and services according to the country's environmental culture. Therefore
Hofstede's cultural dimension greatly helps the companies to expand their business operations
globally and achieves success.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Assiter, A., 2017. Transferable skills in higher education. Routledge.
Boud and et. al., 2014. Peer learning in higher education: Learning from and with each other.
Routledge.
Edwards and et. al., 2014. Learning and study strategies: Issues in assessment, instruction, and
evaluation. Elsevier.
Terry, C., 2015, March. Media multitasking, technological dependency, & metacognitive
awareness: A correlational study focused on pedagogical implications. In Society for
Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 1304-
1311). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
Wernersbach and et. al., 2014. Study Skills Course Impact on Academic Self-Efficacy. Journal
of Developmental Education.37(2). p.14.
Online
The Importance of Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture, 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://sites.psu.edu/global/2015/04/25/the-importance-of-hofstedes-dimensions-of-
culture/>
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