Individuals in Society (FYS001-0) Anglo-French Culture Presentation

This presentation explores the cultural dimensions of British and French societies, using Hofstede's framework to analyze power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, and their impacts. It highlights challenges such as low morale, lower productivity, and potential conflicts arising from cultural differences, particularly in management styles. The presentation also examines the benefits of infrastructure projects like the Channel Tunnel. It identifies the differences in management styles between the two nations. The presentation also gives insights into the challenges and solutions for these two nations in the context of their cultural values.

Individuals in Society

INTRODUCTION
This presentation is going to show some different dimensions of culture in which different
nations such as British and French operate. It will also show some challenges which both
nations have to face due to their culture and ways of performing.

Hofstede's cultural dimensions by British
and French nation
Hofstede's cultural dimension is an effective framework that shows effects of a society's
culture on all members' value as all these values related to human behaviour. As per this
theory there are mainly 4 cultural values which are being adopted by 2 nations such as:
British and French. Different dimensions are described as below:
Power distance: In the context of power distance it can be said that it shows a degree to
which the less powerful members of an organization or different countries accept as well as
expect that the power is distributed unequally. It is stated that French managers have high
competition units and also provided less feedback's for mutual adjustments than British
managers. It shows that French managers have less ineffective and high power distance
than British.

Cont...
Uncertainty avoidance/ Acceptance: Uncertainty avoidance shows tolerance power of
different societies for ambiguity. Those societies or organizations who have high degree
then they opt for stiff codes of behaviors and a lower degree shows more acceptance of
differing thoughts. British have high degree whereas, French managers have lower degree
as they have more control over their work but have less mutual understanding.
Masculine/feminine: Masculinity shows a preference of male workers in the society for
achievement and material rewards for success. On the other hand, in femininity, respective
societies tend to display different values as they share caring views. British is masculinity
type in which they are recognized by encouragement and French is femininity type in
which all members are being valued.

Challenges faced by British and French
and ways to overcome them.
Low morale: Due to different power distance, it is stated that British managers have high
power distance due to which power of controlling is distributed unequally among members.
This can create the problem of low morale as people feel discriminated.

Cont...
Lower productivity: As per the other element of cultural dimensions, French and British
focus on individualism rather collectivism in which all members of an organization have
their personal way of performing activities and goals which can sometimes lower the
productivity and can have negative impacts on relationship.

Cont...
Conflicts: In the uncertainty avoidance and acceptance it is stated that British managers
have mutual understanding and ability to accept risks and diversity. Whereas, French do
not consider this they have more control but still have lack mutual understanding which
can create situation of conflicts.

Cont...
Private and personal benefits: Channel tunnel is consider as the beneficial infrastructure
project. It gives high speed passenger services between London and Paris which is
beneficial for customers and business as it cut cost and time.

REFERENCES
Bauer, F., Matzler, K. and Wolf, S., 2016. M&A and innovation: The role of integration and cultural differences—A central European
targets perspective. International Business Review. 25(1). pp.76-86.
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.
Kaasa, A., Vadi, M. and Varblane, U., 2016. A new dataset of cultural distances for European countries and regions. Research in
International Business and Finance. 37. pp.231-241.
Kim, S., 2017. National culture and public service motivation: investigating the relationship using Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions.
International Review of Administrative Sciences. 83(1_suppl), pp.23-40.
Zhang, C., 2019. Mobile Borders and Turbulent Mobilities: Mapping the Geopolitics of the Channel Tunnel. Geopolitics. 24(3). pp.728-
755.

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