Business Culture in Singapore: Hofstede's Dimension Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Singapore's business culture, focusing on key aspects such as family dynamics, education, regional influences, aesthetics, and dietary habits. It delves into business etiquette, including gift-giving, language, working hours, and hierarchical relationships. The core of the report examines Singapore through Hofstede's five cultural dimensions: power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation, providing insights into how these dimensions shape the nation's business environment. The report highlights the importance of meritocracy, the multicultural population, and the education system in Singapore. It also touches upon marriage culture and gender equality, providing a holistic overview of the cultural and business landscape of Singapore. The report aims to provide a deep understanding of Singapore's business culture, offering valuable information for businesses and individuals seeking to operate within this unique environment.

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Diploma of Business Administration
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Contents
1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................2
2 Cultural analysis of Singapore................................................................................................3
3 Business culture of Singapore.................................................................................................4
4. Hofstede’s five cultural dimension analysis..........................................................................5
4.1 Power distance.................................................................................................................5
4.2 Individualism....................................................................................................................6
4.3 Masculinity.......................................................................................................................6
4.4 Uncertainty Avoidance.....................................................................................................6
4.5 Long term orientation.......................................................................................................6
5 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

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1 Introduction
Culture reflects the way an individual act, belief, and performs in an organisation. Culture,
religion, values, and believes are some of the major causes of way a particular person
reacting to the stimuli. For an organisation studying culture is very important as the
employees from various cultures may have different personal and working culture. This
report will include discussion over Singapore’s culture, in order to analyse the working
culture. Reason for selecting Singapore’s culture interest in conducting business and
expanding business sin Singapore, which may reflect the difference in home and host nation,
and working with host nation personal reflect the need for the culture analysis (Alvesson,
2016).
Singapore is island city state in Southeast Asia with multicultural population and tropical
climate. The report will include key cultural aspects of Singapore, along with the work
culture that will eventually help the organisation working in this nation and employee from
this nation. It has been analysed that the people coming to Singapore for the first time with
the purpose of conducting business may consider is as apprehensive with respect to working
culture (Allen, 2017).
Seeing culture of this nation, the major aspects include attitude and beliefs. The evidence
suggest that meritocracy has been the system of this nation that ensure brightest and best,
irrespective of race, socio economic and regional background. Singapore is considered to be
secular immigrant nation. The key religions that have been reordered in the nation are
Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Personal beliefs and regional thoughts may
overcome the governmental decisions (heritage, 2019).
Singapore has found to maintain strict restrictions on culture and art performances in the
nation. Usually the art work is needed to be vetted by the government of nation in advance.
Moreover, out of bound makers are not permitted that are not defined publically. They are
generally expected to consider the sensitive topics of society that are religion, race,
corruption allegations, or nepotism among the government of nation (singapore.um.dk,
2019).

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2 Cultural analysis of Singapore
1. Family
One of the major parts that reflect the culture of the nation is the family, which reflect
that usually the trend in the nation is of nuclear family. This describe that the family
generally include parents and unmarried children that are living together. The
statistics reflect that 85 percent of the families in Singapore are nuclear. The dynamics
of the family reflect that the parental control in Singapore is like responsibility of duty
towards the children that are generally shared among father and mother. Nevertheless
the divorce rate is found to be increasing with time in this nation. This has played
prominent role for children in society and the way people behave (Bird &
Mendenhall, 2016).
2. Education
The literacy rank of this nation is quiet high that reflect a strong Singaporean
education system. This system is integration of primary school of six years, secondary
school of four years and university or vocational school later on that depend on the
preference and grades of each student. The competition in education is very fierce and
high (guidemesingapore, 2019).
3. Regional
As discussed previously various culture has been found in Singapore and reflecting
one of the most religious nation across the globe. The key relations include Hinduism,
Islam, Folk, Buddhism, and Taoism religion. Orthodox structures and doctrines have
been identified as part of Singaporean culture. Various temples have found of Indians
and Chinese like churches and mosques in public arenas. Moreover religious activities
are also conducted at homes. Moreover, street festivals are also found in ritual
calendars of various ethnic groups. However, irrespective of difference in beliefs and
religion norms of individual in Singapore, they found to live in peace. They are able
to maintain good relations with other regional background personals
(guidemesingapore, 2019).
4. Aesthetics
Aesthetics include various factors like visuals arts that may include fine arts, graphics,
and plastics. Another factor is performing arts, ballet and drama. People in this nation
going o theatre are enjoying ethnic drams like Chinese opera that initiated in 19th and

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20th century in Singapore. Moreover contemporary theatres were established in
1950’s. With change in educational policy the prominence of English language theatre
increase in 1980’s emphasising English as instructing language (Petersen & Kumar,
2015).
5. Diet and nutrition
Eating habits also reflect the cultural norms of the nation. The consumption rate of
vegetable and meats are high in this nation which include various varieties like fish,
chicken, rice and other vegetables. Moreover the statistics reflects that the
malnutrition rate among children of Singapore is quiet low. Moreover, western culture
has been influence along with Chinese cuisines, Malay cuisines and Indian cuisines.
Asian food hub is one of the key saying for Singapore and a major attraction for this
nation among individuals across the globe (Stahl & Tung, 2015).
3 Business culture of Singapore
1. Etiquette
Business etiquette is the major aspects that are different in various cultures. For
instance in case of Singapore working culture the introduction to an individual is done
in meetings where person’s title and name of family is being used. However, this may
vary with sub cultures like Malay thus not use family names. The etiquettes also
include sharing the business cards as it is symbol of respect in meetings
(singapore.um.dk, 2019).
2. Business gifts
Offering gift is one of the ways to express thankful feeling and small gifts associated
with business are given as a token of gratitude like pen, notepad and similar products.
Nevertheless, gifts like scissors are symbolised for conflicts reflecting inappropriate
gift in business culture. Moreover, gifts are received with both the hands
(guidemesingapore, 2019).
3. Language
Language is one of the most important aspect of culture as this may impact business
activities to be performed among various personas and to manage client relationship,
which reflect that conducting business with another culture require language training
or learning. The culture of Singapore reflect that English is the currently working
language, however the official languages of the nation our Tamil, Malay, and

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Chinese. Singlish is their local vernacular that is integration of local slang and English
(singapore.um.dk, 2019).
4. Working hours
Various organisations in Singapore have considered five day working per week
instead of six days. These working hours specific to some of the multinational
corporations that is working with white collar work. The working hours are 40 to 45
each week. Nevertheless the working hours may also depend on the workload that the
personal have and could be spending more hours than expected in such cases. In case
of over time given by personal do their job the rate according to their salary is
increased up to 1 and 1/2 times based on their hourly rate (Anitha, 2019).
5. Hierarchical relationships
Considering the radical relationship in the organisation, it has been identified that
74.3% of Singapore population is Chinese which usually reflect in the relationships in
films that are majorly influenced by traditional values of Chinese. Therefore the
culture formal hierarchical authority has been adopted; their employs in lower level of
this system are expected to have subordinate status. Thus the chain of command has
been adopted and the superiors can openly question the decision. Nevertheless on the
other hand it has been identified that multinational corporations in this nation thus not
reflect a major distance between levels in hierarchy. For instance in MNCs higher
level managers or seniors are willingly delegating bear responsibility and authorities
to the subordinates when it’s come to decision-making and allowing them to provide
latitude towards this agreement (Allen, 2017).
4. Hofstede’s five cultural dimension analysis
Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions reflect Singaporean culture based on five major factors
when compare to world culture (Bakir & Rose, 2015).
4.1 Power distance
Power distance of Singapore stands at 74%. This high score for power distance time mention
reflects that the country consider Syncretic approaches towards religion. One of the major
principles that have been identified through this time mention is that confusion teaching is
generally based on people’s unequal relationship and stability of society. This time mention
reflects that the power in this nation is centralised or subordinates are generally dependable

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upon their bosses and command from superiors. Thus it can be said that in business control is
expected and the attitude of the subordinates towards the manager is quite formal. Moreover
in direct communication is one of the selected flow of information within the organisation is
due to the formal communication channel (hofstede-insights, 2019).
4.2 Individualism
Individualism is reflected degree of independence among the members of the society which
reflect personal self image and for this the person teaches for Singapore culture is 20%.
Discord define that Singapore is a collective mystic society and the self image of personals
are more towards we rather than focusing on I. This reflects that the communication include
harmony among the group, open conflict are generally avoided. Moreover it also reflects that
the relationship is largely based on moral values where are yes always do not mean yes, but
due to politeness and gratitude a person may except Precedence instead of honest feedback
4.3 Masculinity
Masculinity or feminine Society is being indicated from this time mention which reflects the
behaviour of individuals in the society. Singapore score for this time mention is 48 which
reflect that it is the middle score and more on a feminine side. This reflected the culture of the
nation what is more towards softer aspects like consensus, encouraging and valuing
underdog, and sympathy. Being humble and modest is generally important upon the people
with feminine society. Moreover shared value concept has been identified in the governments
where respect for the individual and community support has been observed.
4.4 Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance dimensional reflects how a culture perceives towards unknown
situations that is the uncertainties. Singapore scores at eight points when it comes to
uncertainty avoidance die mention which reflects very low on the scale. This symbolises that
people in Singapore are mention the following various rules where is the reason is not having
need for structure but due to higher power distance index and lower uncertainty avoidance
index. For example in this nation which is said to be a fine country a person may have fined
for regulating everything (theglobaleconomy, 2019).
4.5 Long term orientation
Long-term orientation reflects that the society is maintaining link with their past in order to
deal with their situations in present and maybe in future. The score of Singapore in this

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dimensional is 72 which is quite high on the scale indicating that culture of Singapore is more
towards qualities that are supporting investment and long-term like sustained effort‘s,
perseverance thrift, slow results, ordering relationship as for the status (heritage, 2019).

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5 Conclusion
Singapore is island city state in Southeast Aisa with multicultural population. The evidence
suggests that meritocracy has been the system of this nation; this system is to encourage
people to develop to their maximum and optimised potential. Every individual in the nation
has the access to education in the nation. This city is considered to be the education hub of
Asia, which is also student from other nations attracted to gain high level education from
Singapore with world’s best education institutes. Maximum population is educated which
reflected high talented and increasing competition in personal life and jobs. Taking upon
marriage culture in the nation, it has been identified that monogamy is the system that is
being adopted that is only one marriage is allowed in the culture. However in case of Muslim
Malay, polygamy has been allowed as per their cultural norms. Equality in sexes is also
assured as women are part of authorities positioning in business. It can be said that in local
firm subordinates are expected to show gratitude and respect towards their seniors.

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References
Allen, D. (2017). Recruitment and retention across cultures. Annual Review of
Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 153.
Alvesson, M. (2016). Organizational culture. New York: Sage.
Anitha, J. (2019). Role of Organisational Culture and Employee Commitment in Employee
Retention. Journal of Management, 9(1).
Bakir, A., & Rose, G. (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, 226.
Bird, A., & Mendenhall, M. (2016). From cross-cultural management to global leadership:
Evolution and adaptation. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 115-126.
guidemesingapore. (2019). guide-to-singapore-work-culture-for-newcomers. Retrieved from
https://www.guidemesingapore.com/business-guides/immigration/get-to-know-
singapore/guide-to-singapore-work-culture-for-newcomers
heritage. (2019). index/country/singapore. Retrieved from
https://www.heritage.org/index/country/singapore
hofstede-insights. (2019). singapore. Retrieved from
https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/singapore/
Petersen, J., & Kumar, V. (2015). Marketing communication strategies and consumer
financial decision making: The role of national culture. Journal of Marketing, 79(1),
44.
singapore.um.dk. (2019). Business culture in Singapore. Retrieved from
https://singapore.um.dk/en/the-trade-council/menu-4/
Stahl, G., & Tung, R. (2015). Towards a more balanced treatment of culture in international
business studies: The need for positive cross-cultural scholarship. Journal of
International Business Studies, 46(4), 391.

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theglobaleconomy. (2019). Singapore/wb_ruleoflaw. Retrieved from
https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/Singapore/wb_ruleoflaw/