LSC Study Skills: Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Evaluation Essay

This essay critically evaluates the suggestions made in an article concerning Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions within the context of study skills for higher education. The essay analyzes the dimensions of power distance, masculinity/femininity, and uncertainty avoidance, agreeing with the importance of equal power distribution to avoid conflicts and disagreeing with the establishment of special regulations for female employees, advocating for equal policies for all. The essay also suggests that the factor of individuality is not applicable, emphasizing the necessity of teamwork, and recommends that management should provide freedom to staff for sharing their ideas, and training programmes to improve knowledge and capabilities. The essay concludes that study skills are essential in higher education and that incorporating cultural dimensions can help create a comfortable working environment for employees to achieve their goals successfully. The essay utilizes references to support the analysis.

Study Skill For
Higher Education

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Question...........................................................................................................................................1
Critically evaluate the suggestions made in the article on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.......1
Which do you agree with and which do you disagree with? Justify your position.....................2
Are there any other suggestions you would like to make?..........................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

Introduction
Study skills for higher education refers to abilities and knowledge level which is
necessary to understand the relevant concepts. It includes various skills such as art of note
making, use mind maps, teach others, time management skills and many more (Jackson, 2015).
However, it consist the to have essential academic skills including academic discourse, text
strategies, composition, comprehension and strategies. In respect of this report, it is based on the
selected article related to culture including cultural dimensions of Hofstede. This assignment will
focus on evaluation of suggestions and justification of the dimensions by agree or disagree with
them. It will also include other suggestions regarding the culture to make it better.
Question
Critically evaluate the suggestions made in the article on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.
Considering the given article, it has been analysed that employees working in an
organisation belongs to different cultures, religions and communities having their own values &
thoughts which are different to each other. The various operational practices, beliefs and ideas of
staff followed at work place to complete their tasks is combine known as an organisational
culture. However, it is well known that every organisation has its own cultures and norms which
are required to be considered by every individual working there while completing their duties. It
is very important for management team of a company to make sure that every individual
properly follow the desired rules and regulations or not (Roth, Ogrin and Schmitz, 2016).
Meanwhile, the opinion of Geert Hofstede is that the four dimensions are responsible for
influencing the cultures of a business organisation. It is necessary for management to conduct
equal distribution of power among superiors and ensure that task for lower managers &
colleagues should be allocated according to their field of expertise. It will facilitate to encourage
them and increase regular productivity which helps to gain set targets and goals of business
successfully. However, it is essential to provide equal right and benefits to staff members which
is favourable in terms of enhancing their level of working.
On the other hand, the dimension of Masculinity Vs Femininity suggest that
organisational management is required to establish specific rules for their female employees in
order to make working environment comfortable for them. It includes the purpose of dominating
condition in companies among male and female employees. However, it is observed that male
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staff is responsible for taking decisions in anger which is favourable for business growth and
success. Managers decide to involve female employees in regards to decision making for
avoiding negative working conditions of anger. In addition to this, it is recommended that work
should be allotted as per individual skills and get desired rewards for their excellent performance
accordingly. It has been evaluated that regular overall outcome of a business concern can be
increased by providing freedom to employees for sharing their ideas and perform collaboratively
with team.
It has been suggested to managers of organisation to utilise the dimension of uncertainty
avoidance index while dealing in conflict situation to analyse behaviour of people. It is necessary
for employer to make staff members respond in conflicting circumstances in proper manner.
However, it is beneficial when people respond properly in problematic condition which is helpful
to sort out it easily (Assiter, 2017). It is also supportive for avoiding negative impact of such
issues of performance. In addition to this, it is suggested that effective learning and training
sessions should be organised by management of company to make people more capable to
improve their skills and performance along with managing conflicts in appropriate way.
Which do you agree with and which do you disagree with? Justify your position.
The four dimensions of Hofsted model are suggested in regard to culture which is helpful
to gain basic understanding cultural differences among staff members that are responsible for
influencing their way of performing tasks. The writer is agree with the suggestion of equal power
distribution because it is favourable for avoiding conflicts and misuse of authority by superiors
which motivates employees for work with more dedication. It will facilitate to achieve set targets
and goals of business successfully along with reducing employees turnover.
On the other hand, the statement of establishing special regulations of female employees
is disagreed because it can be consider as partial behaviour of management. It includes the fact
of implementing equal policies and rules which are mandatory for both male and female
employees while working (Entwistle and Ramsden, 2015). Meanwhile, it is very important to
create environment of equality for both male and female employees by making effective policies
so that conflicts can be avoided in organisation.
Are there any other suggestions you would like to make?
Considering the given four dimensions of Hofstede's culture model, it has been suggested
that factor of individuality is not applicable because teamwork is must in a company. It is
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necessary for management to consider team work approaches as it is favourable for attaining
desired business objectives successfully. However, it is also analysed that teamwork is suitable
for making more effective as well as efficient decision making by sharing ideas of staff. In
addition to this, it has been recommended that management should provide freedom to staff for
sharing their ideas and thoughts in regards to working techniques. It is favourable for motivating
people and make them feel important in company that impact positively on their regular
productivity. It is suggested that training and learning programmes should be organised for
increasing knowledge level and capabilities of staff which facilitate to boost up overall
productivity as well as profitability of an organisation.
Conclusion
From the above report, it has been concluded that study skills consist the essential
academic abilities which are required for higher education. It includes art of note making, time
management, knowledge and many more. However, it involves number of cultural dimensions,
like individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and
masculinity/femininity in which suitable factors can be applied in organisation. Moreover, it is
necessary for management of company top use such components for providing comfortable
working environment for employees which helps to achieve desired goals successfully.
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References
Books and journals
Assiter, A., 2017. Transferable skills in higher education. Routledge.
Entwistle, N. and Ramsden, P., 2015. Understanding student learning (routledge revivals).
Routledge.
Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education.40(2). pp.350-367.
Roth, A., Ogrin, S. and Schmitz, B., 2016. Assessing self-regulated learning in higher education:
a systematic literature review of self-report instruments. Educational Assessment,
Evaluation and Accountability. 28(3). pp.225-250.
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