1. Hofstede’s Dimensions:Review
Power Distance
Uncertainty Avoidance
Individualism/ Collectivism
Masculinity/Femininity
This link will show you the values reached for 56 different countries as well as allowing you to compare any 2 countries.

2. Attitudinal Dimensions of Culture
Work value and attitude similarities
Smallest space analysis (SSA) yields clusters of countries similar to each other
Anglo-American (U.S., U.K., Australia)
Nordic (Norway, Finland, Denmark)
South American (Venezuela, Mexico, Chile)
Latin European (France, Belgium)
Germanic (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
Other researchers have found other clusters, depending on variables used

3. Synthesis of Country Clusters
Adapted from Figure 4–8: A Synthesis of Country Clusters

4. Ronen-Shenker quote:
As multinational companies increase their direct investment overseas, especially in less developed and consequently less studied areas, they will require more information concerning their local employees in order to implement effective types of interactions between the organization and the host country. The knowledge acquired thus far can help one to understand better the work values and attitudes of employees throughout the world. America theories work very well for Western nations. Are they equally applicable in non-Western countries? Clearly, more cluster research is called for, including research in countries from all parts of the globe.

5. 1/Centralized vs. Decentralized Decision Making 2/Safety vs. Risk
GROUP EXERCISE
Go back to page 95 in your textbook.
Which of Hofstede’s dimensions of culture would you use to explain how the management approaches listed were affected by culture?
1/Centralized vs. Decentralized Decision Making
2/Safety vs. Risk
3/Individual vs.. Group Reward
4/Informal vs.. Formal Procedures
5/High vs.. Low Organizational Loyalty
6/Cooperation vs.. Competition
7/Short-term vs.. Long-term Horizons
8/Stability vs. Innovation

6. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Universalism
Particularism
Universalism: belief that ideas and practices can be applied everywhere in the world without modification
In countries with high universalism, focus is more on formal rules, business contracts are adhered to closely, people believe “a deal is a deal”
Includes Canada, U.S., Germany, U.K., Netherlands, France, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

7. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Universalism
Particularism
Particularism: belief that circumstances dictate how ideas and practices should be applied and something cannot be done the same everywhere
In countries with high particularism, legal contracts often modified, well-acquainted people often change the way in which deals are executed
Includes China and South Korea

8. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Individualism
Communitarianism
Individualism: people regard themselves as individuals
In countries high on individualism, people stress personal and individual matters, and are more likely to make negotiated decisions on the spot by a representative, achieve things alone and assume great personal responsibility
Includes Canada, Thailand, U.K., U.S., Netherlands, France, Japan, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong

9. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Individualism
Communitarianism
Communitarianism: people regard themselves as part of a group
In countries high on communitarianism, people value group-related issues, refer decisions to committees, achieve things in groups and jointly assume responsibility
Includes Malaysia and Korea

10. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Neutral
Emotional
Neutral: culture in which emotions are held in
In high neutral culture countries, people try not to show their feelings, act stoically and maintain their composure
Includes Japan and the U.K.
Emotional: culture in which emotions are expressed openly and naturally
In high emotional culture countries, people smile a great deal, talk loudly when excited and greet each other with enthusiasm
Includes Mexico, the Netherlands and Switzerland

11. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Specific
Diffuse
Specific culture: individuals have a large public space shared with others and a small private space they guard closely and share only with close friends and associates
In high specific cultures, people are more open and extroverted, and there is a strong separation of work and private life
Includes Austria, U.K., U.S. and Switzerland

12. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Specific
Diffuse
Diffuse culture: public and private space are similar in size, individuals guard public space carefully because it is shared with private space
In high diffuse cultures, people often appear to be indirect and introverted, and work and private life often are closely linked
Includes Venezuela, China, and Spain

13. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
VS.
Achievement
Ascription
Achievement culture: status is accorded based on how well people perform their functions
Includes Austria, U.S., Switzerland and the U.K.
Ascription culture: status is based on who or what a person is
Includes Venezuela, Indonesia, and China

14. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
Time
Sequential approach
People do only one activity at a time, keep appointments strictly, prefer to follow plans as laid out (United States)
Synchronous approach
People tend to multi-task, view appointments as approximate, schedules are seen as subordinate to relationships (Mexico/Middle East)

15. Trompenaars’ Cultural Dimensions
The Environment
Inner-directed: people believe in controlling outcomes
Includes U.S., Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Greece, Singapore, and Japan
Outer-directed: people believe on letting things take their own course
Includes China and many other Asian countries