Question

match word count, include analysis and do not waste word count on extended definitions.

question 3 :Explain what is national culture and its main six dimensions with example for each (650 words)....the six national culture dimension :

•High versus low power distance

•High versus low uncertainty avoidance

•Masculinity versus femininity

•Collectivism versus Individualism

•Long Term versus Short Term Orientation

•Indulgence versus Restraint.

Answer 1

Cultures around the world are different but are getting interconnected as the business world is coming together and businesses are increasing globally and for managers, it means that they have to handle a diverse workforce from the different parts of the world and the backgrounds. Since many people are immersed in their own culture they failed to see how it is affecting the thinking patterns of their behavior. To overcome such many tools and mechanisms are considers and which compare the countries on the basis of the cultural differences and the similarities. Many attempts have also been made to combine these differences of culture across borders. However the most used is the HOFSTEDE’s cultural dimensions.
He describes the national culture as the collecting programming of the mind and distinguishing the member of one category or group from others.

High versus low power distance
In the low power distance, the cultures have low levels of inequality and also they are less willing to accept the power distribution that is unequal. The low power distance culture always tends to value the individualism representative government and if we talk about the high power distance cultures that power inequality is very common and people accept that without any question. Some have powers while other doesn’t and that is just the way it is. High power distance cultures always tend to value tradition.
Example - Germany scores 35 on the scale of culture analysis and compared to the Arab countries where the power distance is as high as 80 and if we talk about Austria it is as low as 11.
High versus low uncertainty avoidance

High uncertainty avoidance versus low certainty avioidance

High uncertainty avoidance often requires very rigid codes of beliefs and behaviors. They rely on the procedures and the policies in order to reduce the chance of getting thing out of the control. A person with high uncertainty avoidance always appreciates explicit instruction.
If we talk about the low uncertainty avoidance persons they firstly act and then get the information. They are comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. Cultural values of low uncertainty avoidance work very hard to minimize the laws and rules that may infringe on the people’s perspectives that are diverse.
Example – the countries that score high on this dimension are European countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, turkey, etc and the low on this dimension countries are China, UK, India, Malaysia, etc.

Masculinity versus femininity

The masculinity and femininity dimension is about values that are considered more important for society. The masculine side of the dimension represents the preference in society for heroism, achievement, material awards for success, etc. while the femininity stands for the preference of modesty, cooperation, caring for weak, and good quality of life.
Example- Japan is considered a very masculine country and if talks about countries such the Norway Sweden and many more Scandinavian countries they are considered to highly feminine.

Long-term versus Short-term Orientation

Different cultures have different expectations and also assign different meaning to different things. Some countries prefer to maintain time-honored traditions while others find it unimportant
Example - China and Japan are known for the long-time orientation and if talk about the short term oriented countries thy focus on the present for example Morocco is short-term oriented.

Indulgence versus Restraint

When people try to control desires and impulses based on the ways they were raised. Weak control is known as the indulgence and if it is relatively strong then it is known as a restraint. Cultures can be restraint or indulged.

Best example – The US restraint stands for the society that suppresses gratification of needs and also regulates them by strict norms and regulations. Russia and eastern European countries are the best examples of indulgence are Hungary and Bulgaria.


Collectivism versus Individualism

In collectivism, the family are tightly knitted in the society and in which the individuals expect their family members to look after them but in the individualism approach everyone is expected to take care of himself/herself
Example- the USA is the country that is considered t be an individualistic country and if about Japan it is considered as a collectivistic country.