National Culture

Key Dimensions of National Culture in United States

Key dimensions of National Culture in United States

Introduction

In this essay, we would analyze and evaluate the major cultural dimensions of national culture in United States. Geert Hofstede was the originator of the concept of culture and different dimensions of the culture, according to him, “Culture is the collective programming of mind which helps in distinguishing the member of one category or group from another”. The key dimensions of national culture that we would discuss in our essay include Power distance, Individualism versus Collectivism, Masculinity versus Femininity, Avoidance of Uncertainty, Long Term Orientation versus Short term Orientation, Universalistic versus Particularistic, Affective Versus Neutral Cultures, Individualistic versus Communitarian and Specific versus Diffuse Cultures. We would try to study these dimensions in detail and their overall impact on society and culture of United States. Furthermore, we would also discuss in this essay some culture construct definitions from project GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness). In order to understand the culture and society of United States, it is pertinent that we must take into account all these cultural dimensions as indicated by Hofstede and as given in project GLOBE. Therefore, we would analyze and discuss each of these dimensions in detail defining and elaborating each cultural dimension and its impact on the national culture of United States. Also, we would link these key dimensions to the organizations present in United States in order to better understand and compare these dimensions of national culture with that of the culture and environment of an organization. Moreover, we would also discus that how each of the dimensions of national culture affect the life of people in the United Stated by citing examples from different organization if necessary.

Discussion

We would discuss and analyze key cultural dimensions of the United States and will make references if required to any organization located in United States to better understand and comprehend each dimension. We now start our discussion with the explanation of the major dimensions of culture and then we would analyze evaluate the major dimensions of the national culture of United States.

Power Distance

The extent to which the organizations (working places) and less powerful members of institutions (school, family, and institute) within a country accept and expect that power is distributed unequally is called power distance (Hofstede, 2001). United States has a small power distance culture. In United States children are treated as equals by the parents. Similarly, parents and older relatives are being treated as equal by the children. Also, inequalities among the people are discouraged. As far as organizational structure is concerned decentralization becomes popular and hierarchy establishes for some practical reasons.

We find this phenomenon in major organizations of United States like Dell and Microsoft where the organizational structure are highly decentralized, and a definite hierarchy is established in each department. The salary range along different organizational levels is also narrow in a small power culture like United States, and the subordinates are always expected to be ...