Cultural Dimensions

Cultural Dimensions

Introduction

Culture is transmitted through the social environment rather than through heredity. It is molded in accordance with human nature and is something that all humans have in common. On the other hand, personality is something that is unique in every human being. In every culture there are groups of people who share a common goal, or have or are expected to commit themselves to a common purpose. Same is the case with the culture of an organization.

Defining Cultural Dimensions

Power Distance

This dimension indicates the power distance/inequality in the culture, this can be between parent and child, boss and employee or even husband and wife. An entire society or country can be classified according to the level of power distance. For example, a large power distance can be found in Asian, Arab and Latin American countries while the power distance in Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia is comparatively small. In geographical areas where there is a small power distance, the area over which the effect is spread is usually very small. The level of acceptance of power distance in a social or organizational setting is determined as much by the followers as it is promoted by the leader. An appropriate biblical perspective can be cited in this context, “the animal the ruler should impersonate depends strongly on what animals the followers are” (Goleman, 1998). In many countries the police is simultaneously hated and feared while in several other countries the authority of the boss is not questioned. The answer that a certain culture has the fundamental problem that people are unequal is the Power Distance. Hofstede defines power distance as follows:

“The people in a culture with high power distance are easier resigned to the fact that power is distributed unequally than in cultures with low power distance (Hofstede et al., 2005).”

Individualism vs. collectivism

In most societies, the Group held interests are given a higher importance as compared to the interests of the individual. Hofstede identifies these societies are defined as collectivist societies. In such societies, groups are the dominant factor and the individual derives his identity by belonging to a group (Hofstede et al., 2005). The group is, therefore, considered to be more suitable for an individual as it provides him with many privileges. In a similar manner, groups also exist in organizations and the culture of an organization determines how important groups are for individuals. In this context, the biblical perspective suggests, 'Most emotional contagion is subtle, part of a tacit exchange that happens in every encounter. We transmit and catch moods from each other in what amounts to a subterranean economy of the psyche in which some encounters are toxic, some nourishing' (Goleman, D. (1998). Hofstede identifies such behavior as collectivism. In collectivist societies or organizations, people belong to a strong and cohesive group. This belonging is often to such a level that individuals create familial relations with each other where their support, guidance and protection for each other are lifelong and unconditional (Hofstede et al., 2005).

In stark contrast, the individualistic society is one in which ...