Cultural Dimensions of Two Countries
Cultural Dimensions of Two Countries
According to Geert Hofstede there five dimensions of culture. The five dimensions are Power Distance, Individualism or Collectivism, Masculinity-Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Short or Long-Term Orientation.
Power Distance
The dimension of Power Distance is the attitude toward the inequalities amongst individuals in a society. Power Distance is “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations with a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally” (Hofstede).
Trinidad scores low in power distance with a 47 (Hofstede). Individuals in Trinidad tend to be very independent. The hierarchy present is merely for convenience. There are equal rights for all. Superiors are very accessible and coaching. Management facilitates and empowers the individual. Power is decentralized. Managers rely on the experience of team members and individuals expect to be consulted. Relationships between managers and employees is informal and generally on a first name basis.
The United States also scores low in power distance with a 40. The US also has equal rights, a hierarchy for convenience only, accessible managers, and informal communication.
Individualism
Individualism is “the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members” (Hofstede). It is whether an individual views their self-image as “We” or “I”. A society that is Individualistic, its members look after themselves and their direct family only.
Trinidad scores low in the dimension of Individualism with a 16 (Hofstede). It is a collectivist society. Its members have close long-term commitments and strong relationships. Relationships between employers and employees are seen in moral terms. Hiring and promotions take into account the employees of the group. Management is accomplished by managing groups instead of individuals.
The United States is a very
According to Geert Hofstede there five dimensions of culture. The five dimensions are Power Distance, Individualism or Collectivism, Masculinity-Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Short or Long-Term Orientation.
Power Distance
The dimension of Power Distance is the attitude toward the inequalities amongst individuals in a society. Power Distance is “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations with a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally” (Hofstede).
Trinidad scores low in power distance with a 47 (Hofstede). Individuals in Trinidad tend to be very independent. The hierarchy present is merely for convenience. There are equal rights for all. Superiors are very accessible and coaching. Management facilitates and empowers the individual. Power is decentralized. Managers rely on the experience of team members and individuals expect to be consulted. Relationships between managers and employees is informal and generally on a first name basis.
The United States also scores low in power distance with a 40. The US also has equal rights, a hierarchy for convenience only, accessible managers, and informal communication.
Individualism
Individualism is “the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members” (Hofstede). It is whether an individual views their self-image as “We” or “I”. A society that is Individualistic, its members look after themselves and their direct family only.
Trinidad scores low in the dimension of Individualism with a 16 (Hofstede). It is a collectivist society. Its members have close long-term commitments and strong relationships. Relationships between employers and employees are seen in moral terms. Hiring and promotions take into account the employees of the group. Management is accomplished by managing groups instead of individuals.
The United States is a very
References: Baack, D. (2012). Management communication. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Hofstede, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html