Culture of Spain vs. Culture of United States: Differences
1. In what way will the culture of Spain be different from that of the United States? In answering this question, refer to Figures 4–5, 4–6, and 4–7.
In answering this question I will use the dimensions that Geert Hofstede identified to attempt to provide a composite picture of the cultures. The four dimensions Geert Hofstede examined were power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity (Luthans & Doh, 2012). Power distance deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power distance (PDI) is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. It has to do with the fact that a society’s inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders (Hofstede). Individualism (IDV) is the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty (Individualism). Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have
In answering this question I will use the dimensions that Geert Hofstede identified to attempt to provide a composite picture of the cultures. The four dimensions Geert Hofstede examined were power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity (Luthans & Doh, 2012). Power distance deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power distance (PDI) is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. It has to do with the fact that a society’s inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders (Hofstede). Individualism (IDV) is the one side versus its opposite, collectivism, that is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. On the individualist side we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty (Individualism). Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have
References: (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/individualism/ Hofstede, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/france.html Hofstede, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/italy.html Hofstede, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/spain.html Hofstede, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html Luthans, F., & Doh, J. (2012). International management: Culture, strategy, and behavior. (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.