Hofstede's Five Dimenstions
Video Assignment
Hofstede’s Framework of Five Dimensions to a Specific Culture
Hall’s four Dimensions of High and Low Context Cultures
Bill Dunning
Management 637 Comparative International Management
4/14/2011
Introduction
This paper applies Hall and Hofstede’s cultural frameworks to two video’s that involve doing business in foreign countries. Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture are Power Distance, Individualism and Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Career Success/Quality of Life (Masculinity and Femininity) and Confucian Dynamism. Hall’s four dimensions of high and low context frameworks to culture are Relationship, Time, Communication and Space. Each video is analyzed for behaviors and statements that correspond to Hall and Hofstede’s frameworks to culture.
Video One: Doing business in Singapore
Overview
Singapore’s three (3) million people live in a country about the size of Chicago but they yield a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that nearly equals that of the United States. Although Singapore has no natural resources and imports everything, they add value to those imports and export a third of them. Singapore’s oil refining capacity ranks third in the world. Backed by a business friendly government, Singapore attracts major businesses in finance, manufacturing, transportation and communication making Singapore the business hub of Southeast Asia.
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions 1. Power Distance
Singapore’s culture reflects those of its descendants from three countries: China, Malaysia and India. There is a strong emphasis on social order. Formality and the associated power-distance is high between locals and elders but not as important between younger members and Multi-National Corporations. Meetings are between equals. A CEO should never dispatch a middle manager to meet with an executive of another company. Bosses make decisions and expect them to be delivered. 2. Individualism and Collectivism
Collectivism runs
Hofstede’s Framework of Five Dimensions to a Specific Culture
Hall’s four Dimensions of High and Low Context Cultures
Bill Dunning
Management 637 Comparative International Management
4/14/2011
Introduction
This paper applies Hall and Hofstede’s cultural frameworks to two video’s that involve doing business in foreign countries. Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture are Power Distance, Individualism and Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Career Success/Quality of Life (Masculinity and Femininity) and Confucian Dynamism. Hall’s four dimensions of high and low context frameworks to culture are Relationship, Time, Communication and Space. Each video is analyzed for behaviors and statements that correspond to Hall and Hofstede’s frameworks to culture.
Video One: Doing business in Singapore
Overview
Singapore’s three (3) million people live in a country about the size of Chicago but they yield a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that nearly equals that of the United States. Although Singapore has no natural resources and imports everything, they add value to those imports and export a third of them. Singapore’s oil refining capacity ranks third in the world. Backed by a business friendly government, Singapore attracts major businesses in finance, manufacturing, transportation and communication making Singapore the business hub of Southeast Asia.
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions 1. Power Distance
Singapore’s culture reflects those of its descendants from three countries: China, Malaysia and India. There is a strong emphasis on social order. Formality and the associated power-distance is high between locals and elders but not as important between younger members and Multi-National Corporations. Meetings are between equals. A CEO should never dispatch a middle manager to meet with an executive of another company. Bosses make decisions and expect them to be delivered. 2. Individualism and Collectivism
Collectivism runs