hofstede five dimensions
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions and Leadership
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions and Leadership
Geert Hofstede examined IBM the company for over thirty years and developed a theory about cultural differences. His theory is widely used to compare differences in culture, and also in leadership. There were initially four dimensions of values that he measured; uncertainty avoidance, individualism, power distance and masculinity. Later a fifth dimension, long term orientation was added in 1991. These dimensions were measured based on hundreds of questions that were surveyed to the IBM employees in over seventy countries. This article will define the five dimensions of Hofstede’s theory. It will also compare Egypt and United States.
Power Distance
Power distance is the dimension that expresses society’s desire to have power equal or unequal or of little relevance. Low power distance want equal distribution of power and fight for unequal rights. Egypt scored 70 out of 100 in power distance. The culture is derived on hierarchical structure, everyone has a place, and a duty. Little is questioned, according to the chart. However, Egypt has been thru many cultural clashes the past several years. Hosni Mubarik was dictator for the country for over thirty years. A few years ago, in 2012 the military was over taken by Islamic Brotherhood. In June 2014, an independent president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been elected. For government to be fully overthrown would be unrealistic in this country, as political structure is so embedded in the country. In the United States, Hofstede reports that U.S. is at 40 of 100 in power distance. United States is a democratic society, but parts of the culture feel unequal and are influenced as much as government allows us to be. If a leader has high value on power distance, they may be hard to get along with. It would be important to remain professional and detail oriented at tasks that are at hand.
Individualism versus Collectivism
High
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions and Leadership
Geert Hofstede examined IBM the company for over thirty years and developed a theory about cultural differences. His theory is widely used to compare differences in culture, and also in leadership. There were initially four dimensions of values that he measured; uncertainty avoidance, individualism, power distance and masculinity. Later a fifth dimension, long term orientation was added in 1991. These dimensions were measured based on hundreds of questions that were surveyed to the IBM employees in over seventy countries. This article will define the five dimensions of Hofstede’s theory. It will also compare Egypt and United States.
Power Distance
Power distance is the dimension that expresses society’s desire to have power equal or unequal or of little relevance. Low power distance want equal distribution of power and fight for unequal rights. Egypt scored 70 out of 100 in power distance. The culture is derived on hierarchical structure, everyone has a place, and a duty. Little is questioned, according to the chart. However, Egypt has been thru many cultural clashes the past several years. Hosni Mubarik was dictator for the country for over thirty years. A few years ago, in 2012 the military was over taken by Islamic Brotherhood. In June 2014, an independent president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been elected. For government to be fully overthrown would be unrealistic in this country, as political structure is so embedded in the country. In the United States, Hofstede reports that U.S. is at 40 of 100 in power distance. United States is a democratic society, but parts of the culture feel unequal and are influenced as much as government allows us to be. If a leader has high value on power distance, they may be hard to get along with. It would be important to remain professional and detail oriented at tasks that are at hand.
Individualism versus Collectivism
High
References: Grimsley, S. (2014) Long-Term Orientation vs. Short-Term Orientation. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions (1996-2014) Retrieved from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm