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Power Distance

This document discusses six dimensions along which cultures can differ: power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, time orientation, and indulgence. Power distance refers to how a society handles inequality and hierarchy. Individualism relates to the importance of individual versus group interests. Masculinity concerns assertiveness and materialism versus cooperation and quality of life. Uncertainty avoidance deals with a society's tolerance for ambiguity. Time orientation refers to traditions versus planning for the future. China, Saudi Arabia, the US, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Chile, Peru, Argentina, China, Japan, and Morocco are used as examples to illustrate differences along these dimensions.

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31 views

Power Distance

This document discusses six dimensions along which cultures can differ: power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, time orientation, and indulgence. Power distance refers to how a society handles inequality and hierarchy. Individualism relates to the importance of individual versus group interests. Masculinity concerns assertiveness and materialism versus cooperation and quality of life. Uncertainty avoidance deals with a society's tolerance for ambiguity. Time orientation refers to traditions versus planning for the future. China, Saudi Arabia, the US, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Chile, Peru, Argentina, China, Japan, and Morocco are used as examples to illustrate differences along these dimensions.

Uploaded by

aim panipat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Power Distance

This dimension expresses the degree to which the less powerful members of a society
accept and expect that power is distributed unequally: beliefs about the appropriate
distribution of power in society. The fundamental issue here is how a society handles
inequalities among people. People in societies exhibiting a large degree of Power
Distance accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no
further justification. In societies with low Power Distance, people strive to equalise the
distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power. China and Saudi
Arabia are countries with a high Power Distance index.

Individualism
The Individualism/Collectivism dimension is about the relative importance of individual
versus group interests. The high side of this dimension, called individualism, can be
defined as a preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals are
expected to take care of only themselves and their immediate families. Its opposite,
collectivism, represents a preference for a tightly-knit framework in society in which
individuals can expect their relatives or members of a particular in-group to look after
them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. A society’s position on this dimension is
reflected in whether people’s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “we.” The USA is
considered as one of the most individualistic countries in the world.

Masculinity
The Masculinity/Femininity dimension is about what values are considered more
important in a society. The Masculine side of this dimension represents a preference in
society for achievement, heroism, assertiveness and material rewards for success. Society
at large is more competitive. Its opposite, femininity, stands for a preference for
cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak and quality of life. Society at large is more
consensus-oriented. In the business context Masculinity versus Femininity is sometimes
also related to as “tough versus tender” cultures. Japan is considered to be a very
masculine country, whereas Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden are
considered highly feminine.

Uncertainty Avoidance
The Uncertainty Avoidance dimension expresses the degree to which the members of a
society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. In addition its impact on rule
making is taken into account. The fundamental issue here is how 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? Countries exhibiting a high Uncertainty Avoidance maintain rigid codes of belief
and behaviour and are intolerant of unorthodox behaviour and ideas. These countries
often need many rules to constrain uncertainty. Countries with a low Uncertainty
Avoidance index maintain a more relaxed attitude in which practice counts more than
principles, tolerance for ambiguity is accepted and the need for rules to constrain
uncertainty is minimal. South American countries such as Chile, Peru and Argentina are
highly uncertainty avoiding countries.
Time Orientation
Every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the
challenges of the present and the future. Societies prioritize these two existential goals
differently. Countries that score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to maintain
time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. They
are past and present oriented and value traditions and social obligations. Countries
with cultures that scores high on this dimension on the other hand take a more pragmatic
approach: they are future oriented and encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as
a way to prepare for the future. Asian countries such as China and Japan are known for
their long term orientation. Morocco is a short term oriented country.

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