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Long-Short-Term-Orientation-in-10-minutes-2015-09-05.pptxLong- versus Short-Term Orientation in 10 minutes
Geert Hofstede
January 2015
Origin of the term “long- versus short-term orientation”
Coined by Hofstede in 1991 for a fifth dimension of differences between national societies
Based on answers of student samples from 23 societies around 1985 to the Chinese Value Survey (CVS), developed by Michael H. Bond from suggestions by Chinese scholars
Replicated and extended in 2010 by Michael Minkov based on 1995-2004 World Values Survey (WVS) data from representative samples of the population in 93 societies
Long/Short Term Orientation as a societal culture dimension
Long-Term Orientation stands for the fostering in a society of pragmatic virtues oriented to future rewards, in particular perseverance, thrift, and adapting to changing circumstances
Its opposite pole, Short-Term Orientation, stands for the fostering in a society of virtues related to the past and the present, such as national pride, respect for tradition, preservation of face, and fulfilling social obligations
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Long-Term Oriented societies
Good and evil are relative
Which norms apply depends on the situation
The superior person adapts to the circumstances
We should be humble about ourselves
We want to learn from other countries
Traditions can be changed
Opposing truths can be integrated
Common sense and choosing the middle way
Short-Term Oriented societies
Good and evil are absolute
Fixed norms apply always, whatever the circumstances
The superior person is always the same
We seek positive information about ourselves
We are proud of our own country
Traditions are sacrosanct
Truth A always excludes its opposite B
Religious and ideological fundamentalisms
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How are long- and short term orientation measured?
There is no absolute standard for L/S orientation
What we can measure is differences between societies
The position of societies relative to each other is expressed in a Long-Term Orientation Index score (LTO)
LTO values have been plotted on a scale from 0 to 100; scores close to 0 stand for a shorter, scores close to 100 for a longer term orientation
Some Long Term Orientation (LTO) scores, out of 93
High
88 Japan
87 China
83 Germany
81 Russia
67 Netherlands
63 France
61 Italy
53 Sweden
Low
51 Britain
51 India
38 Israel
26 U.S.A.
24 Mexico
21 Australia
13 Nigeria
07 Egypt
Some examples of what these LTO scores correlate with
Long Term Oriented societies
Secondary school students perform well at mathematics
Secondary school students underrate own math results
Large savings quote, funds available for investment
Companies seek market share, long-term profits
Investors prefer family business and real estate
In poor countries, faster economic growth
Short Term Oriented societies
Secondary school students perform poorly at mathematics
Secondary school students overrate own math results
Small savings quote, little money for investment
Companies report quarterly results, stress bottom line
Investors prefer shares and mutual funds
In poor countries, slower economic growth
Don’t the LTO scores change over time ?
The scores reflect values transferred from parents to children; these values were already found in 15-year olds; values acquired in childhood rarely change in later life
Research by Sjoerd Beugelsdijk comparing answers to the same questions by two successive generations 30 years apart showed no worldwide shift and no changes in the position of countries
Global information systems do affect private habits and business practices, but the way they do so varies between societies according to pre-existing and stable societal values
