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The Ideas of Geert Hofstede: Canada and The World

Prepared by:

Jingyan Huang

Prepared for:

Dr. Conor Vibert

Business 3763

Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Canadian National Culture in Comparison to Cultures of Other Countries

When the Canadian culture is explored through the lens of the five-dimensional model, the following results are achieved. The comparison between Canada and the countries such as Australia, Burkina Faso, South Korea Malaysia and Brazil attempt to demonstrate the similarities and differences between the five cultural dimensions. This comparative study is important in establishing how similar or different the culture of Canada is about others (Hofstede, 2010).

Power Distance

Power distance defines the levels of inequality that exists between individuals in a particular society. This is the group that a particular country regards as normal. This dimension provides that all the societies are unequal, and they range from the relatively equal to the extremely uneven. This dimension also measures the levels of acceptance dictated by the powerful people in distinct cultures (Hofstede, 2010). High power distance exhibiting cultures demonstrate centralized authorities that have an impression that the management is paternalistic, and the culture accepts the hierarchical managements regarding nobility. In countries that exhibit low power distance, it is most likely that there will equal and fair distribution of power. As such the power will also be distributed to the less influential individuals in the community. Canada is one of the cultures that exhibit low power distance; it is most likely that people in that culture will show lower levels equality. As such systems tend to support decentralized forms of government with questionable authority. Australia scores 36 on power distance meaning that it is similar to Canada in terms of power distance aspects (Australia- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Burkina Faso, on the other hand, scores a 70, which shows a major disparity regarding power distribution and equality. South Korea, on the other hand, has a relatively high score regarding 60. This means that the country is equitable in terms power distribution. Brazil scores a high score of 69 in power distance meaning that the two cultures are totally different in terms of power distance. Malaysia demonstrates the height of power inequality by registering the highest score attainable.

Individualism

This is the degree to which the particular people in a society prefer to act and to be seen as entities rather than as people belonging to a particular group. The opposite of individualism is collectivism. This cultural dimension seeks to estimate the amount of individualism that exists in a particular culture of a community setting. In such a culture most people will have their own perspective towards the general view of how life should be (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Canada scores 80 on the element of individualism meaning that it is a highly characteristic culture. It is, therefore, a lightly knit society in which the people look out for themselves. Australia, with a score of 90, lies on almost an equal level of individualism with Canada. On the other end lies Burkina Faso who has a score of 15 meaning that it is collectivist society. South Korea also lies on the other extreme with a score of 18. This means that South Korea is a collectivist culture in which the members of the community look out for themselves. Malaysia and Brazil both register an individualistic score that is on the lower side of 26 and 38 respectively meaning that the countries are collectivist cultures.

Masculinity/Femininity

This is the degree in which all the tough qualities such as assertiveness and success competition and performance are associated with men in the society. The association of such roles with men as opposed to the soft characteristics such as warm personal relationships softness as well as tenderness is connected with women in the society (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Since women roles and men roles differ in different countries, it is definite that this is one of the aspects or dimensions that define the cultural complexity of the different societies. . Masculinity represents quantity while femininity represents the quality of life (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Canada, with a score of 52 can be categorized as a moderately masculine society meaning that the people of the Canadian culture may struggle to attain relatively high standards of performance in both works and sports. When it comes to matters to do with culture, the tone is rather subdued demonstrating various aspects of respect and even accomplishment.

In comparison, Burkina Faso showed almost a close score of 50 meaning that these two countries may exhibit similar characteristics when it comes to the dimension of masculinity. In Australia, the level of masculinity is relatively higher registering a score of 61. This means that Australia is a relatively masculine society South Korea, on the other hand, scores a lower score of 39 implying that it is a rather feminine society. A feminine society demonstrates dominant core feminine virtues that are oriented toward caring. As such in South Korea standing out from the crowd is not admirable while from another light the quality of life is one of the acceptable aspects. Brazil and Malaysia in comparison to Canada register a rather close score meaning that the countries might be similar in terms the level of masculinity as well in competition for success and performance. Brazil registers a score of 49 while Malaysia scores a 50. This means that these countries lie on the average mark of masculinity and femininity, meaning that they are in the middle ground.

Uncertainty Avoidance

This refers to the degree at which people of a particular society prefer either the structured or the unstructured situations. An organization that is identified to have a high level of uncertainty avoidance can be considered as rigid while that one that has weak uncertainty avoidance can be referred to as flexible. The Canadian score of uncertainty avoidance is 48. This implies that the Canadian culture will be more responsive to new ideas. For instance, it would be easier to adopt new technology in Canada. Another thing is that the Canadian culture is not rules oriented (Canada- Geert Hofstede, 2016). Therefore, Canadians will tend to be more emotionally expressive than the countries that score higher in this dimension. Australia scores higher than Canada registering a score of 51. The scores are relatively close meaning that the two countries are comparable in this dimension.

Burkina Faso, on the other hand, registers a score of 55 meaning that it is less responsive to new ideas that may crop up. South Korea has a high score of approximately 85 and this means that such a country is very uncomfortable when it comes to ambiguous situations. As such for these kinds of countries bureaucracies are extremely important. Another thing that can be noted by people from this culture is that they are demonstrative and passionate. This may be because one thing that is noticed in all the countries is that they have undergone a past life that has been full of chaos or attacks. Brazil’s score of uncertainty avoidance is on the higher side recording 76 (Brazil- Geert Hofstede, 2016). Finally, Malaysia as compared to Canada records a relatively low score indicating that it is more responsive to new ideas. Also, it is an indication that Malaysia does not hold on to the aspects of traditions and culture.

Temporal Orientation

This term is sometimes considered as either short term or long-term alignment. The long time side was related to values such as thrift saving as well as perseverance. The short-term version was linked with the factors such as the respect or tradition as well as fulfilling social obligations. Also known as the time horizon it gives importance to all the rewarding activities as well as the characteristics that create long-term success (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Short-term survival focuses on particular traditional values and obsessions. Canada scores 36 on long-term orientation (Canada- Geert Hofstede, 2016). This makes it a normative society. People in this kind of a society exhibit the tradition of adherence to culture. One thing that is common with Canada is that they have a strong concern for establishing the needs for success as well as such they are focused on achieving results within a shorter time. Burkina Faso, for instance, is seen as one of the most normative cultures. Her citizens are mostly concerned with establishing the utmost truth underlying each and every situation.

Burkina Faso registers even a lower score and, therefore, some aspects will be similar to those of Canada. Australia with a score of 21 also is one of the most normative societies. This means that this type society will, therefore, be concerned with establishing the utmost truth underlying each and every situation. South Korea is on the extreme side temporal orientation. Registering a score of 100, South Korea appears to be one of the most rational societies. As such the people of South Korea are mainly guided by the virtues and morals that define good people. To demonstrate long-term orientation in this country is the fact that companies are not meant to make money, rather the companies to serve mainly the society at large for many generations in future. Brazil scores 44 in this cultural dimension (Brazil- Geert Hofstede, 2016). Scoring higher than Canada means that although it is a normative society, it relatively lies in an intermediate position. Malaysia on the either hand scores a 41 implying that it is also a normative society.

To conclude the importance of studying similarity and differences of countries culture as reflected in Hofstede's dimensions is insurmountable. Elaborating the importance of comparing different countries regarding the cultural aspects, therefore, spearheads the development of various development strategies in several organizations all over the world. The paper also addresses the growing need for conducting the cross-cultural management so as to develop global leaders (Müller, Spang & Ozcan, 2009). Understanding the differences and similarities between countries regarding the five dimensions of Hofstede is one step to understanding the basis of the similarities of the countries as well as the terms of cultural diversity.

References

Australia- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from

http://geert-hofstede.com/australia.html

Brazil- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/brazil.html

Burkina Faso- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/bukina faso.html

Canada- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/canada.html

Hofstede, G. (2010). Geert Hofstede. National cultural dimensions.

Malaysia- Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/malysia.html

Müller, R., Spang, K., & Ozcan, S. (2009). Cultural differences in decision making in project teams. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2(1), 70-93.

South Korea - Geert Hofstede. (2016). Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/south-korea.html