Understanding Global Cultural Dimensions
Understanding Culture: Visible and Invisible Dimensions
Culture represents the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in observable behaviors. Developing a close relationship with a person from another culture can greatly assist you in understanding and working within that culture.
Culture can be understood through two main dimensions:
- Invisible Dimension: Encompasses assumptions, values, and beliefs.
- Visible Dimension: Includes behavior and speech.
These two dimensions relate to each other like cause and effect.
Cultural Interpretation of Behavior
The meaning of behavior is culturally dependent; it is what people from different cultures decide it means. For example, the gesture of ‘finger and thumb forming a circle’ does not mean the same in the USA (where it signifies ‘okay’) as it does in Japan (where it can mean ‘money’).
Communication Styles: Face-Saving vs. Directness
Cultures differ significantly in this dimension. Asian cultures often prioritize saving face, while American cultures typically do not. American people tend to believe that telling the truth is more important than trying not to hurt the feelings of the other speaker. In contrast, Asian people often prioritize preserving harmony in relationships.
Furthermore, American people often view getting and giving information as the most important goal of communication, whereas Asian people consider the personal bond to be the most important goal of communication.
Time Orientation: Monochronic vs. Polychronic
This dimension highlights how different cultures perceive and manage time:
- Monochronic Cultures (e.g., USA): Value tasks and results. Time is quantifiable, with strict schedules and deadlines. It is seen as a limited resource, and circumstances should not interfere with plans. Interruptions are generally viewed negatively. This is a linear view of time.
- Polychronic Cultures (e.g., Spain, India): Value relationships between people. Time is limitless, and schedules and deadlines can be adjusted. There is always more time (e.g., ‘tomorrow’). Time is adjusted to the needs of people, and interruptions are often accepted. This is a circular view of time.
Universalism vs. Particularism
These dimensions are based on the balance between one’s personal responsibility to family and close individuals, and responsibility to society:
- Universalism (e.g., USA): You do not make exceptions for your family or friends. What is right is right, regardless of the circumstances. You set your feelings aside and look objectively at the situation.
- Particularism (e.g., Spain, China): You treat your family, friends, and in-groups as best as you can. What is right in one situation may not be right in another. Personal feelings should not be ignored.
Locus of Control: Internal vs. External
Some countries believe that people can manipulate forces outside themselves and shape their destiny, while many others do not:
- Internal Locus of Control (e.g., USA): Control is within the person. Things can be changed; there is an ‘I can do it’ attitude. Your success in life depends on you. This is characteristic of an activist culture.
- External Locus of Control (e.g., Spain, Mexico): You cannot truly control your own life. There are some basic factors that cannot be changed. Your success is a combination of your effort and good fortune. This is characteristic of a fatalist culture.
Power Distance in Organizations
Power distance is the degree to which a society accepts the idea that power is distributed unequally. In a business environment, it determines the proper role of managers and employees and how they relate to each other:
- High Power Distance (e.g., Panama): Inequalities in power and status are seen as natural. Some people are more influential than others, and this is considered normal. Bosses make decisions, and employees comply.
- Low Power Distance (e.g., USA): Inequalities in power are not seen as natural. Managers share power with their subordinates. Employees are rewarded for taking initiative and will not comply if they feel the boss is wrong.
Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance is the degree to which people feel uncomfortable with a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity in a society:
- Low Uncertainty Avoidance (e.g., USA): People are more likely to take risks. Mistakes and errors are seen as learning opportunities. New ideas and approaches are often preferred.
- High Uncertainty Avoidance (e.g., Greece): Taking risks and failing can have negative consequences. Individuals may not try something until it is proven to work. Change can be perceived as dangerous.
Individualism vs. Collectivism
The difference between individualism and collectivism lies in how a person’s role is affected by social norms:
- Individualism (e.g., USA): The smallest unit of survival is the individual person. The needs of the individual are satisfied before the group’s. Personal freedom is highly desirable.
- Collectivism (e.g., Africa): The smallest unit of survival is the group (friends, family). One’s identity is related to one’s membership in a group. Considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects the group.
Masculinity vs. Femininity in Work Culture
This dimension refers to how people take a particular attitude toward work:
- Masculinity (e.g., Japan): People are motivated by achievement. Success often means having more power. The chance to make more money is more important than job security. Individuals often ‘live to work’.
- Femininity (e.g., USA): A better quality of life is more important than work. Spending time with family is very important. More power and responsibility are not automatically attractive. Individuals often ‘work to live’.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation
This dimension describes a society’s time horizon:
- Long-Term Orientation (e.g., Japan): Savings are valued. Working hard, rewards will come over time. Past and future generations are important and interconnected.
- Short-Term Orientation (e.g., USA): Saving is not as popular as using money for immediate investments. Rewards are expected to come soon. Traditions should be respected.