Kripesh Krishnan

0191MBA170

ASSIGNMENT - 2

Q.1 Choose any two countries, in addition to India, prepare a comparative table of their position on the

various dimensions of Hofstede's Cultural Dimension study. Also, support your observations through

examples of cultural do's & don'ts of the countries chosen other than India.

ANSWER:

The 2 Countries I have selected with addition to INDIA is Bangladesh & South Africa.

COMPARISON

FACTORS INDIA BANGLADESH SOUTH AFRICA

POWER 1. India scores 1. Bangladesh scores 1. South Africa scores

DISTANCE high on this high on this dimension 49 on this dimension

dimension, 77, (score of 80) which which means that

indicating an means that people people to a larger extent

appreciation for accept a hierarchical accept a hierarchical

hierarchy and a order in which order in which

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0191MBA170

top-down everybody has a place everybody has a place

structure in and which needs no and which needs no

society and further justification. further justification.

organizations. If Hierarchy in an Hierarchy in an

one were to organization is seen as organization is seen as

encapsulate the reflecting inherent reflecting inherent

Indian attitude, inequalities, inequalities,

one could use the centralization is popular, centralization is

following words subordinates expect to popular, subordinates

and phrases : be told what to do and expect to be told what

dependent on the the ideal boss is a to do and the ideal boss

boss or the power benevolent autocrat is a benevolent autocrat

holder for

direction,

acceptance of un-

equal rights

between the

power-privileged

INDIVIDUALISM 2. India, with a rather 2. Bangladesh, with a 1. South Africa, with a

intermediate score of 48, score of 20 is considered score of 65 is an

is a society with both a collectivistic society. Individualist society.

collectivistic and This is manifest in a This means there is a

Individualist traits. The close long-term high preference for a

collectivist side means commitment to the loosely-knit social

that there is a high member ‘group’, be that framework in which

preference for belonging a family, extended individuals are

to a larger social family, or extended expected to take care of

framework in which relationships. Loyalty in themselves and their

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individuals are expected a collectivist culture is immediate families

to act in accordance to the paramount, and over- only. In Individualist

greater good of one’s rides most other societal societies offence causes

defined in-group(s). In rules and regulations. guilt and a loss of self-

such situations, the actions The society fosters esteem, the

of the individual are strong relationships employer/employee

influenced by various where everyone takes relationship is a

concepts such as the responsibility for fellow contract based on

opinion of one’s family, members of their group. mutual advantage,

extended family, In collectivist societies hiring and promotion

neighbours, work group offence leads to shame decisions are supposed

and other such wider and loss of face, to be based on merit

social networks that one employer/employee only, management is

has some affiliation relationships are the management of

toward. For a collectivist, perceived in moral terms individuals.

to be rejected by one’s (like a family link),

peers or to be thought hiring and promotion

lowly of by one’s decisions take account

extended and immediate of the employee’s in-

in-groups, leaves him or group, management is

her rudderless and with a the management of

sense of intense groups.

emptiness. The

employer/employee

relationship is one of

expectations based on

expectations – Loyalty by

the employee and almost

familial protection by the

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Employer. Hiring and

promotion decisions are

often made based on

relationships which are

the key to everything in a

Collectivist society.

UNCERTINITY 3. India scores 40 on this 3. Bangladesh scores 60 2. South Africa scores 49

AVOIDANCE dimension and thus has a on this dimension and on this dimension and

medium low preference thus has an high score. thus has a low

for avoiding uncertainty. Countries exhibiting preference for avoiding

In India, there is high Uncertainty uncertainty. Low UAI

acceptance of Avoidance maintain societies maintain a

imperfection; nothing has rigid codes of belief and more relaxed attitude in

to be perfect nor has to go behaviour and are which practice counts

exactly as planned. India intolerant of unorthodox more than principles

is traditionally a patient behaviour and ideas. In and deviance from the

country where tolerance these cultures there is an norm is more easily

for the unexpected is emotional need for rules tolerated. In societies

high ; even welcomed as a (even if the rules never exhibiting low UAI,

break from monotony. seem to work) time is people believe there

People generally do not money, people have an should be no more rules

feel driven and compelled inner urge to be busy than are necessary and

to take action-initiatives and work hard, precision if they are ambiguous

and comfortably settle and punctuality are the or do not work they

into established rolls and norm, innovation may should be abandoned or

routines without be resisted, security is changed. Schedules are

questioning. Rules are an important element in flexible, hard work is

often in place just to be undertaken when

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circumvented and one individual motivation. necessary but not for its

relies on innovative own sake, precision and

methods to “bypass the punctuality do not come

system”. A word used naturally, innovation is

often is “adjust” and not seen as threatening.

means a wide range of

things, from turning a

blind eye to rules being

flouted to finding a unique

and inventive solution to a

seemingly insurmountable

problem. It is this attitude

that is both the cause of

misery as well as the most

empowering aspect of the

country. There is a saying

that “nothing is

impossible” in India, so

long as one knows how to

“adjust”.

LONG TERM 4. With an intermediate 4. Bangladesh has an 3. A low score of 34 on

ORIENTATION score of 51 in this intermediate score at 47, this dimension means

dimension, a dominant this does not indicate a that in South Africa the

preference in Indian strong preference in culture is more

culture cannot be either direction. normative than

determined. In India the pragmatic. People in

concept of “karma” such societies have a

dominates religious and strong concern with

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philosophical thought. establishing the

Time is not linear, and absolute Truth; they are

thus is not as important as normative in their

to western societies which thinking. They exhibit

typically score low on this great respect for

dimension. Countries like traditions, a relatively

India have a great small propensity to save

tolerance for religious for the future, and a

views from all over the focus on achieving

world. Hinduism is often quick results.

considered a philosophy

more than even a religion;

an amalgamation of ideas,

views, practices and

esoteric beliefs. In India

there is an acceptance that

there are many truths and

often depends on the

seeker. Societies that have

a high score on

pragmatism typically

forgive a lack of

punctuality, a changing

game-plan based on

changing reality and a

general comfort with

discovering the fated path

as one goes along rather

than playing to an exact

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plan.

INDULGENCE 5. India receives a low 5. Bangladesh has a 4. With a high score of 63

score of 26 in this very low Indulgence it is clear that South

dimension, meaning that it score of 20. This makes Africa has a culture of

is a culture of Restraint. it a Restrained country. Indulgence. People in

Societies with a low score Societies with a low societies classified by a

in this dimension have a score in this dimension high score in

tendency to cynicism and have a tendency to Indulgence generally

pessimism. Also, in cynicism and pessimism. exhibit a willingness to

contrast to Indulgent Also, in contrast to realise their impulses

societies, Restrained Indulgent societies, and desires with regard

societies do not put much Restrained societies do to enjoying life and

emphasis on leisure time not put much emphasis having fun. They

and control the on leisure time and possess a positive

gratification of their control the gratification attitude and have a

desires. People with this of their desires. People tendency towards

orientation have the with this orientation optimism. In addition,

perception that their have the perception they place a higher

actions are Restrained by that their actions are degree of importance

social norms and feel that Restrained by social on leisure time, act as

indulging themselves is norms and feel that they please and spend

somewhat wrong. indulging themselves is money as they wish.

somewhat wrong.

MASCULINITY 6. India scores 56 on this 6. Bangladesh scores 55 5. South Africa scores 63

dimension and is thus on this dimension and on this dimension and

considered a Masculine can be considered a a is thus a Masculine

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society. India is actually Masculine society. In society. In Masculine

very Masculine in terms Masculine countries countries people “live

of visual display of people “live in order to in order to work”,

success and power. The work”, managers are managers are expected

designer brand label, the expected to be decisive to be decisive and

flash and ostentation that and assertive, the assertive, the emphasis

goes with advertising emphasis is on equity, is on equity,

one’s success, is widely competition and competition and

practiced. However, India performance and performance and

is also a spiritual country conflicts are resolved by conflicts are resolved

with millions of deities fighting them out. by fighting them out.

and various religious

philosophies. It is also an

ancient country with one

of the longest surviving

cultures which gives it

ample lessons in the value

of humility and

abstinence. This often

reigns in people from

indulging in Masculine

displays to the extent that

they might be naturally

inclined to. In more

Masculine countries the

focus is on success and

achievements, validated

by material gains. Work is

the center of one’s life and

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visible symbols of success

in the work place are ery

important.