Analysis Of Hofstede And Trompernaar Theories Of Culture
Culture is where each country has its own beliefs and traditions segmented in a society. It is a way of a lifestyle. It can vary from several aspects contributing to religion or how each individual has been raised at home, that will influence in the reality while having social interactions with people. The characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts also contributes to culture.
The importance of culture is gaining knowledge from each person’s background of how the country runs based on laws or morality and ethics, how people dressed, what kind of celebrations they celebrate whether it is Christmas, thanks giving, Easter or Eid, and how important the celebrations are to each. Coming to know the definition and importance of culture in business, In Japan, Japanese people can almost find a vending machine in each corner due to their busy life. Having this said, it avoids time consuming walks to the shopping malls in order to get a particular need or wants for the consumer.
The Hofstede’s research was carried in the 1980’s in the International business machines as he was employed by the IBM, that were useful for the managers and the culture. Managers in the IBM have conducted interviews and observed research thoroughly and have found a psychological effect through international marketing and management discussions.
Stating out the five different cultural dimensions that Hofstede took his role on presenting his own ideas are as follows, Power distance, Uncertainty avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism, Masculinity/Femininity, Long or short-term orientation. Furthermore, an evaluation will be analyzed on to what extent has Hofstede’s research has benefited the management practices as useful framework.
Power distance is where the low-class people amongst the society have to accept and expect that power might be scattered unequally to the individuals and sometimes be unfairly. The survey shows that in the Arab region, the power distance is highly ranked compared to Austria, the umber varies from eighty to eleven which clearly shows a high gap. It all depends on the population of the country and how dependent each gender of approaching to power culturally. For instance, using this framework in management these days might vary from country to country, culture to another. An exceptional case would be working in a private or a public sector plays a big role in power distance as well.
Uncertainty avoidance, not being sure or not having enough confidence on new people’s ideology. Firm rules and regulations of law, security and safety matters are there to help and serve any hesitance that we may culturally question from time to time. In addition, religiously wise is by thinking there is only one truth to follow by. By doing and following the rules, the risk of danger eliminates accurately. Businesses are all about risk, by avoiding the risk, there is no way to examine the possibilities of outcomes whether positive or negative.
On the Individualism/Collectivism side, by mentioning these terms meaning how family oriented each society to look after another is or is freely independent. It’s democratic where the research is carried and tested on Germany, showed that each individual believes to have their own opinion while engaging in groups. This has also encouraged people to rely on the “American Dream” in the United states, to gain a high standard of living rather than a collective society would have ever done that lives by heredity. The most controversial dimension is the masculinity/femininity; hence every cultural society has a different way of thinking regarding this matter. Back in the years it is logically known that a male should work for a living and females shall babysit and care for her own household. Nowadays, women stand for a totally another objective, they believe to start their own career and can multitask in many aspects of life and also want the man to help to take care of the household as well to help in. This, in the eye of a woman is pure equality. This dimension definitely plays a big role into each life, it can improve and affect the behavior of each gender. In some societies, narrow minded people might find it threatening that a woman can achieve much. It can be envious and competitive at the same time. Women nowadays decide firmly to own a degree in mechanical engineering, on the other hand, many men find their passion in cooking and arts. These two examples cannot lessen any of the masculinity nor femininity in a gender.
Opportunity cost is very much linked to long-term orientation, feeling that what you do for now is preparing you for a better future by thinking the farthest. It’s a concept of filling a minor or a short gap to gain a better adaptable qualitive future. Whereas in the short-term orientation, you focus on the present or past to fulfil current commitments in work or social life. Motivation can level up in this part of dimension of time orientation, managers can clearly decide the abilities of their employees and by that can know in which category they fit into.
Fons Trompernaar, the Dutch researcher had seven different ideas that some slightly contradicted and agreed on Hofstede dimensions is as follows:
- Universalism vs. Particularism.
- Specific vs. Diffuse Cultures.
- Achievement vs. Ascription Cultures.
- Individualism vs. communitarianism.
- Affective vs. Neutral Cultures.
- Time as sequence vs. Time as synchronization.
- Inner-directed vs. Outer-directed.
To critically analyze this cultural research, some strengths has been beneficial to support Trompenaars’s idea by saying the status of a relationship suggests the type of salary someone gets based on the reputation. Individualism is however is mostly oriented in the western countries, but can change rapidly also in another countries that used to follow collectivism such as Mexico.
All in all, Qatar is a great example since they have no erosion of culture yet. Tradition is kept while the country is going through major changes through development by having advanced infrastructure such as: railways and metros.
In conclusion, both Hofstede and Trompernaar theories could be implied to Qatar depending on how the country is running technologically, socially, financially and economically. These variables might change in time throughout the coming years, especially during the Qatar 2022 World Cup, as well as Qatar’s 2030 vision. However, the consumption and allowance of alcohol publicly might interfere with the rules and regulations of the 2022 supreme committee, as stated, it will only be available in faraway places, nothing near or inside the stadiums. Foreigners and visitors can apply for licenses allowing them to drink. Beverages will be available easily in hotels as they are permitted to provide them.
