Assignment

Objectives

The aim of this assignment is to suggest the role played by management scholars in developing new ideas useful to individuals interested in cross cultural management. Specifically this assignment addresses the ideas and frameworks of Geert Hofstede.

Instructor Comments

Hofstede's dimensions play fascinating roles in helping us understand different societies. Take for instance countries or cultures where both scores associated with Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance are high. In these instances, the result is the creation of "societies that are highly rule-oriented with laws, rules, regulations, and controls in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty, while inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. These cultures are more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens.

Further, "when these two dimensions are combined, it creates a situation where leaders have virtually ultimate power and authority, and the rules, laws and regulations developed by those in power, reinforce their own leadership and control. It is not unusual for new leadership to arise from armed insurrection - the ultimate power, rather than from diplomatic or democratic change. "Understanding the meanings associated with these dimensions helps to explain why Pakistan is why it is. It also helps to explain why Canada is not similar.

This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, "How are some national cultures similar?" You should base your responses to the following questions on your analysis of the ideas of Geert Hofstede.

In order to complete this assignment, you will need to access the country profiles based on Hofstede's cultural dimensions using the following website:http://www.geert-hofstede.com

Please complete the following exercises.

Please identify five countries that are similar in terms of Power Distance. Please summarize in your own words why they are similar.
Please identify five countries that are similar in terms of Individualism. Please summarize in your own words why they are similar.
Please identify five countries that are similar in terms of Masculinity/Femininity. Please summarize in your own words why they are similar.
Please identify five countries that are similar in terms of Uncertainty Avoidance. Please summarize in your own words why they are similar.
Please identify five countries that are similar in terms of Temporal Orientation. Please summarize in your own words why they are similar.

Hint: The country profiles described in terms of Hofstede's cultural dimensions http://ww.geert-hofstede.com may be of great value when completing this assignment.

Please limit your response to this assignment to three single spaced, typed pages. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write-up with one paragraph that summarizes what you think is the importance of this assignment.

Two single space is enough.