Hofstde Model
Hofstede Model, Guatemala, and Sweden
Allen Lee Blocker
Benedictine University
Running Head: Hofstede Model , Guatemala, and Sweden
Abstract According to the Mooij and Hofstede (2010), the Hofstede Model assumes the role of defining a culture by noting the differences inherent within. Specifically, this model contains five dimensions which can be applied to countries in order to spell out these differences. Dimensions used in the Hofstede model are power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation. The author of this paper purports to illustrate why the participative approach is not useful in a country like Guatamala but more so in Sweden.
He also purports to illustrate the differences in training and workforce orientation per country; why instructions like specific instructions versus generalized instructions for employees differ per country; and finally the differences in the teamwork orientation per country.
Running Head: Hofstede Model , Guatemala, and Sweden Professor Geere Hofstede (2001) has provided compelling evidence to support the notion that cultures can be defined by country origin and the differences between countries. His treatise does not involve the racial characteristics as incorporated in disciplines like cultural anthropology when defining culture, but instead, ethnic or national characteristics when comparing country origin and orientation. It is this author’s conviction that Hofstede’s Model, and the assertions inherent, can be constructed to both complement and supplement a few anthropological and sociological theories about cultures, in a latitudinarian sense. His fifth and sixth dimensional models have discerned marked differences in the orientation between countries insofar as social behavioral characteristics when concerning work and familial orientation. In an effort to underscore a few differences between national cultures, this author focused on Sweden
Allen Lee Blocker
Benedictine University
Running Head: Hofstede Model , Guatemala, and Sweden
Abstract According to the Mooij and Hofstede (2010), the Hofstede Model assumes the role of defining a culture by noting the differences inherent within. Specifically, this model contains five dimensions which can be applied to countries in order to spell out these differences. Dimensions used in the Hofstede model are power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation. The author of this paper purports to illustrate why the participative approach is not useful in a country like Guatamala but more so in Sweden.
He also purports to illustrate the differences in training and workforce orientation per country; why instructions like specific instructions versus generalized instructions for employees differ per country; and finally the differences in the teamwork orientation per country.
Running Head: Hofstede Model , Guatemala, and Sweden Professor Geere Hofstede (2001) has provided compelling evidence to support the notion that cultures can be defined by country origin and the differences between countries. His treatise does not involve the racial characteristics as incorporated in disciplines like cultural anthropology when defining culture, but instead, ethnic or national characteristics when comparing country origin and orientation. It is this author’s conviction that Hofstede’s Model, and the assertions inherent, can be constructed to both complement and supplement a few anthropological and sociological theories about cultures, in a latitudinarian sense. His fifth and sixth dimensional models have discerned marked differences in the orientation between countries insofar as social behavioral characteristics when concerning work and familial orientation. In an effort to underscore a few differences between national cultures, this author focused on Sweden
References: Deresky, H (2013) International Management: Managing Across Borders (8th Edition) Pearson The Hofstede Center, (n.d.) ; Welcome to the www.geert-hofstede.com website Retrieved from: http://geert-hofstede.com/guatemala.html; Retrieved from: http://geert-hofstede.com/sweden.html McShane S., & Von Glinow M., (2013) Organizational Behavior; Emerging Knowledge. Global Reality. (6th edition) McGraw-Hill Irwin Mooij M., & Hofstede, G., (2010) The Hofstede model: Applications to global branding and advertising strategy and research, International Journal of Advertising (29) 1, 85-110 Dollard, M., Osborn K., Manning, I ( 2013) Journal Of Organizational Behavior, Organization-environment adaptation: A macro-level shift in modeling work distress and morale. Vol. 34 Issue 5, p629-647. 19p.