Dimensions of Culture DR SUZANNE DROLESKEY Learning Outcomes

Dimensions of Culture DR. SUZANNE DROLESKEY

Learning Outcomes Students will be able to • define culture • differentiate between scientific generalizations and stereotypes. • compare and contrast their ratings on an inventory of Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of National Culture with each other and with global findings. • use Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of National Culture country comparison tool.

What is “Culture”? What ideas, or components or concepts come to mind when you think of someone’s “culture”? • Explicit culture (use 5 senses) • Implicit culture (values/beliefs/behaviors– this is what our class will focus on)

3 Critical Elements of “Culture” • a group of people • shared components: values, beliefs, traditions, structures, organizations, patterns of thinking, behaviors, etc. • Passage of shared components to new group members explicitly and implicitly

What is our “cultural framework” for the US? Domestic View International View Many Groups Shared Characteristics Intersectionality

Generalizations vs. Stereotypes • Stereotype – negative or positive statement about an identifiable group of people that is applied to every person in the group, always creating a negative impact • Scientific Generalizations -- conclusions drawn from scientific data that allow one to make generally reliable, but not prescriptive, statements; these can turn into stereotypes if applied to all people in a group

Values/Beliefs Drive Behaviors A Continuum is a sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other although the extremes are quite distinct. Value/Beliefs Behavior

Geert Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of National Culture • Dutch researcher/sociologist specializing in organizational culture • Hofstede’s studies identified 6 dimensions of national culture • These are generalizations derived from people taking his inventory and from other scientific studies.

Review Results of Six Dimensions of National Culture Inventory • • • Individualism – Collectivism Power Distance Masculinity – Femininity Uncertainty Avoidance Long Term Orientation Indulgence

Homework: Hofstede’s website ◦ Read the website descriptors of the 6 dimensions and watch the 10 minute videos of Hofstede explaining each dimension https: //geerthofstede. com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6 d-model-ofnational-culture/ ◦ Look at the country tool and identify how they compare to the US and some of your regional countries https: //www. hofstede-insights. com/country-comparison/ Take the reading quiz -- It will be based on these two components and will require you to have the website open while taking the quiz.