Culture HofstedeCulture HofstedeSource:Source:

Cultures and Organizations: Software of the MindCultures and Organizations: Software of the MindNew York: MCGraw-Hill, 2005New York: MCGraw-Hill, 2005

Djamaludin AncokDjamaludin Ancok

Why we study CultureWhy we study Culture Culture is a mental program that determines and Culture is a mental program that determines and

regulate behavior in a certain context of society. ( How regulate behavior in a certain context of society. ( How we think, how we feel & how we behave.)we think, how we feel & how we behave.)

Culture is collective programming of the mind that Culture is collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others.people from others.

Due differences of culture, frequently become source of Due differences of culture, frequently become source of conflict among people of different culture, since conflict among people of different culture, since differences of how one thinks, feels and behaves.differences of how one thinks, feels and behaves.

Research findings in the western cultures can not be Research findings in the western cultures can not be generalized to the eastern cultures. This mean a theory generalized to the eastern cultures. This mean a theory that is valid in the western culture may not be valid in the that is valid in the western culture may not be valid in the eastern culture. So research findings of human behavior eastern culture. So research findings of human behavior in the west has no universal validity. in the west has no universal validity.

How culture is developed in a How culture is developed in a personperson

Through child rearing process an individual Through child rearing process an individual learns about what kind of behavior is accepted learns about what kind of behavior is accepted and which one is not.and which one is not.

Culture is similar to a computer software. How a Culture is similar to a computer software. How a computer works is dependent upon the type of computer works is dependent upon the type of software. Culture as ‘software. Culture as ‘software of the mind’.software of the mind’.

Different from a computer software which solely Different from a computer software which solely determine the operation of a computer, human determine the operation of a computer, human behavior is not solely determined by culture, but behavior is not solely determined by culture, but also influenced by the personality and creativity also influenced by the personality and creativity of the individuals.of the individuals.

Characteristics of CultureCharacteristics of Culture Culture is a collective entity, which is shared by Culture is a collective entity, which is shared by

majority of people in a certain society.majority of people in a certain society. Culture is a software of the mind that Culture is a software of the mind that

differentiates one group of people from the differentiates one group of people from the others.others.

Culture is something acquired through learning, Culture is something acquired through learning, not something inherited from birth. not something inherited from birth.

Culture is not written habits or regulation that Culture is not written habits or regulation that regulate human interactions.regulate human interactions.

Culture is relative, there is no one culture of a Culture is relative, there is no one culture of a certain group of people is better than the certain group of people is better than the cultures of others. cultures of others. (cultural relativism).(cultural relativism).

Three levels of Uniqueness in Mental Three levels of Uniqueness in Mental ProgrammingProgramming

Human Nature

Culture

Personality

Specific to Individual

Inherited and Learned

Specific to group orcategory

Learned

Universal Inherited

Human NatureHuman Nature

Human uniqueness shared by every Human uniqueness shared by every human being.human being.ThinkingThinkingFearFearTalkingTalkingFeelingFeelingLovingLovingShameShameETC.ETC.

PersonalityPersonality

Uniqueness of individuals that differentiate Uniqueness of individuals that differentiate an individual from others.an individual from others.

Behavior that is genetically originated but Behavior that is genetically originated but being modified by the interaction of being modified by the interaction of individuals with the culture and individuals with the culture and environment. This is a uniqueness of an environment. This is a uniqueness of an individual as a result of learning.individual as a result of learning.

(Culture relativism)(Culture relativism)

Culture relativism affirms that one culture has no Culture relativism affirms that one culture has no absolute criteria for judging the activities of absolute criteria for judging the activities of another culture as “low” or “noble” another culture as “low” or “noble”

It is wrong to assume that one culture is better It is wrong to assume that one culture is better than the other culture.than the other culture.

One should think twice before applying the One should think twice before applying the norms of one person, groups or, society to norms of one person, groups or, society to another.another.

Ritual

Heroes

Symbols

Practices

Values

Layers of Culture

Culture ComponentCulture Component Symbols: words, gestures, pictures, or objects Symbols: words, gestures, pictures, or objects

that carry a particular meaning only recognized that carry a particular meaning only recognized by those who share the cultureby those who share the culture

Heroes: persons, alive or dead, real or imagery, Heroes: persons, alive or dead, real or imagery, who posses characteristics that are highly prized who posses characteristics that are highly prized in a culture and serve as a model.in a culture and serve as a model.

Rituals: collective activities, technically Rituals: collective activities, technically superfluous to reaching desired ends, but within superfluous to reaching desired ends, but within the culture it is socially essential.the culture it is socially essential.

Practices: Any behavior that can be seen by Practices: Any behavior that can be seen by outsiders(symbols, heroes, rituals).outsiders(symbols, heroes, rituals).

ValuesValues

Values is the core of cultureValues is the core of cultureValues are broad tendencies to prefer Values are broad tendencies to prefer

certain state of affairs over others.certain state of affairs over others.Values arae feelings with an arrow to it: Values arae feelings with an arrow to it:

plus or minus:plus or minus:Good vs Bad; Dirty Vs Clean; Dangerous vs Good vs Bad; Dirty Vs Clean; Dangerous vs

Safe; Forbidden vs Permitted; Decent vs Safe; Forbidden vs Permitted; Decent vs Indecent; Moral vs Immoral; Ugly vs Beautiful; Indecent; Moral vs Immoral; Ugly vs Beautiful; Natural vs Unnatural; Normal vs abnormal; Natural vs Unnatural; Normal vs abnormal; Logical vs Paradoxical; Rational vs IrrationalLogical vs Paradoxical; Rational vs Irrational

The Learning Values and PracticesThe Learning Values and Practices

Practices

Values

Age

0

10

20

Family

School

Workplace

Layers of CultureLayers of Culture A national level, according to one's country (or countries for people

who migrated during their lifetime) A regional and/or ethnic and/or religious and/or linguistic affiliation

level, as most nations are composed of culturally different regional and/or ethnic and/or religious and/or language groups

A gender level, according to whether a person was born as a girl or as a boy

A generation level, separating grandparents from parents from children

A social class level, associated with educational opportunities and with a person's occupation or profession

For those who are employed, organizational, departmental, and/or corporate levels, according to the way employees have been socialized by their work organization

Source of Cultural Diversity and Source of Cultural Diversity and ChangeChange

The adaptation to new natural environmentThe adaptation to new natural environment Societies in cooler climates tended to develop Societies in cooler climates tended to develop

greater equality among their members than did greater equality among their members than did society in tropical climate.society in tropical climate.

Collective migration makes people adapt to the Collective migration makes people adapt to the place where they have migrated.place where they have migrated.

Military Conquest that force people to be Military Conquest that force people to be subordinate of the conqueror.subordinate of the conqueror.

Missionary zeal that converts people to a new Missionary zeal that converts people to a new religionreligion

Culture DefinedCulture Defined

The totality of the pattern of behaviors, beliefs, The totality of the pattern of behaviors, beliefs, institutions, arts, traditions, and the products of institutions, arts, traditions, and the products of the human mind which become the the human mind which become the characteristics of a community shown in the characteristics of a community shown in the social environmentsocial environment

They consists of symbols, rituals and They consists of symbols, rituals and ceremonies, heroes, values, beliefs, and ideasceremonies, heroes, values, beliefs, and ideas

Work cultureWork culture is the totality of assumptions, is the totality of assumptions, beliefs, intentions, and attitudes that are reflected beliefs, intentions, and attitudes that are reflected by the habitual behaviors of people at the by the habitual behaviors of people at the workplace workplace

Culture as Perceived Culture as Perceived SYMBOLSSYMBOLS –Words, patterns of movement, –Words, patterns of movement,

pictures, or objects that have special meanings in pictures, or objects that have special meanings in a particular societya particular society

RITUALS RITUALS and and CEREMONIESCEREMONIES – Daily routine life of – Daily routine life of an organization which has been systematically an organization which has been systematically prepared to give meaning in a particular societyprepared to give meaning in a particular society

HEROES – People who personify the values that are held high within society, showing that they are worth to followVALUES – Basic concepts, beliefs, ideas, and assumptions

about a society that are used as the reference for

the establishment of standards of performance

The Three Levels of CultureThe Three Levels of Culture

Products and behaviors(explicit)

Norms and values

Basic AssumptionsAnd Beliefs(Implicit)

The Dimensions of Culture [1]The Dimensions of Culture [1]

POWER DISTANCEPOWER DISTANCE – – The extent to The extent to which the less powerful members of which the less powerful members of the organization within a society the organization within a society expect and accept that power is expect and accept that power is distributed unequally distributed unequally

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Ranking ofPower DistanceBy Nations

Power Distance &Individualism-Collectivism

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Power Distance& UncertaintyAvoidance

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Dimension of Culture (2)Dimension of Culture (2)

INDIVIDUALISMINDIVIDUALISM – – Stands for a Stands for a community in which the ties between community in which the ties between individuals are loose –individuals are loose –

COLLECTIVISMCOLLECTIVISM – – Stands for a Stands for a community in which people have a community in which people have a lifelong experience of being integrated lifelong experience of being integrated into strong, cohesive in-groupsinto strong, cohesive in-groups

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Ranking of IndividualismBy Nation.

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Individualism vs. CollectivismIndividualism vs. Collectivism

IndividualisticIndividualistic ““I” and “Me” culturesI” and “Me” cultures Priority given to Priority given to

individual freedom individual freedom and choiceand choice IsraelIsrael RomaniaRomania NigeriaNigeria CanadaCanada United StatesUnited States

CollectivistCollectivist ““We” and “Us” culturesWe” and “Us” cultures Rank shared goals higher Rank shared goals higher

than individual desires and than individual desires and goalsgoals

Subordinate their own Subordinate their own wishes and goals to those of wishes and goals to those of the relevant social unitthe relevant social unit EgyptEgypt NepalNepal MexicoMexico IndiaIndia JapanJapan

Source: Kreitner & Kinicki, 2005

Dimension of Culture (3)Dimension of Culture (3)

MASCULINITYMASCULINITY – – Stands for a Stands for a community in which assertiveness, community in which assertiveness, firmness of action, and social gender firmness of action, and social gender role are clearly expressed –role are clearly expressed –

FEMININITYFEMININITY – – Stands for a community Stands for a community in which caring and concern for others in which caring and concern for others are distinctly expressed are distinctly expressed

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Ranking of MasculinityBy Nations

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

The Dimensions of Culture [4]The Dimensions of Culture [4]

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCEUNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE – –

The extent to which the members of The extent to which the members of the organization within a society feel the organization within a society feel threatened by uncertain, unknown, threatened by uncertain, unknown, ambiguous, or unstructured situationsambiguous, or unstructured situations

Source: Hoecklin, L. Managing Cultural Differences. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1995

Dimension of Culture (5)Dimension of Culture (5)

LONG-TERM ORIENTATIONLONG-TERM ORIENTATION – Stands for a – Stands for a community fostering virtues oriented community fostering virtues oriented towards future rewards or independence, towards future rewards or independence, reflected in particular perseverance and thrift reflected in particular perseverance and thrift – –

SHORT-TERM ORIENTATIONSHORT-TERM ORIENTATION – Stands for a – Stands for a community fostering virtues related to the community fostering virtues related to the past and present, in particular respect for past and present, in particular respect for tradition, preservation of “face”, and fulfilling tradition, preservation of “face”, and fulfilling social needs social needs

Source: Hofstede & Hofsetede (2005)