Cultural Dimensions in Colombia and Chile According to the Spanish Version of the Dorfman and Howell Questionnaire

Delio Ignacio Castañeda ,Andrés Raineri ,Camilo A Ramírez

doi:10.3390/su14031623

Delio Ignacio Castañeda , Andrés Raineri + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031623

Copy DOI

Abstract

Culture influences the way people can be managed successfully according to the organizational objectives including sustainability. Hofstede´s cultural dimensions have been widely studied in different contexts. Dorfman and Howell designed an instrument in English to measure those dimensions. However, there is no validated Spanish version for this instrument. The objective of this article is to provide to the Ibero-American community a Spanish version of the Dorfman and Howell instrument. The questionnaire was translated into Spanish and adapted to the Chilean and Colombian populations. The study included 1136 participants, 500 from Chile and 636 from Colombia. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were supported by the KMO and the Bartlett tests. Results indicate a better fit of a five-factor model, in similarity with the English language original instrument, as follows: masculinity–femininity, paternalism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism–collectivism. Construct validity of the scales was confirmed in the Chilean sample, showing results consistent with previous meta-analytical research. The Dorfman and Howell instrument is a valid questionnaire for the evaluation of cultural dimensions in Spanish-speaking populations. The measurement of culture is a tool that leaders have available to facilitate the understanding and management of people. Organizations with operations in different countries or with intercultural context may use the results of this instrument to tune up their interventions.

Highlights

The beliefs, habits, assumptions, expectations, philosophy, traditions, and understandings shared by a collective of individuals has been considered the essence of culture (i.e., [1,2,3,4])
Because of the need to have a valid and psychometrically tested Spanish version of the Dorfman and Howell [2] scales the purpose of this research is the translation into Spanish, and the psychometric validation, of the Dorfman and Howell [2] cultural values scales in the following two Latin-American countries: Colombia and Chile
Having a model that identifies the cultural dimensions, and which of them are predominant, constitutes an opportunity for leaders to measure them and take the necessary actions to manage the desired culture oriented to results

Summary

Introduction

The beliefs, habits, assumptions, expectations, philosophy, traditions, and understandings shared by a collective of individuals has been considered the essence of culture (i.e., [1,2,3,4]). Culture can be understood as a cohesive system of meanings and symbols in terms of which social interactions take place [5]. Culture is expressed through symbols, ceremonies, myths, rituals, language, and stories which affect the behavior of employees [7]. Organizational culture arose as a concept to explain the sharing of the above mentioned elements by members of organizations [8]. The understanding of culture is a tool that leaders have available to manage successfully their collaborators to achieve organizational objectives

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion