Framework Of Cultural Dimensions Research Articles

The Impact of Mental Models on the Transition from Communism to Capitalism. The Comparative Case Study of Azerbaijan and Poland

The purpose of the article. The breakdown of the so-called Eastern Bloc, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and the demise of communism fueled transition processes in Central and Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The great majority of transformation difficulties across different areas demonstrate that when pursuing the process of a structural change, it is important to take into account diverse sets of formal and informal institutions preserved in each country. Each country has a unique set of formal and informal institutions. These differences are easily observed between Poland and Azerbaijan. The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast the outcomes of Poland and Azerbaijan's transitions from communism to capitalism and to identify the primary factors driving these two different transformations. Methodology. The paper presents two complementary methods to compare the transitions from communism to capitalism in Poland and Azerbaijan. The first method involves secondary analysis, where existing data from reputable sources such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) database, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI), and country reports are compiled to provide insights into economic, political, and social indicators. Additionally, a comparative case study approach is employed, using Geert Hofstede's six cultural dimensions framework to explore the cultural influences on transition outcomes. By integrating these methods, the study aims to offer a comprehensive analysis of the transformation processes in Poland and Azerbaijan. Results of the research. The results of the analysis presented in the paper support the hypothesis that the historically-shaped differences in mental models and strong ties to international protectors determined the paths of transformations in Poland and Azerbaijan. The primary similarities and contrasts in the mindset are justified by the colonial or imperial history of the nations.

The Role of Culture in Using Social Media in Sport: The Case of Australian and Singaporean Elite Sportswomen

The use of social media is reflective of an individual’s culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the cultural context on Australian and Singaporean sportswomen’s uses of social media. In-depth interviews with 12 elite sportswomen from both countries combined with supplementary information collected through the participating athletes’ Instagram profiles showed that social media uses are influenced by uncertainty avoidance, individualism or collectivism, masculinity or femininity, and long- or short-term orientations. By applying Hofstede and Bond’s cultural dimensions framework, the study presents new knowledge on three cultural dimensions (i.e., uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs. femininity, and long-term vs. short-term orientation) and broadens the field of sport and social media by comparing the use of social media between athletes from diverse cultures. The study offers significant insight for designing a branding strategy that encompasses cultural contexts to guide athletes on their use of social media.

Leveraging Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions for Devising COVID-19 Control Strategies

The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused unprecedented global challenges, including significant socioeconomic disruptions and the closure of schools and universities in almost all countries. Understanding the role of culture in shaping individual and societal responses to the Pandemic is crucial. This review article examines the applicability of Hofstede's cultural dimensions framework in devising effective COVID-19 control strategies. The article provides an overview of each dimension and its impact on the implementation of COVID-19 control strategies. It also includes a case analysis of four countries - India, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Poland - to illustrate the interplay between culture and COVID-19 control strategies. The insights provided by Hofstede's framework and the case analysis demonstrate that cultural differences can significantly impact the success of COVID-19 control strategies. By taking these differences into account, governments and public health authorities can improve the effectiveness of their COVID-19 control measures.

Cultural Diversity in Police Organizations: A Quantitative Study between Two Generations of Recruits at the Rio Grande Do Norte State Police

Managing multicultural teams is a contemporary challenge either in public, private, international, or domestic firms. Leading or working with individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds can be a risk, but an opportunity, though, especially in Brazil, a gigantic multicultural country whose people’s diversity is often treated carelessly. This project investigated whether the cultural differences between two generations of Police Officers in one of Brazil’s State Police Organization are relevant and deserve special measures of Human Resources Management. Through quantitative methods, an experiment with 349 participants was performed using the Value Survey Module (VSM), a cultural dimensions framework devised by Hofstede. Two groups have been compared, namely, recruits undertaking the basic police course and sworn officers with ten years of police service. Relevant cultural differences were identified in four cultural dimensions, namely, Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-term Orientation indexes. Based on this, urgent Human Resources-related measures are necessary to integrate culturally diverse team members and foster cooperation instead of competition. Moreover, this study offers recommendations to improve the professionalism of the Law Enforcement Agency and its community-oriented service.

Relacja pomiędzy wymiarami kultury, a ich znaczeniem dla wyboru stylu w konflikcie.

This paper proposes a broad perspective for studying the influence of cultural dimensions and their influence on the process of choosing conflict management styles Definition of both culture and that of conflict are presented. Analytical review of research on the conflict styles and their relation with dimensions of culture are presented in this article. Within the paper following cultural dimensions are considered in the context of conflict management styles: individualism and collectivism, high and low power distance as well as high and low uncertainty avoidance. All models of cultural dimensions are considered within the cultural dimensions framework of Hofstede (1981). In case of individualism there is preference for an avoiding style of conflict management and in collectivist cultures typical choice is that of compromising and obliging conflict style. In case of high power distance avoiding conflict style is likely to be chosen by members of High Power cultures. Few studies cover the problem of power distance and conflict style preference, however, we may assume that the individual will chose conflict style that allows him to maintain either low or high power distance typical for his own culture. Finally the paper shows connection of low uncertainty avoidance and the choice of collaborative and compromising conflict styles. The implications of conflict resolution styles across cultures for the future research and implementation in organizations as well as in international relations are discussed.

Understanding the Feasibility of the Common Set of Performance Management Planning Based on Hofstede’s Framework of Cultural Dimension

Performance management is one of the most important parts of human resource management practice and policy. Multinational Corporations pay more attention to their performance management and to help their corporation becomes a high-performance organization. The performance management (PM) system is a necessary part of Multinational Corporation’s management system. On the other hand, the performance system has close relationship with rewards, development and job analysis which is other important part of human resource management in multinational corporations. Multinational corporations work hard to improve their performance management practices ensuring their employees, teams and their business units complete their objective output. The employees and organizations have been driven by the important performance tools which impact both on individuals and team’s performance. This paper introduces the multinational corporation’s performance management system and compares the performance management characteristics and the feasibility of the common set of performance management planning of French companies and Chinese companies based on Hofstede’s framework of cultural dimensions.

Cross-Cultural Dissimilarities in the Perception of Brand Personality of Select Smart phones: Evidence from West Bengal, India and Bangladesh

The study has been conducted in the adjoining regions of West Bengal and Bangladesh (erstwhile East Bengal) among various respondent groups. Both the regions have been archetypally known to share multiple cultural commonalities. Notwithstanding, there exists divergences in the culture, which have been tested using Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Framework. Further, the study investigates whether there exist any divergences in how the personalities of the two smart phone brands, namely, Samsung and Xiaomi, are perceived in the two regions. An aggregate sample of 295 and 287 respondents have been selected conveniently from West Bengal, India and Bangladesh, respectively. The current study primarily aims to probe into the cultural dissimilarities between the two contiguous regions of West Bengal (in India) and Bangladesh. Subsequently, the study investigates the probable impact of such cross-cultural dissimilarities on consumers' perception concerning the personality of select smart phone brands, specifically Samsung and Xiaomi. The study provides good empirical insight into the fact that despite the uniform positioning of the two smart phone brands in the two West Bengal and Bangladesh regions, their personality traits are perceived differently by consumers dwelling in these cultures. The analysis yields that respondents from West Bengal and Bangladesh demonstrated notable congruencies in perceiving Xiaomi as a 'responsible' and ''aggressive' brand. However, Samsung is perceived as an 'aggressive' brand in Bangladesh and 'stable' in West Bengal. The perceptual deviations of the smart phone brands' personalities exist due to the cultural divergences between the two regions. The current study is unique in that it offers a new-fangled perspective to looking at cross-cultural research by comparing politico-administrative units instead of countries at large. Yet, it is bound by imperfections, such as limited sample size, making it difficult to make more detailed comments on individuals' perceptions towards the brand personality dimensions of smart phones. Although adequate care has been taken to eliminate the “made-in image” of the Chinese smart phones, respondents were generally biased towards the product quality, brand acquaintance and their overall perceptions towards the personality of the said brands. Brand personality plays an integral role in easing communications with customers. They can, resultantly, relate conveniently to the identity and the personality traits possessed by such brands. Marketing professionals can essentially aim to foster a brand-customer personality congruence, which would ideally enable them to position their product offerings accordingly and design tailored advertising and marketing communication messages. A well-defined brand personality initiates greater customer purchase willingness coupled with amplified emotional attachment, trust and loyalty, thereby enhancing the significance of branding to managers. They can help develop frameworks to analyze behavioral intentions concerning consumer perception of brand personality

Playing Global Monopoly in Cement: The Globalization of CEMEX

This research article is intended for use as a classroom case study with questions for discussion in International Business. This research analyzes CEMEX and their strategy for globalization. CEMEX is a Mexico founded building materials company that operates in more than fifty countries and maintains trade relationships in over one-hundred nations. In addition to CEMEX creating an international business, CEMEX embraces core values including ethics, integrity, and environmental sustainability. The literature review in this study, documents how CEMEX overcame cultural and political implications, and significant risk to become a significant multinational corporation. The topical focus and purpose of this research is to explore CEMEX critically as a specimen company representing cross-cultural and international business growth. The analysis includes the utilization of the Hofstede Cultural Dimensions framework and the PESTLEEG analysis.

Playing Global Monopoly in Cement: The Globalization of CEMEX

This research article is intended for use as a classroom case study with questions for discussion in International Business. This research analyzes CEMEX and their strategy for globalization. CEMEX is a Mexico founded building materials company that operates in more than fifty countries and maintains trade relationships in over one-hundred nations. In addition to CEMEX creating an international business, CEMEX embraces core values including ethics, integrity, and environmental sustainability. The literature review in this study, documents how CEMEX overcame cultural and political implications, and significant risk to become a significant multinational corporation. The topical focus and purpose of this research is to explore CEMEX critically as a specimen company representing cross-cultural and international business growth. The analysis includes the utilization of the Hofstede Cultural Dimensions framework and the PESTLEEG analysis.

Hofstede's cultural dimensions as the explanatory framework for performance issues during clinical placement: A mixed methods study

Aims and objectivesThe objectives of this study were to examine a) if those with reported clinical performance issues were more likely to experience course progression issues or withdrew from the program; b) the relationship between clinical and academic performance; c) the relationship between students social-demographic characteristics and clinical performance issues; and d) the utility of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory in explaining the clinical performance issues students may experience during clinical placement. MethodRetrospective textual reports of clinical issues from 2014 to 2018 were collected. A mixed methods design, particularly Embedded Design, was used. The qualitative data was analysed using Directed Content Analysis using Hofstede's six dimensions as the coding categories, which were further broken down into high and low poles, making a total of 12 subcategories. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was utilised to analyse the quantitative data. ResultsUsing Hofstede's framework, it was determined that nursing students 21 years and younger were more likely to have issues related to low long-term orientation. Male students were more likely to have issues related to low uncertainty avoidance and also displayed masculinity related issues. Overseas-born students were less likely to experience issues related to low power distance and students that had not failed a unit of study were less likely to have issues related to low long-term orientation. The study also found that students experienced issues related to poor psychomotor skills and language barriers. Furthermore, the study identified that students who experienced clinical placement issues were three times more likely to leave the course. ConclusionHofstede's cultural dimensions framework can be used to explain clinical performance issues among undergraduate nursing students. Early identification of the students likely to experience these issues can lead to targeted and preventative interventions.

The impact of board gender diversity and national culture on corporate innovation: A multi-country analysis of multinational corporations operating in emerging economies

This paper contributes to burgeoning research concerning the relationship between boardroom gender diversity and corporate innovation. The paper deploys a multi-theoretical framework comprising insights from the upper echelons, resource-dependency, and institutional theories, and the Hofstede's cultural dimensions framework. We test a panel dataset for 472 multinationals in 21 emerging economies, covering nine years (2009–2018). Our findings reveal that gender diversity is positively associated with corporate innovation. We also find that local factors such as national norms, cultural values, and country-level institutional quality influence boardroom gender diversity, level of investment in research and development (R&D), and corporate innovation. The paper concludes by providing policy and managerial recommendations on how to promote firm innovation within emerging markets contexts.

A pragmatic approach to the analysis of marketing adaptation to Russian national culture

There are a great number of transnational corporations operating all over the world. All of them are facing the issue of national culture, and cross-cultural difference is of vital importance. Choosing appropriate marketing strategy assures success or failure on the international market. The concept of culture is very dynamic and requires constant observation. The tasks marketing managers started to deal with became more complex, requiring cultural sensitivity and ability to overcome cross-cultural differences.The research, presented in this paper, attempts to analyze whether national culture affects marketing strategy of international companies. The framework of cultural dimensions developed by Hofstede was taken as a basis for the analysis of Russian national culture. The author resorts to the quantitative approach based on the conducted survey and analyzes data collected in the Russian Federation. At first cultural values were used to identify Russia. Cultural values were measured at the individual level and compared to the previous findings on Russian culture. Analysis of differences in cultural values on the individual level among Russian population has shown that there is some kind of difference between previous findings related to Russia and findings obtained during the research. The level of adaptation was evaluated from the consumers’ point of view. Questionnaire was designed based on the analyzed literature, and obtained data was statistically analyzed with SPSS. Linear regression and correlation analysis were used to prove the hypotheses of the research work. Though Russian national culture was depicted as unique with a great number of peculiarities, in the industries, analyzed in this paper, the connection between marketing strategy adaptation and uncertainty avoidance, and marketing strategy adaptation and dimension of collectivism for fast moving consumer goods was proved statistically.The second stage of the research included the analysis of the empirical evidence of the cultural adaptation of the advertisement of fast moving consumer goods for the Russian consumer. A number of samples were analyzed, and two cases are presented in the paper. The pragmatic approach was used for the analysis of the empirical data.The results of the study add to the theoretical knowledge about the relationship between cultural dimensions in Russia and marketing strategies employed by transnational companies. They also contribute to the knowledge about Russian consumers’ behavior patterns. The framework can be potentially applied to other spheres of professional business in Russia.

Cross-Cultural Evidence on Tax Disclosures in CSR Reports – A Textual Analysis Approach

This study examines how dimensions of culture influence variations in views about the link between corporate tax payments and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using textual analysis and a newly-developed set of keywords unique to a tax setting, we analyze 4,438 CSR reports from 24 countries, which is the largest sample that has been analyzed in a tax context. We find significant variation across countries in whether and how often tax is mentioned and whether corporate tax payments and CSR are discussed as complements or substitutes. Using Hofstede’s (2001) framework of cultural dimensions, we find cross-cultural variations in the relevance placed on tax in CSR reports. Further, firms in certain cultures are more likely to highlight their tax paid as a contribution to tax revenue or point out their socially responsible tax practices (complements) while others tend to criticize the tax system or their tax burden (substitutes).

National culture and tourist destination choice in the UK and Venezuela: an exploratory and preliminary study

National culture determines consumer attitudes and behaviour. While this holds true for tourism consumption, little research has sought to better understand the effect of culture on tourist destination choice. The geographical scope of analysis has also been restricted. This study employs the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions framework to conduct an exploratory, qualitative evaluation of the influence of tourist cultural background on destination choice. It focuses on the UK and Venezuela, the two countries with significant cultural differences and forecast growth in outbound tourism. The study shows the distinct role of culture in tourist preferences for destination choice and structure of travel groups. The effect of culture is also recorded in how tourists research destinations prior to visit and perceive travel risks, thus ultimately influencing their motivation to travel. Recommendations are developed on how to integrate knowledge on cultural background of tourists into tourism management and policy-making practices.

Heights of privilege: economic and cultural determinants of skyscraper height across the world

Despite the global boom in skyscraper construction, the drivers of skyscraper height are still poorly understood. While extant research primarily focuses on economic determinants of skyscraper height, this article conceptualizes the skyscraper as a cultural artefact and hypothesizes that skyscraper height may also be contingent on a country’s cultural environment. The dependent variable in this study measures the architectural height of the tallest skyscraper in a sample of 90 countries. Economic covariates capture effects on height by zoning regulations, land value, relative rents, taxes and subsidies, GDP growth rate, real interest rate and potential agglomeration economies. The cultural covariates are drawn from Hofstede’s (Culture’s consequences: comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations, 1st ed., Vol. 5. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications, Inc.; 1980) cultural dimensions framework and include country indices for power distance, individualism, masculinity and uncertainty avoidance. The results of multiple regression analysis show significant effects of several economic covariates on skyscraper height and reveal a significant effect of cross-country differences in power distance indices on skyscraper height. As such, cross-country differences in the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally may constrain or enable real estate developers and construction companies in how tall to propose and build skyscrapers.

Organizational learning for sustainable development: Correlation with the national culture dimensions framework

Knowledge has become a key resource and the driver of economic progress. The distribution of welfare in the world demonstrates that the richest countries are the ones that have the knowledge, not natural resources. Creating a knowledge-based society is the foundation for sustainable development. Key factors influencing the creation of a knowledge-based economy are investments in education, research and development and application of new technologies. Nevertheless, culture, attitudes and values that affect people’s commitment to continuous improvement and learning, can also play an important role in creating a knowledge society for sustainable development. In this paper authors are making an attempt to identify the basic values of employees in several Serbian companies by means of factor analysis approach, with special emphasis on the national cultural dimensions framework and its utility.

Russian Pre-Service and Young In-Service Teachers’ Views on Cultural Dimensions of Russian Education: Power Distance

The article discusses Power Distance as one of the cultural dimensions of Russian education based on the perceptions and views of Russian pre-service and young in-service teachers. These views were elicited in the context of a 2 ECTS master’s degree course, “Cultural Dimensions of Education,” offered at Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. The course includes Hofstede’s framework of cultural dimensions and the manifestation of these dimensions in educational settings, Hall’s cultural-factors theory (particularly high- and low- context cultures and monochronic versus polychronic cultures), but the research focuses on only one of the cultural dimensions, Hofstede’s Power Distance. The students’ reflections on their own experiences presented in writing as case studies and discussed with their peer students have been analyzed. Evidence has been gained that large Power Distance is a typical feature of Russian educational settings’ attitudes and relationships among all the actors—school administration, teachers, pupils, and their parents. The article discusses some of the cases presented and analyzed by the students and their arguments supporting their points of view.

Exploring cultural and linguistic influences on clinical communication skills: a qualitative study of International Medical Graduates

BackgroundInternational Medical Graduates (IMGs) are known to perform less well in many postgraduate medical examinations when compared to their UK trained counterparts. This “differential attainment” is observed in both knowledge-based and clinical skills assessments. This study explored the influence of culture and language on IMGs clinical communication skills, in particular, their ability to seek, detect and acknowledge patients’ concerns in a high stakes postgraduate clinical skills examination. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions framework was used to look at the impact of culture on examination performance.MethodsThis was a qualitative, interpretative study using thematic content analysis of video-recorded doctor-simulated patient consultations of candidates sitting the MRCP(UK) PACES examination, at a single examination centre in November 2012. The research utilised Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory, a framework for comparing cultural factors amongst different nations, to help understand the reasons for failure.ResultsFive key themes accounted for the majority of communication failures in station 2, “history taking” and station 4, “communication skills and ethics” of the MRCP(UK) PACES examination. Two themes, the ability to detect clues and the ability to address concerns, related directly to the overall construct managing patients’ concerns. Three other themes were found to impact the whole consultation. These were building relationships, providing structure and explanation and planning.ConclusionHofstede’s cultural dimensions may help to contextualise some of these observations. In some cultures doctor and patient roles are relatively inflexible: the doctor may convey less information to the patient (higher power distance societies) and give less attention to building rapport (high uncertainty avoidance societies.) This may explain why cues and concerns presented by patients were overlooked in this setting. Understanding cultural differences through Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory can inform the preparation of candidates for high stakes bedside clinical skills examinations and for professional practice.

The Impact of National Cultures on Business & IT Alignment

Aligning IT to business needs is still one of the most important concerns for senior management. The message of Business & IT Alignment (BIA) is logical and undisputed, but implementation apparently difficult. As part of a research program on the differences between the theory and practice of BIA this paper presents a conceptual exploration of the impact of national cultures on the maturity of BIA. The paper relies on Hofstede’s framework of cultural dimensions (Hofstede, 1980) to understand the concept of culture. We present a compact literature review on the influence of culture on IT that leads to the conclusion that there is an influence and that it is likely that also alignment of business and IT will be affected by cultural aspects. After a brief introduction we analyze this influence by conceptually assessing the potential impact of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions on the variables of BIA maturity. I

Culture's Impact on the Importance of Fairness in Interorganizational Relationships

Research on interorganizational relationships is predicated on the idea that fairness is always important. The authors question this assumption because most fairness research has been conducted in Western countries, and mixed empirical support draws into question how important fairness actually is. Drawing on Hofstede's cultural dimensions framework, the authors examine culture as an antecedent to the importance of outcome fairness (OF) and procedural fairness (PF) in retailers’ assessments of their relationships with suppliers. The authors also propose that cultural exposure moderates the impact of culture on fairness importance. Using responses from retailers in ten countries analyzed with hierarchical linear modeling, the authors find that uncertainty avoidance enhances the importance of OF and PF, power distance marginally decreases the importance of PF, and long-term orientation increases the importance of both OF and PF. Cultural exposure also positively moderates the impact of uncertainty avoidance and masculinity on both fairness types. The pattern of effects is robust when compared with two alternative models. This study offers a first step in understanding culture's impact on when fairness is more or less important.