POWER DISTANCE Power distance measures how much a culture has respect for authority.

India scores high on power distance dimension, with a ranking of 77 compared to a world average of 56.5. This power distance score for India indicates that the country has an appreciation for hierarchy and a topdown structure in society and organizations, thus has a high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society. This condition is accepted by the population as a cultural norm. The Indian caste system has secured a rigid hierarchy at all levels of society. Indians accept this system with its built-in obligations and duties. The caste system brings continuity and a structure for predictable relationships, while allowing some flexibility for individuals who demonstrate merit. In India, it is highly dependent on the boss or the power holder for direction of a company. Real power is centralized and managers count on the obedience of their team members. Employees expect to be directed clearly as to their functions and what is expected of them. Control is familiar, even a psychological security, and attitude towards managers are formal even if one is on first name basis .Communication is top down and directive in its style and often feedback which is negative is never offered up the ladder. In addition, an Indian boss is expected to be a caring patron who initiates promotion for subordinates when there is right timing. In return, the junior staff will show heightened respect for their superiors. Most decisions in business are made by senior management even though juniors can be consulted. In more bureaucratic organisations, showing loyalty to the superior and ones own role can be more important than achieving the organisations goals. Although top people are quite inaccessible to junior staff, vertical relationships are often formed and maintained for selfinterest. This means that there is room for negotiation on targets and results, depending on the strength of personal loyalties.

INDIVIDUALISM / COLLECTIVITISM The fundamental issue in this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In collectivist society, people belong to in groups that takes care of them in exchange for loyalty. India, with a score of 48 is a society with clear collectivistic traits. This means that there is a high preference for belonging to a larger social framework in which individuals are expected to act in accordance to the greater good of ones defined in-groups. India is a collectivist culture and their strength is that they work well in teams. Individuals tend to do things together, for example, if one person gets up to get tea, he may ask several people to follow. Indians usually have lunch together in the office as oppose to eating alone. Moreover, In India, there is a noticeable lack of privacy and a smaller concept of personal space, where several generations used to live together under one roof. For Indian business practices this places an additional importance on interpersonal contacts, avoidance of conflict and a more indirect approach to communication. Indian collectivism is derived from traditional Indian family values. Historically, the traditional, ideal and desired family in India is the joint family-More often than not, it incorporates several generations, with grandparents, their married and unmarried children and grandchildren living in the same house and sharing a common budget. These members eat the food cooked at one hearth, share a common income, common property, are related to one another through kinship ties, and worship the same idols. Indian people are raised this way, and the interdependence among family members has been rooted in their value since they were young. Therefore it creates a sense of harmony, interdependence and concern for others.

ACHIEVEMENT (MASCULINE) / NURTURING (FEMININE) A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society emphasises success and promotes people to be competitive, assertive and ambitious. A low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the main values in society are caring for others and quality of life. India scores 56 on this dimension and is thus considered a masculine society. India is very masculine in terms of visual display of success and power. The designer brand label, the flash and bling that goes with advertising ones success, is widely practiced. However, India is also a spiritual country with millions of gods and various religious philosophies. It is also an ancient country with one of the longest surviving cultures which gives it ample lessons in the value of humility and abstinence. Work is the centre of ones life and visible symbols of success in the work place are very important. In India, parents value boys more than girls as boys generally do more laborious works and are normally become the breadwinners. For a girl, being good mother and housewife is valued. Women and men should take different roles in society, and women should be family oriented. India has witnessed gender inequality from its early history due to its socio-economic and religious practices that resulted in a wide gap between the position of men and women in the society. The origin of the Indian idea of appropriate female behaviour can be traced back to the rules laid down by Manu in 200 B.C "by a young girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house". "In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent." Women's lives are shaped by customs that are centuries old.

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE Uncertainty avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals with uncertainty and ambiguity. India scores 40 on Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) and thus has a medium low preference for avoiding uncertainty. In India there is acceptance of imperfection. Nothing has to be perfect nor has to go exactly as planned. India is traditionally a patient country where tolerance for the unexpected is high even welcomed as a break from monotony. People generally do not feel driven and compelled to take action-initiatives and comfortably settle into established rolls and routines without questioning. Rules are often in place just to be circumvented and one relies on innovative methods to bypass the system. A word used often is adjust and means a wide range of things, from turning a blind eye to rules being flouted to finding a unique and inventive solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem. It is this attitude that is both the cause of misery as well as the most empowering aspect of the country. There is a saying that nothing is impossible in India, so long as one knows how to adjust. Indians appreciate punctuality but may not reciprocate it. It is advisable to make appointments at least one month in advance and confirm them when arriving in India. A flexible schedule will prove useful. They prefer indirect communication other than direct communication. Indian people believe in karma which takes charge of many issues. They believe human being dont much control over their lives; they should accept everything as it is. The uncertainty avoidance in India is relatively low compared with other cultures. The concept of fatalism stems from one of the most characteristic traits of Indian culture spirituality. The notion of Karma and that everything happens for a reason is still significant in the decision making process of many Indians. It also influences the concept of time in India and as a consequence business negotiations may take longer and are never rushed.