CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

PRESENTATION ON National Culture of Germany & India

GEERT HOFSTEDE 4 DIMENSIONAL THEORY ON NATIONAL CULTURE

1) Power Distance: Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of
institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.

2) Individualism: The fundamental issue addressed by 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.

3) Masculinity: A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by
competition, achievement and success while a low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life.

4) Uncertainty Avoidance: The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society
deals with the fact that the future can never be known. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the UAI score.

INDIA
1) Power Distance
India

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance 71 57 49 31

INDIA
1) Power Distance
1) India scores high on this dimension, 71, indicating that they follow hierarchy and a topdown structure in society and organizations. There is acceptance of un-equal rights between the power-privileged and those who are lesser down in the pecking order. Employees expect to be directed clearly as to their functions and what is expected of them.
India
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance 71 57 49 31

2)

3)

4)

Communication is top down and directive in its style

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

INDIA
1) Power Distance
India

2) Individualism
1) 2) 3) Indian society are collectivist by nature. Indian people are expected to act accordingly for the development of whole group. In India, opinion of ones family, extended family, neighbors, work group influences a persons decision.

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance 71 57 49 31

3) Masculinity
4) Uncertainty Avoidance

INDIA
1) Power Distance
India

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity
1) India is actually very masculine as Indian people are eager to display their success and power. The main focus achievements. is on success and

120 100 80 60 40 71 57 49 31

2)

20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance

4) Uncertainty Avoidance

INDIA
1) Power Distance
India

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

1) India scores 31 on this dimension and this shows that they accept ambiguity and accept challenges.
The score is low which shows that the Indian can handle uncertain situation appropriately. India is traditionally a patient country where tolerance for the unexpected is high.

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance 71 57 49 31

2) 3)

GERMANY
1) Power Distance
120

Germany
100 80 60 72

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

68
55

40
20 0

26

Power Distance

Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance

GERMANY
1) Power Distance
1) Germany is not surprisingly among the lower power distant countries (score 26) because flat hierarchy is followed in society as well as in organizations. Inequality is not acceptable in Germany, and also in organization, employees participation has a vital role in the development of organization. Employees has to be taken in account when management takes any decision.
120

Germany
100
80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance 72 68 55

2)

26

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity

4) Uncertainty Avoidance

GERMANY
1) Power Distance
Germany

2) Individualism
1) 2) The German society is a truly individualistic one as its index value is high. Parent-children relationship is the main focus in small families.

120 100 80 60 72

68
55

40
20 0

3)

Communication is among the most following the ideal to be honest, even if it hurts and by this giving the counterpart a fair chance to learn from mistakes.

26

Power Distance

Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance

3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

GERMANY
1) Power Distance 2) Individualism 3) Masculinity
1) 2) 3) Germany is considered a masculine society. The most important thing that is highly valued in Germans is performance. Status is often shown by German people, especially by cars, watches and technical devices.
80 60 72 120 100

Germany

68
55

40
20 0

26

4) Uncertainty Avoidance

Power Distance

Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance

GERMANY
1) Power Distance
120

Germany
100 80 60 72

2) Individualism 3) Masculinity 4) Uncertainty Avoidance

1) There is a slight preference for uncertainty avoidance rather than to handle the uncertain situation.
Minute details are equally important so as to create certainty that a certain project is wellthought-out.

68
55

40
20 0

26

2)

Power Distance

Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance

COMPARISON BETWEEN INDIA &GERMANY

1) Power Distance
In this dimension Germany is opposite of India as flat structure is followed in Germany while hierarchy structure is followed in India.
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Germany India Uncertainty Avoidance 26 71

Comparison

72
49

68 57 55 31

2) Individualism
In this dimension also Germany is opposite of India as Germany is Individualistic in nature and India is collectivistic by nature.

3) Masculinity
Both the countries are considered a masculine society.

4) Uncertainty Avoidance
In comparison to Germany, India is more stable in terms of handling uncertain situation. Germany has inclination towards avoidance of uncertain situation and dont accept ambiguity as India do.

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