Cultural comparison in Asian countries: An Application of Greet Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Abstract

Countries differ from one country to another country by their identical characteristics which are coming under their own national culture. People behaviors are respectively linked to cultural values of the country and this association is based on the framework of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. The study indicates the cultural differences of the countries among the world according to a four dimension which are Power distance, Uncertainty avoidance, Individualism vs. collectivism and Masculinity vs. femininity. Power distance means the extent to the nations which accept the power in organization or anywhere is distributed unequally without further justifications. 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 by the Uncertainty avoidance. The third dimension is Individualism vs. collectivism which reflect the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members, and the fourth dimension, Masculinity vs. femininity indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field – a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organizational behavior. The purpose of this study is comparing the national culture in Asian countries and identifies what factors affect to association with the Hofstede’s cultural dimension studies. In this study we identify the how above four dimensions index behave on Asia. The power index of almost all the countries in Asia take high value that means all the nations in Asia has been tend to accept the power coming from top without further justifications. Uncertainty avoidance index of the Asia is scored low amount excepting few countries indicating the lot of nations in Asia who not comfortable with an ambiguity situations. Masculinity vs. femininity index of the every Asian countries score a small amount excepting Japan, Iraq reflecting the nation who work in order to live rather than live in order to work. Individualism vs. Collectivism index shows small value in countries below 50 in almost every country in Asia reflecting nations who highly desire for collectivism than individually survive.