Critical analysis of Hofstede’s model of cultural dimensions

To what extent are his findings reliable, valid and applicable to organisations in the 21st century?

Global markets are changing faster than ever and increasing international competition makes it necessary for managers to understand not only the domestic culture but also the host country’s culture.

Derived from globalisation, successful cross-cultural management is gaining in importance and its need for understanding of cultural differences becomes essential. Because of this it is argued that, with the increasing importance of a cross-cultural understanding, Hofstede’s (1980) model of cultural dimensions gains proportional importance and attracts notice at the same time. His study is widely used in global operating organisations within trainings and workshops. The first step of effective cross-cultural management is the awareness that cultural differences exist and domestic strategies might fail in host countries.

Even though, Hofstede’s (1980) cultural study is the most important one and widely known, there are many other cultural studies, which are only partly supporting his study. For each and every model of cultural identifications arouse praise and criticism and Hofstede was not spared by criticism. The main criticism refers to the methodology Hofstede used and many authors questioned its validity and reliability. Another major critique is that the nearly 40-years old survey findings are out-dated and not of any modern value anymore. Addressing the elaborated criticisms from the literature, a personal replication study within the two countries of Germany and the UK is undertaken in order to evaluate the validity, reliability and applicability in the 21st century. This study has developed own dimension scores for Masculinity/ Femininity (MAS) and Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) for Germany and the UK and compared and evaluated these with Hofstede’s findings. The findings of this study vary from Hofstede’s findings, as according to this study the UK is more masculine and has a higher Uncertainty Avoidance score than Germany. These findings do not support Hofstede’s findings and further cultural research is recommended.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• 1.1 Globalisation
• 1.2 Cross-Cultural Management
• 1.3 Need for Contemporary Approach
• 1.4 Research Aim and Objectives
• 1.4.1 Aim
• 1.4.2 Objectives
• 1.5 Outline of the Chapters
• Chapter 2: Literature Review
• 2.1 Culture Defined
• 2.1.1 National culture
• 2.1.2 Organisational culture
• 2.2 Hofstede's Study of Cultural Dimensions
• 2.2.1 Research data
• 2.2.2 Cultural dimensions
• 2.2.3 Other cultural studies and comparison with Hofstede's dimensions
• 2.3 Analysis and Evaluation of Hofstede's Findings
• 2.3.1 Arguments in support of Hofstede's study
• 2.3.2 Arguments against Hofstede's study
• 2.3.3 Discussion
• 2.4 Hofstede's Findings in Practice
• Chapter 3: Research Methodology
• 3.1 Research Process
• 3.2 Data Validity, Reliability and Generalisability
• 3.3 Research Ethics
• 3.4 Limitations
• Chapter 4: Analysis and Findings
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Calculation of Dimension Scores
• 4.3 Masculinity
• 4.4 Uncertainty Avoidance
• 4.5 Discussion

Objectives and Key Themes

This dissertation critically analyzes Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions, evaluating its reliability, validity, and applicability to 21st-century organizations. The study aims to assess whether Hofstede's findings remain relevant in the context of globalization and increased international competition. A replication study comparing Germany and the UK is conducted to evaluate these aspects.

• The reliability and validity of Hofstede's cultural dimensions model.
• The applicability of Hofstede's model to modern organizations.
• The impact of globalization on cross-cultural management.
• Comparison of cultural dimensions between Germany and the UK.
• Evaluation of alternative cultural studies and their comparison to Hofstede's work.

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the dissertation by highlighting the increasing importance of cross-cultural management in a globalized world. It introduces the central research question regarding the relevance of Hofstede's model in the 21st century and outlines the dissertation's aim and objectives. The chapter emphasizes the need for a contemporary understanding of cultural differences to achieve successful cross-cultural management, directly relating this need to the growing importance of Hofstede's work while acknowledging existing criticisms.

Chapter 2: Literature Review: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on culture, specifically focusing on Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions. It delves into definitions of national and organizational culture, providing a theoretical foundation for the subsequent analysis. The chapter presents a detailed discussion of Hofstede's research methodology, findings (including the six cultural dimensions), and the subsequent criticisms leveled against his work. It also examines alternative cultural studies and compares them to Hofstede's model, offering a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches. The chapter concludes by exploring the practical applications of Hofstede's findings in organizational settings.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology: This chapter meticulously details the research design employed in the dissertation. It outlines the research process, approach, strategy, and choices made, providing a justification for each decision. The chapter extensively covers data collection methods, explaining the procedures used to gather data. It also addresses critical aspects of data validity, reliability, and generalizability, ensuring the rigor and trustworthiness of the research findings. Considerations of research ethics and limitations of the study are also explicitly discussed.

Chapter 4: Analysis and Findings: This chapter presents the results of the empirical study conducted as part of the dissertation. It details the calculation of dimension scores for Masculinity/Femininity and Uncertainty Avoidance for Germany and the UK, using data collected in the study. A thorough analysis of these findings is provided, including a comparison with Hofstede's original data. The chapter offers a detailed discussion of the similarities and differences between the findings of this study and Hofstede's work, highlighting any discrepancies and suggesting possible interpretations of these variations. The study's limitations are also acknowledged and discussed within the context of the findings.

Keywords

Hofstede's cultural dimensions, cross-cultural management, globalization, cultural relativism, organizational culture, national culture, research methodology, validity, reliability, Germany, UK, Masculinity/Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, 21st-century organizations.

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What is this document?

This document is a comprehensive language preview of a dissertation. It provides an overview of the dissertation's contents, including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It's intended for academic use, allowing for analysis of the dissertation's themes in a structured and professional manner.

What are the main topics covered in the dissertation?

The dissertation centers on a critical analysis of Hofstede's model of cultural dimensions. It examines the reliability, validity, and applicability of this model to 21st-century organizations, particularly considering the impact of globalization and international competition. A comparative study focusing on Germany and the UK is included to assess these aspects.

What are the key objectives of the dissertation?

The main objectives are to assess the reliability and validity of Hofstede's model, evaluate its applicability to modern organizations, analyze the impact of globalization on cross-cultural management, compare cultural dimensions between Germany and the UK, and evaluate alternative cultural studies in comparison to Hofstede's work.

What does the literature review cover?

The literature review provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on culture, with a strong focus on Hofstede's model. It defines national and organizational culture, details Hofstede's research methodology and findings (including the six cultural dimensions), discusses criticisms of his work, examines alternative cultural studies, and explores the practical applications of Hofstede's findings.

What methodology is used in the dissertation's empirical study?

The research methodology section details the research design, process, data collection methods, and justification for choices made. It addresses data validity, reliability, and generalizability, and considers research ethics and study limitations.

What are the key findings of the empirical study?

The analysis and findings chapter presents results from an empirical study comparing Germany and the UK. It includes calculations of dimension scores for Masculinity/Femininity and Uncertainty Avoidance, comparing them with Hofstede's original data. The chapter discusses similarities and differences, highlighting discrepancies and offering interpretations.

What are the key words associated with this dissertation?

Key words include: Hofstede's cultural dimensions, cross-cultural management, globalization, cultural relativism, organizational culture, national culture, research methodology, validity, reliability, Germany, UK, Masculinity/Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and 21st-century organizations.

What is the structure of the dissertation?

The dissertation follows a standard structure. It includes an introduction setting the context and objectives; a literature review summarizing existing research; a methodology section detailing the research approach; and a final chapter presenting the analysis and findings of the empirical study.

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Details

• College: Oxford Brookes University
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Kristin Piepenburg (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 148
• Catalog Number: V169716
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640881765
• ISBN (Book): 9783640881574
• Language: English
• Tags: Hofstede Culture Cultural Differences Trompenaar Cultural dimensions Uncertainty Avoidance Masculinity Germany; UK cross-cultural management diversity globalisation 21st century cultural study dimensions survey