13.07.2015 Views

ASHESI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE - Ashesi Institutional Repository ...

ASHESI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE - Ashesi Institutional Repository ...

ASHESI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE - Ashesi Institutional Repository ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

difficult presume it can be completely merged with other cultures. Throughinteraction, these distinctions can always be made.Many studies have been done on the differences in national cultureand if these supposed differences have any form of impact on organisationalperformance in terms of communication (Bing, 2011). According to GeertHofstede‟s cultural dimensions, there are five distinct primary dimensionswith which differentiation can be made amongst cultures of differentcountries. These five dimensions provide the degree to which countries varyin diverse ways and aid in making sense of cross-cultural communicationdilemmas that may arise within organisations.The five dimensions generated by Hofstede are Power Distance,Individualism versus Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity versusFemininity, and Long-term versus Short-term Orientation. Power Distancerefers to the degree to which the less powerful members of society expectand accept power to be distributed unequally. This essentially deals with themanner in which people relate to one another in a society and how they dealwith inequalities that may be evident (Hofstede, 2001). Individualism versusCollectivism refers to the degree to which people prefer to take care ofthemselves and their immediate family only, as against seeing oneself aspart of a unified society or a group and being loyal to this group. Uncertaintyavoidance has to do with the degree to which people are uncomfortable withambiguity. Societies that demonstrate high uncertainty avoidance wouldtypically be more rigid and structured in affairs compared to a society with alow uncertainty avoidance which would be more relaxed. Masculinity versusFemininity refers to the degree to which the society and the people are more14

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!