framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

Figure 9.4: Hofstede classifications of cultures compared to Handy’s culture of
management model
According to Hofstede‟s classification of Muslim countries that they
score very high as far as power is concerned, the UAE is no exception.
As we have seen earlier in this thesis (Chapter Two), the country‟s
political status is more of Sheikhdom style where the power is located in
the hands of the president of the country. It was also evidenced in
chapter two that the Bedouin nature of the UAE society means that
there is a tendency to work in collectivism rather than individualism. This
was was also clear in the workshop among the students. According to
Hofstede the collectivism society is more prone to obey the person in
power rather than work independently, which is also relevant to Handy‟s
Zeus culture where working together is considered the core for the Zeus
person. The UAE also scores highly in the uncertainty indicator which
shows the culture is more prone to be obedient to the system seeking
for more security that the system can provide and making the people
more dependent on the government. Also the Bedouin nature of the
UAE society caused it to score highly in the masculinity power index
being a male-dominated country. All of these factors make the UAE in
terms of Handy‟s culture of management to be classified as Apollonian.
The Apollonian culture as discussed in Chapter two works in a
hierarchical nature with the orders always coming from the higher
echelons of power. Because the organisations of the society are always
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