Power Distance

Hofstede Dimensions

POWER DISTANCE

Definition

This dimension in simple deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal and how people belonging to a specific culture view the power relationships, superior and subordinate relationships between people. It defines as the extent to which less powerful members of organisations and institutions within a country expect and accept that power is dispersed unequally.

• The Power-Distance index measures the degree to which the members of a group or society accept the hierarchy of power and authority.
• A low score of power distance index indicates a less rigid or authoritarian system. People in low index society are willing to challenge authority and with expectations that can influence the decisions.
• Meanwhile, a higher index indicates that authority and hierarchy is clearly defined, present, and unchallenged. Highly structured businesses often have high indices.

Power Distance Index

90

68

57

35

ALBANIA

SPAIN

GERMANY

FRANCE

Power Distance Simplified

Comparison between countries

• Albania, France and Spain are considered as high power distant countries where hierarchy is clearly well-defined. The highest index is in Albania, with a score of 90. Followed by France and Spain. Respectively with a score of 68 and 57.

• Germany belongs to lower distant countries. Here we can observe a strange pattern, because it’s expected that the 3 west countries would have been more similar and only Albania would have been different.

High power distance

Low power distance