Team magazine

By Adélaïde, Jade, Basile, Maélie and Elise

November 2023

Cross cultural business management

Magazine

Editorial line

By the editor in chief

In the following magazine, you will have the opportunity to discover Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions theory, on how one may have a better understanding of the difference in culture across countries. Communication is essential in this world, hence people should know how to interact in the best manner.

Edito

As a matter of illustration, all the presented dimensions will be complemented by comparisons from each team member’s countries as Canada, Belgium, France, Japan, and finally Switzerland. Through this lecture, we aim to provide the reader guidance and raise awareness about the cultural differences concerning how people from aboard potentially think differently from your perspective.

We also would like to raise the reader’s attention that not everything composing the Cultural Dimension is not black and white. Each dimension must be understood carefully and not used as an only resource.

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Indulgence VS Restraint

Long VS Short-term Orientation

Table of contents

Our team

References

Conclusion

Team experience and dynamics

Power distance

Masculinity VS Feminility

Uncertainty avoidance

Individualism VS Collectivism

Hofstede dimensions

Home

Japan 21 years old Kindai Univ

Go Adachi

France 20 years old IAE Savoie Mont-Blanc

Maélie Mauricio

Belgium 22 years old Odisee

Elise Vande Vliet

Editor in Chief Switzerland 25 years old HEIG -VD

Basile Lecoultre

Editorial Line Canada 19 years old University of Sherbrooke

Adélaïde Pelletier

Editorial Line Canada 21 years old University of Sherbrooke

Jade Lemelin

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term, and how much they let loose or control themselves. People use these dimensions to improve how they work and communicate with hers from different cultures. It's like having a map that shows you what's important to people in

power, whether they focus on themselves or the group, how they view success and relationships, how they handle uncertainty, whether they plan for the long term or short

Hofstede's cultural dimensions are like a tool that helps us understand how different countries and groups of people think and act. It looks at six things: how they deal with

Hofstede dimensions

+Hofstede's website

a certain place. This way, you can avoid misunderstandings, make better decisions, and get along well with others from different backgrounds, whether in business or personal life.

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By Jade Lemelin

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Collectivism examples

Comments

Individualism examples

POSTER

A person’s self-image is defined as ‘’we’’. These cultures are called collectivists. In other cultures, there is an emphasis on personal development and achievements, and a prioritisation of personal needs, which is called individualism. I chose this dimension because in my culture (Canadian), it is important to do what makes you happy and what makes you feel accomplished.

This dimension highlights the way people rely on each other in a given culture. In some cultures, life choices and decisions are made based on what other people want or need.

Individualism VS Collectivism

• Individual rights are put first
• Choosing your own fashion style
• Autonomous from social expectations
• Not ruled by one leader
• Entrepreneurship
• Countries such as Canada, USA, Germany, Australia, etc.

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• Trade and labour unions, such as nurses' union, teachers' union, etc.
• Church groups or religious groups, like the Mormons.
• Countries such as Indonesia, China, etc.

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Poster

negative aspects

positive aspects

Might not be the best way to prevent uncertainty: Because the UAI is based on a poll of a small sample size, it could not be a reliable indicator of a nation's total population. Might not consider every element that affects avoiding uncertainty: There may be additional factors that are equally significant to those considered by the UAI.

May offer insightful information about cross-cultural business and communication practices: Businesses can benefit from the UAI's understanding of cross-cultural communication and business practices. Useful for creating successful marketing and sales plans: The UAI may assist companies in creating marketing and sales plans that are suited to the unique requirements and preferences of various cultural groups.

Personal thoughts

? Example ?

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aditional relveant content

By Basile Lecoultre

Cultures with a low UAI score are more tolerant of uncertainty, while cultures with a high UAI score are less tolerant towards uncertainty. IAU translates into differences in the way individuals and groups communicate. This assessment method is very effective if someone from a specific society would be more open minded concerning uncertainty.

This dimensional analysis measures the tolerance of one's society of uncertainty and ambiguity.

Uncertainty avoidance Index

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• Ego oriented
• Importance of material success
• The parent-child relationship involve less emotional expression
• Emphasis on achievement and success

• Relationship oriented
• Focus on values beyond material success
• Emotional expression within parent-child relationships more openly encouraged
• Emphasis on understanding and supporting each other's needs

Feminity

Masculinity

By Adélaïde Pelletier

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Choice

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POSTER

clear distinction between the roles expected of men and women. Men are supposed to be assertive, tough, and focused on achieving material success, while women are expected to be more modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life. In Feminine societies, men and women are expected to share similar qualities like being modest, gentle, and caring about the overall well-being of life.

Hofstede's cultural dimension of Masculinity VS Femininity examines how societies prioritise either achievement or nurture. In Masculine societies, there is a

Masculinity VS Feminity

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Higher power distance cultures resist change from lower ranks, hindering adaptability, and create communication barriers that limit innovation. Extreme power distance leads to reduced employee engagement, decreasing motivation, and increasing the risk of inequality and unfair treatment.

Cultures with higher power distance feature clear hierarchies, fostering organizational stability and facilitating smoother decision-making processes. Additionally, power distance contributes to clearly defined roles, reducing ambiguity and promoting operational efficiency within organizations.

COns

Pros

Poster

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Choice

By Elise Vande Vliet

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In these situations, individuals usually expect their bosses to give them clear inst ructions. On the other hand, in cultures with a low PDI, there's a more e qual approach to power. People might not be as comfortable with a strict hierarchy, and they might even question the decisions of those in charge or want to be part of making decisions themselves.

The Power Distance Index (PDI) is a tool that helps us understand how people in a society feel about differences in power. When the index is high, it means that most people are okay with a clear leader and a specific order of authority.

Power distance Index

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By Maélie Mauricio

Personnal thoughts

POSTER

On the contrary, the more restrictive cultures have social norms constraining the people's behaviour. It is not accepted by society to go out of the social standards defined.

This dimension explains how people in societies conform, more or less, to the collective norms and values. For the more indulgent cultures, it is more accepted to let your personal desires and individuality be expressed.

IndulgenceVS Restraint

The difference between the restrictive and the more indulgent cultures can, easily create some gaps and misunderstandings. In the working environment, the perception of respect can be tricked, and can create conflicts, because of this divergence in this cultural dimension. The integration could be much harder because of the different cultural background and the divergence of social expectations.

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In our group, the two opposite sides have to work together : the Canadian culture, a very indulgent one and the Japanese one, a restrictive one.

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Maélie

Élise

Basile

Jade

Adélaïde

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our team experience and dynamics

However, we must recognize that we faced difficulties to mix and match each of our agendas. The meetings were hard to settle to fit both in the deadlines as well as to comply with everyone’s calendar. As such, it happened that one member missed a call, which was not wishable, but unfortunately unavoidable, for the good progress of the work.

We had good global team dynamics. Each of us have shown good interpersonal skills and desire to be involved in the different meetings. We can surely assert that this team project has strengthened the amical links through rich intercultural discussions.

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Recommendations for future group work

In summary, it was a rewarding and educational journey. We are proud of the project's outcome and are glad that we had the opportunity to work together on a project with a meaningful message. Moreover, we learned valuable lessons about teamwork, communication, and intercultural competence that will benefit us in our future endeavors.

ICC

Obstacles/solutions

Home

The overall experience of our group work was positive. Members shared a cohesive vision for the project, fostering smooth collaboration. Weekly meetings were consistently held to allocate tasks, and decisions were collectively discussed, allowing everyone to contribute.

Conclusion

Jade and Adélaïde's leadership proved invaluable, providing guidance and ensuring deadlines were met.

thank you!

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My team experience

It was by far not the first time I had to work on a team project with individuals I did not know before, but I must admit that it might have been the most rewarding one. The fact that we were all coming from different cultures and mindsets made the interactions the most interesting and we all have something to learn from this experience. I would have never thought before that having so many differences from one to another would create productive and enjoyable moments with my teammates. I had a great time and i am proud of ourself from taking advantage of all those time that we shared all together. We will all be even better colleagues and managers soon when coming back to our respective working companies.

I have the feeling that growing up alongside all new technologies, we are daily being told that new opportunities are here for us in new industries. Sometimes opportunities may have consequences, uncertainty and involve risk-taking. This outcome has always been a question from my side. Studying this dimension presented by Hofstede provides me with a better understanding of the contextual environment where I grew up and shows that how I manage uncertainty and risk-taking is something that may be explained throughout my origin and my culture. Understanding the fact that cultures different in how we cope with uncertainty has an outcome to ease my reflection and thoughts.

Personal thought

Initially, effective communication posed a challenge, with varying communication styles causing some frustration. However, the group adapted, finding a communication approach that worked for everyone. We mainly used a WhatsApp group, this way we could reach each other easier. Scheduling meetings also presented difficulties, prompting the group to plan well in advance to accommodate everyone's availability.

Obstacles/Solution

References

• https://www.jmu.edu/global/isss/resources/global-campus-toolkit/files/hofstede-masculinity.pdf
• https://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/HofstedeMasculinity.html#:~:text=Masculinity%20is%20seen%20to%20be,and%20more%20fluid%20gender%20roles.
• https://helpfulprofessor.com/masculinity-vs-femininity/
• https://fr.slideshare.net/jgashwo/indulgent-vs-restraint
• https://www.rubeana.com/2019/07/29/indulgence-vs-restraint/
• https://clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/uncertainty-avoidance-index/
• https://eac594w17.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/8/5/48856593/canada_-_geert_hofstede_1.pdf
• https://geerthofstede.com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6d-model-of-national-culture/
• https://www.jmu.edu/global/isss/resources/global-campus-toolkit/files/hofstede-individualism.pdf
• https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory/#:~:text=Individualism%20vs.%20Collectivism&text=In%20individualistic%20societies%2C%20the%20emphasis,well%2Dbeing%20of%20the%20group
• https://helpfulprofessor.com/individualism-examples/

Pro/cons and applications in life

Hofstede's Masculinity VS Femininity dimension, can be useful for understanding cultural tendencies, but has faced criticism for oversimplifying a complex cultural dimension. It creates or accentuates gender stereotypes and doesn’t capture the differences of individual behaviour in a society. Since societies change, these dimensions may become less relevant in today’s world. Nonetheless, it helps understand how expectations and norms from societies influence various aspects of life, from work to interpersonal relationships. Learning about how people have different expectations and norms can lead to less misunderstandings and conflicts. In my personal life, it can be useful during teamwork with multicultural individuals. In Canada, we expect results and we are straightforward, but we are very polite. Knowing that I’m working with individuals coming from a more feminine culture, I would be able to give my feedback but consider their emotions first. On the contrary, with an individual coming from a more masculine culture, I would focus on performance. This can be used in every aspect of life.

This team project deepened our understanding of intercultural communication competence. Collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds highlighted the importance of effective communication across cultures. Navigating differing working styles and communication preferences became valuable learning experiences.

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Reason of choice

I chose the subject of Hofstede's Power Distance Index because I consider it to be important for my career. Undoubtedly, in the future, understanding the type of culture you are in will be crucial for performing a job effectively. Expectations vary, and work approaches differ. Exploring the Power Distance Index provides insights into how individuals in different cultures perceive authority, hierarchy, and decision-making, which can significantly impact professional interactions.

Comments on the video

Geert Hofstede's exploration of power distance in various cultures provides a fascinating lens through which to understand societal dynamics. The examples given, from the emphasis on respect and centralized authority in higher power distance cultures to the preference for independence and decentralization in lower power distance societies, offer valuable insights into how individuals and societies perceive and navigate authority. It also really helped my to completly understand the difference. The Power Distance Index (PDI) comparisons between countries like Russia, Mexico, and China versus the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark underscore the diversity in cultural attitudes toward hierarchy and power distribution. This cultural dimension not only influences interpersonal relationships but also plays a role in shaping broader social and economic structures. The correlation between PDI and societal characteristics, such as income inequality and the size of the middle class, adds another layer of complexity to the discussion. The acknowledgment that technological innovation can be influenced by hierarchical support prompts reflection on the interconnected nature of power structures and progress. Overall, Hofstede's insights prompt us to consider the nuanced ways in which power dynamics shape societies and impact everything from individual behaviors to the trajectory of technological advancement.

1. Initiate early planning for meetings to find suitable time slots. 2. Establish clear communication agreements, including preferences for written or oral communication and decision-making processes. 3. Practice patience and understanding regarding cultural differences.

Recommendations for future group work

Belgians appear to be highly uncomfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, based on the IAU score. They typically support regimented, well-defined policies, guidelines, and timetables. Additionally, they favor indirect communication to obtain consensus and the avoidance of confrontation.

Comment

French people appear to be less accustomed to uncertainty, as evidenced by the IAU score, which remains rather high. Although they are more prone to voice their ideas directly, they also have a tendency to be more formal than individuals in Canada or Switzerland. They are also more likely to express their opinions openly. However, they still prefer to avoid conflict and may use indirect language to avoid offending others.

Comment

These two pictures are really symbolic of the importance this dimension has in the daily attitude of people. The restrictive cultures really frame people’s behaviour, if they perceive something in a certain way, they would express or react as the society wants it to be. Both pictures suggest that it is not something natural : the hand in the first one could be open and let the person act as they want, in the second one the man could let the mask fall. However, both don’t do that because it is not how they learned to act.

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

My favorite drink

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My team experience

This team project was my first ever project where I had to ‘’deal’’ with as many different cultures. I learned a lot of things about their cultures and traditions. Each teammate brought unique insights influenced by their cultural backgrounds. The main challenges that stood out in this project were trying to communicate with each other, and making sure that the work was being done. It was often hard to get all the team members’ availabilities, and some team members did not understand what they had to do because of communication issues. But, as time went by, I better understood why we were facing these difficulties, and how to overcome them. Overall, I am very proud of what my team and I achieved this semester and it was especially enriching to work with people from different countries.

Personnal experience

Cons

Pros

Having experienced an internship in a multinational company has shown me how important it is to acknowledge others’ cultural habits in order to understand others’ behaviours. It can also be interesting to anticipate an organisation's culture depending on its nationality.

However, the model is not exhaustive and can reduce the vision of culture to only some dimensions. If it is a tool we have to keep in mind that culture is expressed throughout many ways and that the 7 dimensions do not define culture in itself.

Using this model to understand other cultures is useful because it brings to the light some aspects of the people's differences in their behaviour that we clearly observe without knowing how to define them. This model puts words on these divergences which open the path to reflections on diversity.

I think that this particular dimension is key to understand some behaviour that could appear rude or disrespectful : knowing that it is deeply cultural can help to overpass some misunderstandings.

Reason of choice

Being a Canadian student, I found that diving into the dimension of masculinity and femininity is genuinely fascinating. I was curious to see how Canada's unique culture fits into these dimensions and whether we lean more towards certain traits. It's not just about behaviour in school; it’s also about our day to day life. Since Canada falls somewhere in between on the masculinity-femininity spectrum, I was also curious to learn about how communication dynamics might be influenced when interacting with countries that lean more towards masculinity or femininity.

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

My favorite drink

More about me!

My experience with this group work is generally positive. I greatly enjoyed collaborating with the group and gained valuable insights, particularly into individual working methods. Working with people from diverse backgrounds has been enriching. However, we encountered challenges in communication and meeting deadlines. Coordinating our respective schedules to find suitable times also presented challenges. Despite this, we did our best, and I am proud of the outcome.

My team experience

My personal comments

This dimension is in my opinion crucial for understanding and comparing cultural values in different societies. This dimension is essential for cross-cultural communication and collaboration in both business and interpersonal contexts. This dimension helps adapt expectations regarding autonomy, decision-making, and group dynamics. Ex. We can encourage teamwork in collectivist cultures and individual initiatives in individualist cultures. (adapting to the type of culture) On the negative side, these dimensions don’t necessarily pay attention to communities and their ethics, it assumes that countries are homogenous. Finally, I can apply this dimension to my personal life when I work in teams with people from other countries and cultures, like in this class.

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

My favorite drink

More about me!

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

My favorite drinks

More about me!

Personal comment

That's why I personally selected this topic—it holds significance for my future career. Grasping organizational dynamics offers valuable insights into the expectations of superiors and the nature of professional relationships. This understanding can facilitate the delivery of expected work. Furthermore, it's intriguing as it enables the selection of a company aligning with one's working style. Personally, I lean towards organizations with a moderate to high power structure, deeming it crucial to be conscious of my position and the associated rights, including understanding authority structures. Geert Hofstede's statement in the video left a lasting impression on me: "When there's a significant power difference, people get the feeling that power comes first and good and evil come afterwards." This resonates with me because it reflects a crucial observation – that in situations of substantial power imbalance, there's a risk of prioritizing authority over ethical considerations. This sentiment is relevant not only to those in positions of power but also to individuals with significant wealth, creating a concern about potential misuse of influence. I find this perspective compelling as it highlights the importance of fairness and ethical behavior, particularly in those entrusted with power or resources.

In cultures with a high IAU, doctors are more likely to be indirect and formal in their communications.

High IAU

In cultures with a low IAU, doctors are more likely to be direct and straightforward in their communications. They are also more likely to clearly explain the risks and benefits of treatments. This can foster open communication and mutual understanding between doctors and patients, but it can also lead to situations of discomfort or conflict.

Low IAU

The medical world

They are also more likely to avoid tackling difficult subjects and to seek consensus. This can foster harmonious communication and a relationship of trust between doctors and patients, but it can also lead to less transparent communication and less informed medical decisions.

In the medical world, UAI can affect the way doctors communicate with their patients.

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

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The fact that the IAU score is likewise very high suggests that uncertainty and ambiguity are highly unsettling to Japanese people. Additionally, they communicate in a very formal and hierarchical manner. When voicing their thoughts, they typically steer clear of direct conflict and instead favor indirect communication.

Comment

Canadians score highly on the IAU for being at ease with uncertainty. They are more inclined to compromise than to look for agreement, and they appreciate casual conversation. Compared to people in Belgium, Japan, or France, they are also more willing to take chances. Canadian businesses tend to be very pragmatic and results-oriented. They are also more likely to be open to new ideas and to take risks.

Comment

My team experience

Having a team project was useful to be more integrated into the class. It enables us to get to know each other : to observe and reflect on the common, as well as on the differences we share. The team project created a room to discover and to confront ourselves to new views and perspectives, which is something I find particularly interesting. However, the organisation it asked to schedule the meetings, since all of us do not share the same school track, was demanding. It was frustrating to struggle every time to find enough common free time to fulfil the different mid-tasks.

Swiss people embrace risk-taking and favor lenient policies and guidelines. They also communicate more directly and are more accepting of disagreement. Swiss people tend to be very direct and open in their communication. They are also more likely to express their opinions directly. They are not afraid of conflict and may use it to resolve disagreements.

Comment

1. Who am I ?

My favorite chips flavour

My favorite drink

More about me!

My team experience

During this team project, I learned a lot. I came to this class with no expectations. I was very surprised with how much I learned working with people who came from different cultures and who had very different backgrounds than mine. I can’t say that it was perfect and we had no difficulties, because we did. We had difficulties setting up meetings and to respect deadlines. But, as each meeting went by, we started to understand each other a little more and it made the communication a lot easier. We learned a lot about different aspects of cultural dimension and it made us acknowledge where everyone was coming from. It made me realise that we have a very different way of thinking and have different ambitions. I'm grateful to have experienced that. I am now able to say that it is okay to want different things and to act distinctively as long as you try to understand each other and make it work. I am proud of work but I am mostly proud of every struggle we confronted to get there.