Using ProQuest, the online database on the Ashworth College Web site, and the In

Question

Using ProQuest, the online database on the Ashworth College Web site, and the Internet, research Geert Hofstede and Hofstede’s Dimensions. For this Activity, focus on the following:

Power Distance: To what degree does a culture encourage people to think of themselves as equals and to what degree does a culture encourage people to stay within a hierarchical social structure?

Individualism vs. Collectivism: To what degree does a culture encourage individualism? Asian cultures tend to be group oriented, while American culture encourages individualism.

Masculinity vs. Femininity: Is a culture oriented towards relationships or tasks? This dimension deals with the idea of masculine and feminine influences in the workplace.

Uncertainty Avoidance: Does a culture encourage people to take or avoid risk?

Part B Country B (50 points) The Problem: A small hotel chain (with no international holdings) recently purchased a new information technology system. Top management wished to computerize all of their hotels’ operations. A consultant was hired to develop a training program to teach its employees how to operate the new computers. Country Background: The hotel organization is located in Country B, which has been economically categorized as a developing nation. As a former European colony, it is still greatly influenced by its colonial legacy. Tourism is new to this country, and hotels cater to foreigners or to the country’s elite, who pride themselves on appearing European. A large social, cultural, and economic gap exists between this country’s rich and poor. Ninety percent of the country’s wealth is held by 10% of its population. Industry is 75% privately owned by a small cartel of leading families. The government is modeled after the European parliamentary system. However, in reality, the government is basically a single party system that has ruled since independence in 1960. While the government claims to be militarily neutral, newspaper editorials are clearly anti-socialist. The GNP is high for the region. Many observers believe that the country’s economic health reflects favorable trade and tax agreements that have encouraged large-scale foreign investors looking for relatively cheap labor markets. Government and company-supported services for the poor are meager and sporadic. The population consists of four key ethnic groups who possess different racial, linguistic, and religious origins. While 40% of the population is illegal immigrants, they are ethnically related and protected by their local extended families. Family bonds are, thus, very important. In most cases, the ties to one’s clan are more important than one’s nationality. Nepotism and favoritism often influence personnel decisions as job descriptions and performance criteria are typically vague. In business and in government, members of the same family always hold positions of trust. The Consultant: Top company officials politely received the consultant. They spent a lot of time getting to know him on both a professional and personal level. While the consultant was flattered by the attention, he was also frustrated by the length of time needed to establish rapport. Impatiently, the consultant pressured company officials to permit him to present his ideas for a new employee development program. In addition to computer training, the consultant suggested new training in management and team building. He called himself a change agent and encouraged the company to develop a systematic career development and counseling system along with tuition benefits for any employee who wished to further his or her education. Finally, he suggested a full-scale cultural diagnosis to identify the need for culture change within the hotel chain. Answer the following questions in light of the above information. (50 points) 1.How would you describe this country’s culture in terms of Hofstede’s dimensions? Explain why. 2.Why did the consultant’s ideas fall on polite, but deaf ears? 3.What would you recommend?

Explanation / Answer

1.How would you describe this country’s culture in terms of Hofstede’s dimensions? Why?

I will support my answer with excerpts from the question itself. This country is ....

a) High on the power distance index - "A large social, cultural, and economic gap exists between this country’s rich and poor. Ninety percent of the country’s wealth is held by 10% of its population. Industry is 75% privately owned by a small cartel of leading families. The government is modeled after the European parliamentary system. However, in reality, the government is basically a single party system that has ruled since independence in 1960. While the government claims to be militarily neutral, newspaper editorials are clearly anti-socialist."

b) is collectivistic - "The population consists of four key ethnic groups who possess different racial, linguistic, and religious origins. While 40% of the population is illegal immigrants, they are ethnically related and protected by their local extended families. Family bonds are, thus, very important. In most cases, the ties to one’s clan are more important than one’s nationality. Nepotism and favoritism often influence personnel decisions as job descriptions and performance criteria are typically vague. In business and in government, members of the same family always hold positions of trust."

c) Masuline - "The GNP is high for the region. Many observers believe that the country’s economic health reflects favorable trade and tax agreements that have encouraged large-scale foreign investors looking for relatively cheap labor markets. Government and company-supported services for the poor are meager and sporadic." Output is more important than relationships.

d) High on uncertainty avoidance - "They spent a lot of time getting to know him on both a professional and personal level. While the consultant was flattered by the attention, he was also frustrated by the length of time needed to establish rapport. Impatiently, the consultant pressured company officials to permit him to present his ideas for a new employee development program." - reluctant to take up new ideas.

2) Since the culture in which the consultant was high on risk avoidance they were not very willing to try out his different ideas to bring about a change. The culture as a whole was more focused on rigidity in growth and societal conventions.

3) The consultant will need to spend more time understanding the culture and its people. He will have to emphasize how his programs will strengthen social bonds along with economic gains.

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