"culture is the collective programming of the mind,which distinguish members of one group from another" (Geert Hofstede)

1. Cultural differences

2. cultural dimensions
 Low and high context
 Monochronic and polychronic
 Future ,past and present orientation
 Power distance
 Individualism and collectivism

3. Low and high context
 In low context culture message is communicated
explicitly and people prefer to structure their
information in compartments or segments. Information
has a clear and managed structure.( Anglo-Saxon,
Australia, New Zealand among others)
 In high context culture message is not spelled out in
words explicitly but implicitly and mostly nonverbally.
One word, hint or gesture is enough to understand the
whole message. ( Latin Europe, Asia, Africa among
others)

4. Monochronic and polychronic
 In monochoronic culture people do one thing at one
time and take time commitments and deadlines very
seriously. They are low context and need more explicit
information. (Anglo-Saxon, Australia, New Zealand
among others).
 In polychronic culture people do many things at
once and can be distracted easily. They consider an
objective to be achieved if possible. They are high
context and already know a part of message. (Latin
Europe, Asia, Africa among others).

5. Future ,past and present
orientation
 In past oriented cultures people make plans
according to how fine they fit with their traditions.
 In present oriented cultures, plans are short term
and traditions might be important but you can’t dwell
on them for too long.
 In future oriented cultures are goal oriented . Goal
may lie in near future.

6. Power distance
 “It is the degree in which less powerful members of an
organization accept that power is distributed unequally”
(Geert Hofstede 1991)
 Low power distance parents/bosses treat their
children/workers equally. Childrens/workers have an
opinion. ( Nederland, Germany, Anglo Saxon,
Scandinavian countries among others)
 High power distance people accept that their superiors
like parents/teachers/bosses are older than you and have
more power. You don’t argue with your parents or bosses.
(Asia, Africa, Latin America among others)

7. Individualism and collectivism
 In individualistic cultures people are self oriented.
Ties between individuals are loose. People are
responsible for themselves and nuclear family. (Anglo-
Saxon, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavian
countries among others)
 In collectivistic cultures people are group oriented
and bound to groups since birth. People are
responsible for groups. Groups provide protection and
unconditional loyalty in return.(Latin Europe, Asia,
Africa among others)

8. source
 Intercultural sensitivity from denial to intercultural
competence.