Cultural dimensions:

USA:
If we explore the US culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we can get a
good overview of the deep driving factors of American culture relative to
other cultures in our world. By supplying you with this information please
realize that culture describes a central tendency in society. Everybody is
unique, yet social control ensures that most people will not deviate too much
from the norm. Moreover, within every country regional cultural differences
exist, also in the States. Americans, however, dont need to go to a cultural
briefing before moving to another state successfully.
Power Distance
The fact that everybody is unique implies that we are all unequal. One of the
most salient aspects of inequality is the degree of power each person exerts
or can exert over other persons; power being defined as the degree to which
a person is able to influence other peoples ideas and behavior.
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal, and it expresses the attitude of the culture toward these power
inequalities amongst us. Power distance is defined as the extent to which
the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. It has to do with the
fact that a societys inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the
leaders.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do
with whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are only supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups that
take care of them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.
The fairly low score on Power Distance(40) in combination with one of the the
most Individualist (91) cultures in the world reflects itself in the following:
The American premise of liberty and justice for all. This is
evidenced by an explicit emphasis on equal rights in all aspects of
American society and government.
Within American organisations, hierarchy is established for
convenience, superiors are accessible and managers rely on
individual employees and teams for their expertise.

Both managers and employees expect to be consulted and

information is shared frequently. At the same time, communication
is informal, direct and participative to a degree.
The society is loosely-knit in which the expectation is that people
look after themselves and their immediate families only and should
not rely (too much) on authorities for support.
There is also a high degree of geographical mobility in the United
States. Americans are the best joiners in the world; however it is
often difficult, especially among men, to develop deep friendships.
Americans are accustomed to doing business or interacting with
people they dont know well. Consequently, Americans are not shy
about approaching their prospective counterparts in order to obtain
or seek information. In the business world, employees are expected
to be self-reliant and display initiative. Also, within the exchangebased world of work we see that hiring, promotion and decisions are
based on merit or evidence of what one has done or can do.

Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be
driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined
by the winner or best-in-the-field. This value system starts in childhood
and continues throughout ones life both in work and leisure pursuits.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in
society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is
not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
The score of the US on Masculinity is high at 62, and this can be seen in the
typical American behavioral patterns. This can be explained by the the
combination of a high Masculinity drive together with the most Individualist
drive in the world. In other words, Americans, so to speak, all show their
Masculine drive individually. The British, however, have the same culture in
this respect. The question, therefore, should be: is the same drive not
normally to be seen on the surface? This difference is a reflection of the
higher score of the US on Uncertainty Avoidance than of the UK. In other
words, in both societies we find the same drive, but Americans show it upfront whereas the British will take you by surprise.
This American combination reflects itself in the following:

Behavior in school, work, and play are based on the shared values
that people should strive to be the best they can be and that the

winner takes all. As a result, Americans will tend to display and talk
freely about their successes and achievements in life. Being
successful per se is not the great motivator in American society, but
being able to show ones success
Many American assessment systems are based on precise target

setting, by which American employees can show how well a job they
did.
There exists a can-do mentality which creates a lot of dynamism in
the society, as it is believed that there is always the possibility to do
things in a better way
Typically, Americans live to work so that they can obtain monetary

rewards and as a consequence attain higher status based on how

good one can be. Many white collar workers will move to a more
fancy neighborhood after each and every substantial promotion.
It is believed that a certain degree of conflict will bring out the best

of people, as it is the goal to be the winner. As a consequence, we

see a lot of polarisation and court cases. This mentality nowadays
undermines the American premise of liberty and justice for all.
Rising inequality is endangering democracy, because a widening gap
among the classes may slowly push Power Distance up and
Individualism down.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society
deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try
to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety
and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways.
The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous
or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to
avoid these is reflected in the score on Uncertainty Avoidance.
The US scores below average, with a low score of 46, on the Uncertainty
Avoidance dimension. . As a consequence, the perceived context in which
Americans find themselves will impact their behaviour more than if the
culture would have either scored higher or lower. Thus, this cultural pattern
reflects itself as follows:
There is a fair degree of acceptance for new ideas, innovative
products and a willingness to try something new or different,
whether it pertains to technology, business practices or food.
Americans tend to be more tolerant of ideas or opinions from anyone
and allow the freedom of expression. At the same time, Americans
do not require a lot of rules and are less emotionally expressive than
higher-scoring cultures.

At the same time, 9/11 has created a lot of fear in the American
society culminating in the efforts of government to monitor
everybody through the NSA and other security organizations

Long Term Orientation

This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present
and future, and societies priorities these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to
maintain time-honored traditions and norms while viewing societal change
with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand,
take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern
education as a way to prepare for the future.
The United States scores normative on the fifth dimension with a low score of
26. This is reflected by the following:
Americans are prone to analyze new information to check whether it
is true. Thus, the culture doesnt make most Americans pragmatic,
but this should not be confused with the fact that Americans are
very practical, being reflected by the can-do mentality mentioned
above.

The polarisation mentioned above is, so to speak, strengthened by

the fact that many Americans have very strong ideas about what is
good and evil. This may concern issues such as abortion, use of
drugs, euthanasia, weapons or the size and rights of the government
versus the States and versus citizens.
The US is the one of the only Caucasian countries in the world

where, since the beginning of the 20 th century, visiting church has

increased. This increase is also evident in some post-Soviet republics
such as Russia.
American businesses measure their performance on a short-term
basis, with profit and loss statements being issued on a quarterly
basis. This also drives individuals to strive for quick results within
the work place.

Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree to
which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not become
human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to
control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. A

tendency toward a relatively weak control over their impulses is called

Indulgence, whereas a relatively strong control over their urges is called
Restraint. Cultures can be described as Indulgent or Restrained.
The United States scores as an Indulgent (68) society on the sixth dimension.
This, in combination with a normative score, is reflected by the following
contradictory attitudes and behavior:
Work hard and play hard.
The States has waged a war against drugs and is still very busy in
doing so, yet drug addiction in the States is higher than in many
other wealthy countries.
It is a prudish society yet even some well-known televangelists
appear to be immoral.

Australia:
If we explore the Australian culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we can
get a good overview of the deep drivers of Australian culture relative to other
world cultures.

Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal
it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us.
Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of
institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is
distributed unequally. It has to do with the fact that a societys inequality is
endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders.

Australia scores low on this dimension (36). Within Australian organizations,

hierarchy is established for convenience, superiors are always accessible and
managers rely on individual employees and teams for their expertise. Both
managers and employees expect to be consulted and information is shared
frequently. At the same time, communication is informal, direct and participative.

Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In Individualist
societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family
only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups that take care of them in
exchange for loyalty.
Australia, with a score of 90 on this dimension, is a highly Individualist culture.
This translates into a loosely-knit society in which the expectation is that people
look after themselves and their immediate families. In the business world,
employees are expected to be self-reliant and display initiative. Also, within the
exchange-based world of work, hiring and promotion decisions are based on
merit or evidence of what one has done or can do.

Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be
driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by
the winner or best-in-the-field. This value system starts in school and
continues throughout ones life both in work and leisure pursuits.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in
society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one where
quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not
admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be
the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
Australia scores 61 on this dimension and is considered a Masculine society.
Behavior in school, work, and play are based on the shared values that people
should strive to be the best they can be and that the winner takes all.
Australians are proud of their successes and achievements in life, and it offers a
basis for hiring and promotion decisions in the workplace. Conflicts are resolved
at the individual level and the goal is to win.

Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals
with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the
future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different
cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to
which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown

situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is
reflected in the score on Uncertainty Avoidance.
Australia scores a very intermediate 51 on this dimension.

Long Term Orientation

This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links with its
own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and
societies prioritise these two existential goals differently. Normative societies
which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured
traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. Those with a
culture which scores high, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach:
they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the
future.
Australia scores 21 on this dimension and therefore has a normative culture.
People in such societies have a strong concern with establishing the absolute
Truth; they are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great respect for
traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future, and a focus on
achieving quick results.

Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree to
which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not become
human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control
their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak
control is called Indulgence and relatively strong control is called Restraint.
Cultures can, therefore, be described as Indulgent or Restrained.
With a high score of 71, Australia is an Indulgent country. People in societies
classified by a high score in Indulgence generally exhibit a willingness to realise
their impulses and desires with regard to enjoying life and having fun. They
possess a positive attitude and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition,
they place a higher degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and
spend money as they wish.

Canada:

If we explore the Canadian culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Canadian culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal. it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. It has to do with the
fact that a societys inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by
the leaders.
With a score of 39 on this dimension, Canadian culture is marked by
interdependence among its inhabitants and there is value placed on
egalitarianism. This is also reflected by the lack of overt status and/or
class distinctions in society. Typical of other cultures with a low score on
this dimension, hierarchy in Canadian organisations is established for
convenience, superiors are always accessible and managers rely on
individual employees and teams for their expertise. It is customary for
managers and staff members to consult one another and to share
information freely. With respect to communication, Canadians value a
straightforward exchange of information.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
Canada scores 80 on this dimension (its highest dimension score) and can
be characterized as an Individualist culture. Similar to its American
neighbor to the south, this translates into a loosely-knit society in which
the expectation is that people look after themselves and their immediate
families. Similarly, in the business world, employees are expected to be
self-reliant and display initiative. Also, within the exchange-based world of
work, hiring and promotion decisions are based merit or evidence of what
one has done or can do.
Masculinity

A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner or best-in-the-field. This value system starts in
school and continues throughout ones life both in work and leisure
pursuits.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
Canada scores 52 on this dimension and can be characterized as a
moderately Masculine society. While Canadians strive to attain high
standards of performance in both work and play (sports), the overall
cultural tone is more subdued with respect to achievement, success and
winning, when compared to the US. Similarly, Canadians also tend to have
a work-life balance and are likely to take time to enjoy personal pursuits,
family gatherings and life in general. This is not to say that Canadians are
not hard workers. As a general rule, Canadians strive to attain high
standards of performance in all endeavors.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
The Canadian score on this dimension is 48 and Canadian culture is more
uncertainty accepting. This is indicative of the easy acceptance of new
ideas, innovative products and a willingness to try something new or
different, whether it pertains to technology, business practices, or
consumer products. Canadians are also tolerant of ideas or opinions from
anyone and allow the freedom of expression. At the same time, Canadian
culture is not rules-oriented and Canadians tend to be less emotionally
expressive than cultures scoring higher on this dimension.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and

future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.

Normative societies which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer
to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal
change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the
other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and
efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
Canada scores 36 in this dimension, marking it as a normative society.
People in such societies have a strong concern with establishing the
absolute Truth; they are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great
respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future,
and a focus on achieving quick results.

Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
The high score of 68 in this dimension means that Canadian culture is
classified as Indulgent. People in societies classified by a high score in
Indulgence generally exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and
desires with regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive
attitude and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a
higher degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend
money as they wish.
NOTE: While the above descriptions apply to Canadian culture
overall, one will likely find subtle differences between Anglophone
Canadians and Francophone Canadians (the Province of Quebec.)
Compared with their Anglophone counterparts, French-Canadians
can be more formal, hierarchical, moderately relationship
focused, and more emotionally expressive. The scores for Quebec
are as follows: pdi 54; idv 73; mas 45; uai 60

China:
If we explore the Chinese culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Chinese culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At 80 China sits in the higher rankings of PDI i.e. a society that believes
that inequalities amongst people are acceptable. The subordinate-superior
relationship tends to be polarized and there is no defense against power
abuse by superiors. Individuals are influenced by formal authority and
sanctions and are in general optimistic about peoples capacity for
leadership and initiative. People should not have aspirations beyond their
rank.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In

Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and

their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
At a score of 20 China is a highly collectivist culture where people act in
the interests of the group and not necessarily of themselves. In-group
considerations affect hiring and promotions with closer in-groups (such as
family) are getting preferential treatment. Employee commitment to the
organization (but not necessarily to the people in the organization) is low.
Whereas relationships with colleagues are cooperative for in-groups they
are cold or even hostile to out-groups. Personal relationships prevail over
task and company.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner / best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organizational life.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life.
A Feminine society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and
standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The fundamental issue here
is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what
you do (Feminine).
At 66 China is a Masculine society success oriented and driven. The need
to ensure success can be exemplified by the fact that many Chinese will
sacrifice family and leisure priorities to work. Service people (such as
hairdressers) will provide services until very late at night. Leisure time is
not so important. The migrated farmer workers will leave their families
behind in faraway places in order to obtain better work and pay in the
cities. Another example is that Chinese students care very much about
their exam scores and ranking as this is the main criteria to achieve
success or not.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs

and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on

Uncertainty Avoidance.
At 30 China has a low score on Uncertainty Avoidance. Truth may be
relative though in the immediate social circles there is concern for Truth
with a capital T and rules (but not necessarily laws) abound. None the
less, adherence to laws and rules may be flexible to suit the actual
situation and pragmatism is a fact of life. The Chinese are comfortable
with ambiguity; the Chinese language is full of ambiguous meanings that
can be difficult for Western people to follow. Chinese are adaptable and
entrepreneurial. At the time of writing the majority (70% -80%) of Chinese
businesses tend to be small to medium sized and family owned.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer
to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal
change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the
other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and
efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
China scores 87 in this dimension, which means that it is a very pragmatic
culture. In societies with a pragmatic orientation, people believe that truth
depends very much on situation, context and time. They show an ability to
adapt traditions easily to changed conditions, a strong propensity to save
and invest thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving results.
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
China is a restrained society as can be seen in its low score of 24 in this
dimension. Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to
cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies, restrained
societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control the
gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the

perception that their actions are restrained by social norms and feel that
indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.

Egypt:
If we explore the Egyptian culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of its culture relative to other
world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
Egypt scores high on this dimension (score of 70) which means that people
accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which
needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organization is seen as

reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular, subordinates

expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a benevolent autocrat
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.

Egypt, with a score of 25 is considered a collectivistic society. This is

manifest in a close long-term commitment to the member 'group', be that
a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a
collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules
and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone
takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivist
societies offence leads to shame and loss of face, employer/employee
relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link), hiring and
promotion decisions take account of the employees in-group,
management is the management of groups.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner / best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.

A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
Egypt scores 45 on this dimension and is thus considered a relatively
Feminine society. In Feminine countries the focus is on working in order to
live, managers strive for consensus, people value equality, solidarity and
quality in their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and
negotiation. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favoured. Focus
is on well-being, status is not shown. An effective manager is a supportive
one, and decision making is achieved through involvement.

Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
Egypt scores 80 on this dimension and thus has a high preference for
avoiding uncertainty. Countries exhibiting high Uncertainty Avoidance
maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of
unorthodox behaviour and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional
need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money,
people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and
punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an
important element in individual motivation.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.

Egypt's very low score of 7 indicated that its culture is very normative.
People in such societies have a strong concern with establishing the
absolute Truth; they are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great
respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future,
and a focus on achieving quick results
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong

control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as

Indulgent or Restrained.
With a very low score of 4, Egypt is shown to be a very restrained country.
Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to cynicism
and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies, restrained societies
do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control the gratification of
their desires. People with this orientation have the perception that their
actions are restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves
is somewhat wrong.

Morocco:

If we explore Moroccan culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we can
get a good overview of the deep drivers of Moroccan culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At a score of 70, Morocco is a hierarchical society. This means that people
accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which
needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organization is seen as
reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular, subordinates
expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a benevolent autocrat
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
Morocco, with a score of 46 is considered a collectivistic society. This is
manifest in a close long-term commitment to the member 'group', be that
a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a
collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules
and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone
takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivist
societies offence leads to shame and loss of face, employer/employee
relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link), hiring and
promotion decisions take account of the employees in-group,
management is the management of groups.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner/best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.

A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
Morocco gets an intermediate score of 53 on this dimension and this in
inconclusive.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
Morocco scores 68 on this dimension and thus has a very high preference
for avoiding uncertainty. Countries exhibiting high Uncertainty Avoidance
maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of
unorthodox behaviour and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional
need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money,
people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and
punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an
important element in individual motivation.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
With the very low score of 14, Moroccan culture is clearly normative.
People in such societies have a strong concern with establishing the
absolute Truth; they are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great
respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future,
and a focus on achieving quick results.

Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
Morocco's low score on this dimension (25) indicates that is has a culture
of Restraint. Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency
to cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies,
Restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control
the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the
perception that their actions are Restrained by social norms and feel that
indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.

Netherlands:
If we explore the Dutch culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Dutch culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
The Netherlands scores low on this dimension (score of 38) which means
that the following characterises the Dutch style: Being independent,
hierarchy for convenience only, equal rights, superiors accessible,
coaching leader, management facilitates and empowers. Power is
decentralized and managers count on the experience of their team
members. Employees expect to be consulted. Control is disliked and
attitude towards managers are informal and on first name basis.
Communication is direct and participative.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
The Netherlands, with the very high score of 80 is an Individualist society.
This means there is a high preference for a loosely-knit social framework in
which individuals are expected to take care of themselves and their
immediate families only. In Individualist societies offence causes guilt and

a loss of self-esteem, the employer/employee relationship is a contract

based on mutual advantage, hiring and promotion decisions are supposed
to be based on merit only, management is the management of individuals.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner/best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.

A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
The Netherlands scores 14 on this dimension and is therefore a Feminine
society. In Feminine countries it is important to keep the life/work balance
and you make sure that all are included. An effective manager is
supportive to his/her people, and decision making is achieved through
involvement. Managers strive for consensus and people value equality,
solidarity and quality in their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by
compromise and negotiation and Dutch are known for their long
discussions until consensus has been reached.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
The Netherlands scores 53 on this dimension and thus exhibits a slight
preference for avoiding uncertainty. Countries exhibiting high Uncertainty
Avoidance maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant
of unorthodox behaviour and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional
need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money,
people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and

punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an

important element in individual motivation.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
The Netherlands receives a high score of 67 in this dimension, which
means that it has a pragmatic nature. In societies with a pragmatic
orientation, people believe that truth depends very much on the situation,
context and time. They show an ability to easily adapt traditions to
changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and invest, thriftiness and
perseverance in achieving results.
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
With a high score of 68, the culture of the Netherlands is clearly one of
Indulgence. People in societies classified by a high score in Indulgence
generally exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and desires with
regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive attitude
and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher
degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend money
as they wish.

United Kingdom:
If we explore the British culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of British culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At 35 Britain sits in the lower rankings of PDI i.e. a society that believes
that inequalities amongst people should be minimized. Interestingly is that
research shows PD index lower amongst the higher class in Britain than
amongst the working classes. The PDI score at first seems incongruent
with the well established and historical British class system and its
exposes one of the inherent tensions in the British culture between the
importance of birth rank on the one hand and a deep seated belief that
where you are born should not limit how far you can travel in life. A sense

of fair play drives a belief that people should be treated in some way as
equals.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
At a score of 89 the UK is amongst the highest of the Individualist scores,
beaten only by some of the commonwealth countries it spawned i.e.
Australia and the USA. The British are a highly Individualist and private
people. Children are taught from an early age to think for themselves and
to find out what their unique purpose in life is and how they uniquely can
contribute to society. The route to happiness is through personal
fulfillment. As the affluence of Britain has increased throughout the last
decade, with wealth also spreading North, a much discussed
phenomenon is the rise of what has been seen as rampant consumerism
and a strengthening of the ME culture.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner/best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
At 66, Britain is a Masculine society highly success oriented and driven. A
key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent contradiction
between the British culture of modesty and understatement which is at
odds with the underlying success driven value system in the culture.
Critical to understanding the British is being able to read between the
lines What is said is not always what is meant. In comparison to Feminine
cultures such as the Scandinavian countries, people in the UK live in order
to work and have a clear performance ambition.
Uncertainty Avoidance

The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a

society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
At 35 the UK has a low score on Uncertainty Avoidance which means that
as a nation they are quite happy to wake up not knowing what the day
brings and they are happy to make it up as they go along changing plans
as new information comes to light. As a low UAI country the British are
comfortable in ambiguous situations - the term muddling through is a
very British way of expressing this. There are generally not too many rules
in British society, but those that are there are adhered to (the most
famous of which of of course the British love of queuing which has also to
do with the values of fair play).
In work terms this results in planning that is not detail oriented the end
goal will be clear (due to high MAS) but the detail of how we get there will
be light and the actual process fluid and flexible to emerging and changing
environment. Planning horizons will also be shorter. Most importantly the
combination of a highly Individualist and curious nation is a high level of
creativity and strong need for innovation. What is different is attractive!
This emerges throughout the society in both its humour, heavy
consumerism for new and innovative products and the fast highly creative
industries it thrives in advertising, marketing, financial engineering.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
With an intermediate score of 51 in this dimension, a dominant preference
in British culture cannot be determined.
Indulgence

One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
A high score of 69 indicates that the British culture is one that is classified
as Indulgent. People in societies classified by a high score in Indulgence
generally exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and desires with
regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive attitude
and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher
degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend money
as they wish.

South Korea:
If we explore South Korean culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of South Korean culture
relative to other world cultures.

Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At an intermediate score of 60, South Korea is a slightly hierarchical
society. This means that people accept a hierarchical order in which
everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. Hierarchy
in an organization is seen as reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization
is popular, subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is
a benevolent autocrat
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
South Korea, with a score of 18 is considered a collectivistic society. This is
manifest in a close long-term commitment to the member 'group', be that
a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a
collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules
and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone
takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivist
societies offence leads to shame and loss of face, employer/employee
relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link), hiring and
promotion decisions take account of the employees in-group,
management is the management of groups.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner / best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.

A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd

is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,

wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
South Korea scores 39 on this dimension and is thus considered a Feminine
society. In Feminine countries the focus is on working in order to live,
managers strive for consensus, people value equality, solidarity and
quality in their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and
negotiation. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favoured. Focus
is on well-being, status is not shown. An effective manager is a supportive
one, and decision making is achieved through involvement.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
At 85 South Korea is one of the most uncertainty avoiding countries in the
world. Countries exhibiting high Uncertainty Avoidance maintain rigid
codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of unorthodox behaviour
and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional need for rules (even if
the rules never seem to work) time is money, people have an inner urge to
be busy and work hard, precision and punctuality are the norm, innovation
may be resisted, security is an important element in individual motivation.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
At 100, South Korea scores as one of the most pragmatic, long-term
oriented societies. Notion of the one and only almighty God is not familiar
to South Koreans. People live their lives guided by virtues and practical
good examples. In corporate South Korea, you see long term orientation in
the, higher own capital rate, priority to steady growth of market share

rather than to a quarterly profit, and so on. They all serve the durability of
the companies. The idea behind it is that the companies are not here to
make money every quarter for the share holders, but to serve the stake
holders and society at large for many generations to come.
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
With a low score of 29, South Korean society is shown to be one of
Restraint. Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to
cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies,
Restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control
the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the
perception that their actions are Restrained by social norms and feel that
indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.

South Africa:
If we explore the culture of South Africa through the lens of the 6-D
Model, we can get a good overview of the deep driving factors of its
culture relative to other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
South Africa scores 49 on this dimension which means that people to a
larger extent accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place
and which needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organization is
seen as reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular,
subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a
benevolent autocrat
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with
whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
South Africa, with a score of 65 is an Individualist society. This means there
is a high preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals
are expected to take care of themselves and their immediate families only.
In Individualist societies offence causes guilt and a loss of self-esteem, the
employer/employee relationship is a contract based on mutual advantage,
hiring and promotion decisions are supposed to be based on merit only,
management is the management of individuals.
Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being

defined by the winner/best in field a value system that starts in school

and continues throughout organisational life.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
South Africa scores 63 on this dimension and is thus a Masculine society. In
Masculine countries people live in order to work, managers are expected
to be decisive and assertive, the emphasis is on equity, competition and
performance and conflicts are resolved by fighting them out.
Uncertainty Avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a
society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
South Africa scores 49 on this dimension and thus has a low preference for
avoiding uncertainty. Low UAI societies maintain a more relaxed attitude in
which practice counts more than principles and deviance from the norm is
more easily tolerated. In societies exhibiting low UAI, people believe there
should be no more rules than are necessary and if they are ambiguous or
do not work they should be abandoned or changed. Schedules are flexible,
hard work is undertaken when necessary but not for its own sake,
precision and punctuality do not come naturally, innovation is not seen as
threatening.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.

A low score of 34 on this dimension means that in South Africa the culture
is more normative than pragmatic. People in such societies have a strong
concern with establishing the absolute Truth; they are normative in their
thinking. They exhibit great respect for traditions, a relatively small
propensity to save for the future, and a focus on achieving quick results.
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong
control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as
Indulgent or Restrained.
With a high score of 63 it is clear that South Africa has a culture of
Indulgence. People in societies classified by a high score in Indulgence
generally exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and desires with
regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive attitude
and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher
degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend money
as they wish.
NOTE: The scores here are for the white population of South Africa. The
majority of the population is Black African, and their scores may be very
different from those presented above.

Greece:
If we explore the Greek culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we
can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Greek culture relative to
other world cultures.
Power Distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not
equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities
amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less
powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country
expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At 60 Greece has an intermediate score, but it indicates a slight tendency
to the higher side of PDI i.e. a society that believes hierarchy should be
respected and inequalities amongst people are acceptable. The different
distribution of power justifies the fact that power holders have more
benefits than the less powerful in society. In Greece it is important to show
respect to the elderly (and children take care for their elderly parents). In
companies there is one boss who takes complete responsibility. One
should never forget that in the mind of a Greek all other cultures in the
Western world inherited something from the ancient Greek culture. Status
symbols of power are very important in order to indicate social position
and communicate the respect that could be shown.
Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with

whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In

Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and
their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups
that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
At a score of 35 Greece is a collectivist culture, we defined, which
means that in this country people from birth onwards are integrated into
the strong, cohesive in-group (especially represented by the extended
family; including uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins) which continues
protecting its members in exchange for loyalty. This is an important aspect
in the working environment too, where for instance an older and powerful
member of a family is expected to help a younger nephew to be hired
for a job in his own company. From an Individualist culture this could be
perceived as nepotism (= negative perception) but in collectivistic
societies is a normal behaviour. In business it is important to build up
trustworthy and long lasting relationships: a meeting usually starts with
general conversations in order to get to know each other before doing
business.

Masculinity
A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will
be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being
defined by the winner / best in field a value system that starts in school
and continues throughout organisational life.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values
in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one
where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd
is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people,
wanting to be the best (Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
At 57 Greece is a medium ranking Masculine society success oriented
and driven. Men consider it a personal honor to take care for their family.
In Collectivistic and Masculine cultures the success of a member of a
family gives social value to the whole in-group; when meeting a new
person a foreigner should not be surprised by Greeks speaking of the
important and successful people they knows in town. Aristoteles Onassis,
the Greek tycoon, well known all over the world, was and still is an
example of a successful Greek whose status symbols speak of the
excellent achievements in a Masculine society.
Uncertainty Avoidance

The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a

society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we
try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it
anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in
different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel
threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs
and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on
Uncertainty Avoidance.
At 100 Greece has the highest score on Uncertainty Avoidance which
means that as a nation Greeks are not at all comfortable in ambiguous
situations: the unforeseen is always there ready to lay an ambush. The
sword of Damocles, impending over the head of all of us, can illustrate
this anxious and stressing feeling about life. In Greece, as in all high
Uncertainty Avoidance societies, bureaucracy, laws and rules are very
important to make the world a safer place to live in. Greeks need to have
good and relaxing moments in their everyday life, chatting with
colleagues, enjoying a long meal or dancing with guests and friends. Due
to their high score in this dimension Greeks are very passionate and
demonstrative people: emotions are easily shown in their body language.
The Greek myth about the birth of the world tells us a lot about high
Uncertainty Avoidance: at the very beginning there was only Chaos but
then Cronos (Time) came in to organize life and make it easier to manage.
Long Term Orientation
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links
with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and
future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently.
Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example,
prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on
the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift
and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
Greece has an intermediate score of 45 on this dimension.
Indulgence
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree
to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not
become human. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people
try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were
raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong

control is called Restraint. Cultures can, therefore, be described as

Indulgent or Restrained.
Greece has an intermediate score of 50 on this dimension, so no clear
preference between Indulgence and Restraint can be established.