Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Geert Hofstede'

Som privatpersoner ser vi världen och framförallt Europa krympa framför våra ögon i och med dagens globalisering och samtidigt vidgas vyerna för världens företag. Möjligheten att för företagen kunna anställa personal från alla världens hörn gynnar både den som söker jobb och den som söker ny personal. Att söka sig till en ny kultur kan verka lockande och allt fler tar tillfället i akt att genom arbetslivet upptäcka nya delar av Europa men är det verkligen så enkelt? I Italien som är Sveriges 10:e viktigaste handelspartner finns en rad svenska företag representerade, en kommunikation mellan länderna är därför naturlig. Kompliceras denna relation av det faktum att två kulturer möts eller är vår bild av att italienska och svenska ledare är två helt olika ledartyper endast en förlegad föreställning som för var dag som går suddas ut allt mer. Geert Hofstede framställde under slutet av 1960 och början av 1970 talet en teori som beskriver kultur utifrån fyra olika dimensioner som möjliggör jämförelser mellan olika kulturer. Hofstedes teori ligger till grund för den enkätundersökning som är basen i denna uppsats och som utformades för att visa den svenska och italienska kulturens uppfattning av dagens ledarroll. Enkätundersökningen genomfördes i två omgångar och i två urvalsgrupper, en italiensk och en svensk. Resultatet visar att kulturella skillnader finns mellan den svenska och italienska kulturen, ledarrollen har inte europeiserats men i jämförelse med Hofstedes studie är skillnaderna små.  Skillnaderna syns främst i två av Hofstedes kulturella dimensioner, maktdistans och osäkerhetsundvikande där Italien både har större grad av maktdistans och högre grad av osäkerhetsundvikande.

Syftet: Syftet med denna uppsats är att se till de kulturella skillnaderna mellan Sverige och Ryssland. Utifrån Hofstedes fem dimensioner, kompletterat med Trompenaars studie, vill vi se om en förändring har skett i Rysslands kultur och hur etablerade företag på den ryska marknaden uppfattar Ryssland.

Metod: Studien är kvalitativ och utifrån en deduktiv ansats. Primärdatainsamling har gjorts med hjälp av tre respondenter samt har en sekundärdataanalys gjorts för att insamla empirin som sedan har analyserats utifrån det teoretiska perspektivet.

Teoretiska perspektiv: Uppsatsens teoretiska utgångspunkt är utifrån Hofstedes fem dimensionsmodeller av nationell kultur samt av Fons Trompenaars sex dimensioner som ett komplement till Hofstedes undersökning.

Resultat: Resultatet av vår primärdata och sekundärdataanalys visar på att de kulturella skillnader som finns mellan Sverige och Ryssland i stor utsträckning beror på historiens utformning av människors värderingar. Historian influerar mycket på hur ett lands kultur gestaltas. Värderingar tar tid att förändra och på grund av det återfinns mycket av kommunismens tankesätt i dagens Ryssland.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the implications and challenges of intercultural communication. An in-depth study was performed of the perspectives from people who work within an international organization. How they experience cultural differences and how they handle them, in particular when it comes to communication. Also, their perceptions of communicative competence were explored. The study was carried out at Svalorna India Bangladesh, at the Swedish office in Lund. Svalorna’s staff was interviewed on their experiences of intercultural communication. Both employees at the Swedish office and employees on location in India and Bangladesh were interviewed. The method used in the study was qualitative interviews where the interviewees could expand their answers fully as the interview developed. The main theory used was Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, presented in the thesis and considered in the study. It was concluded that being aware of cultural differences and having knowledge of other cultures but also your own is important for understanding the so-called non-verbal communication in an intercultural situation. There are also differences in to what extent a certain culture uses non-verbal communication. Both India and Bangladesh, according to the interviewees, are high context cultures whereas Sweden has a low context culture. All the interviewees had similar experiences when it comes to intercultural communication. A cultural difference in the perception of time is an example of when verbal communication can be inadequate, if one is not aware of cultural differences. Both India and Bangladesh use polychronic time whereas in Sweden monochromic time is used. This is indeed confirmed by all interviewees. Many of Hofstede’s cultural dimension theories are found to be coherent with the results of this study, for example the Individualism.

The purpose of the thesis is to study Swedes who live in Australia about their thoughts concerning differences between the cultures and their communication styles in the following four areas; Power Distance, Masculinity verses Femininity, Affective verses Neutral, and Time.

I have chosen a qualitative approach for this study. My research is based on 10 telephone interviews; conducted with Swedes who work for various companies in Australia.

My theoretical chapter includes theories in the field of communication science and culture. Four scientists’ theories are explained; William B. Gudykunst's Anxiety /Uncertainty Management theory, Edward Hall’s High-and Low-context theory, Geert Hofstede’s national culture theory, and Fons Trompenaars’ culture business theory.

My research concludes that there are some main differences between the Swedish and Australian culture and between Swedes’ and Australians’ communication style. My research shows that Sweden is a low-power distance, feminine and neutral culture. While Australia is a higher power-distance, masculine and more affective culture, compared to Sweden. My study also confirmed that the time aspect is not as flexible communicated in Sweden as it is in Australia. All these culture differences are reflected in the cultures’ communication style. For example, Swedes are characterized by a team-oriented, open and equal communication style, whereas Australians use a more hierarchical, assertive and unilateral communication style. While group discussions, personal responsibility, and a high flow of information are common in Sweden, Australia is more characterized by delegation and protectiveness of territories, authority, and information flow.

The purpose of writing Using Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions to Describe Cultural Differences between First Generation and Second Generation Vietnamese in the Vietnamese Church in America is to affirm the existence of cultural differences within the Vietnamese American church between first generation and second generation Vietnamese Americans. The comparison is based on the categories of national cultural values according to Hofstede's research and measurements at the individual level. The acknowledgment of those cultural differences will help church leaders build effective communications and understanding and hence consolidate church unity.

Cultural differences between two generations in Vietnamese American church have created challenges in effective communications and in ministries working together amongst the congregation and at the leadership level. Ignorance of those conflicts and neglecting to find solutions make the existing gap broadened and hinder the mission of the church. Drawing from scores Hofstede's study gave for Vietnam and for the US on the five cultural dimensions, the present research showed how close the degree on an individual level for first generation and second generation Vietnamese Christians is reflected the measurement on the national level with respect to each dimension.

In order to verify the hypotheses of this research, an instrument called HCD-VCA Survey, tailored for the Vietnamese American church context was created. This tool composed of twenty statements with four statements per each cultural dimension, and had the participant rate every statement on a six-point Likert scale. Each set of four statements and their associated scores considered as subscores was compared between the first generation and second generation group.

Result from survey data confirmed the distinct difference of standpoint for each cultural dimension between the first generation and second generation Vietnamese Christians in the church. First generation group tends to more readily accept the high power distance, has tendency toward high collectivism, toward masculinity, stronger uncertainty avoidance, and toward short-term orientation than second generation group. Their standpoints relating to power distance dimension and collectivism/individualism dimension reflected the national cultural values of Vietnam and the US according to Hofstede's research.

The findings of present research ascertained the existence of cultural differences between the first generation and second generation Vietnamese Christians within the Vietnamese American churches. This primary issue needs to be acknowledged adequately and studied systematically. It is important for church leaders to have full knowledge of culture-related issues in order to identify any cultural tension encompassed in other problems in the church. Church leaders must find ways to narrow the cultural difference gap between the two generations in order to reinforce church unity. The establishment of English language ministry for young people also needs to be encouraged and supported in every Vietnamese American church.