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Management - Vikhanskiy OS

4.2. Hofsteed model

The approach to the study of the national in organizational culture, developed by G. Hofsti-house and based on five variables, is very popular [8]:

• power distance;

• Individualism;

• Masculinity;

• Striving to avoid uncertainty;

• long-term orientation.

So, under the first variable, called the power distance, we mean the degree of inequality between people that the population of a given country considers permissible or normal. At the same time, a low degree is characterized by relative equality in society, and a high degree is the reverse.

The second variable is characterized by individualism, or the degree to which people of a given country prefer to act as individuals, and not as members of a certain group. The high degree of this variable assumes that a person, being in conditions of free social ties in society, takes care of himself and his family in the family, as well as bears full responsibility for all his actions. This same variable is characterized as collectivism (or a low degree of individualism). In collectivist societies, people from childhood are taught respect for the groups to which they belong, usually to the family, clan, clan or organization. The differences between the members of the group and those outside it are not held. Group members expect that the group will protect them and will hold them responsible if they get into trouble. For this they are obliged to pay loyalty to their group throughout their lives. In individualistic societies, from childhood they are taught to think of themselves in terms of "I", and not part of "Us". It is expected that once up on his feet, the individual will no longer receive protection from his group, and she will not be held responsible for him. Therefore, he should not show strong loyalty to the group.

The third variable also has two poles: masculinity and femininity, reflecting how people of this culture relate to values ​​such as perseverance and self-confidence, "high level of work", "success and competition", which are associated almost everywhere to a greater extent with The role of men. These values ​​are different from "gentle" values ​​such as "life comforts", "maintaining warm personal relationships", "caring for the weak and solidarity", associated primarily with the role of women. This refers to the prevalence in society of patterns of behavior inherent in either male or female representatives. The role of women is different from the role of men in all countries, but in "hard" societies this difference is greater than in "gentle" societies.

The fourth variable is called "the desire to avoid uncertainty" and can be defined as the degree to which people of a given country prefer structured situations as opposed to unstructured situations. Structured are situations with clear and clear rules on how to behave. These rules can be formalized, and can be supported by traditions. In countries with a high degree of ambition to avoid uncertainty, people tend to exhibit great excitement and anxiety, fever in work, or "urgency." In the opposite case, people behave and work more calmly and systematically. In countries with a high degree of ambition to avoid ambiguity, the prevailing view is that everything "not ours and the unaccustomed" is a danger. With a low degree of desire to avoid ambiguity, everything "not its own and unusual" causes cognitive curiosity.

The fifth variable is measured by long- term or short-term orientation in the behavior of members of society. Long-term orientation is characterized by a look to the future and manifests itself in the pursuit of savings and accumulation, perseverance and persistence in achieving goals. Short-term orientation is characterized by a glance into the past and present and is manifested through respect for traditions and heritage, through the fulfillment of social obligations.

The data obtained by G. Hofstead on the measurement of these variables for ten countries are shown in Table. 10.5. It should be emphasized that not all people in each of the countries surveyed feel and act exactly according to the points they received.

Table 10.5.

The results of the variables in ten

Measurements in points of interest (according to G. Hofsteed)

Culture variables:

DV - power distance

ID - individualism

MN is masculinity

IN - the desire to avoid uncertainty

TO - long-term orientation

Degrees of manifestation:

B - high; C - medium; Н - low

The figures indicate the scores reflecting the degree of manifestation of a particular culture variable.