Geert Hofstede is one of the leading experts on inter cult oral communications.
ID: 459524 • Letter: G
Question
Geert Hofstede is one of the leading experts on inter cult oral communications. Use the website, http://wwwgeert-hofstede.com/hofstede dimensions.php, to compare your home culture with another culture that interests you. Write a 4-6 paragraph essay describing the key differences between the two cultures and how those differences might impact your communications. Consider as many of the components of the communication process and concepts as possible. Rely on your college-level writing and critical thinking skills to clearly communicate your ideas.Explanation / Answer
Greet Hofstede defines culture as the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from others. Hence, people of different cultural backgrounds will communicate in different manners. The American and Japanese culture varies in many areas and these differences need to be considered during communication to avoid any conflicts or ineffectiveness.
The Hofstede Framework argues that there are five dimensions to measure national culture. They are: Power Distance, Individualism versus Collectivism, Masculinity versus Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance and Long-term Orientation. The American culture has low score of 40 in Power Distance, high score of 90 in Individualism, moderate score of 62 in Masculinity versus Femininity, low score of 46 in Uncertainty Avoidance and low score of 29 in Long-Term Orientation. The Japanese culture has a low score of 54 in Power Distance, low score of 46 in Individualism, high score of 95 in Masculinity versus Femininity, high score of 92 in Uncertainty Avoidance and high score of 80 in Long-Term Orientation.
First, the American culture is much more individualistic than the Japanese culture. In US, individuals tend to be more concerned with themselves and their direct family. However, in Japan, individuals prioritize the larger collective before the self or the family. It is common to see Japanese prioritizing their identity as a member of an organization or ethnic group rather than their identity as a unique individual. This difference in individualism can affect communication negatively if not addressed appropriately. For example, when working in the same organization, an American who is not afraid to express his opposing views may be seen as uncooperative and rude by a fellow Japanese colleague who feels it is best if harmony between members is preserved.
Next, the American culture is less wary of uncertainty than the Japanese culture. In general, Americans are accepting of the unknown and changes. These include accepting new ideas, foodstuffs and business ideas. On the other hand, Japanese prefer stability and are resistant to changes. This difference in handling of uncertainty can affect communication between Americans and Japanese. For example, Americans may find Japanese way of doing business too boring and too conservative because the Japanese prefer to stick to tried-and-tested methods. Meanwhile, the Japanese may find it uncomfortable to communicate or work with Americans because they feel that Americans make hasty and dangerous decisions.
Finally, the America culture has a weak long-term orientation while the Japanese culture has a strong long-term orientation. Hence, Americans tend to adopt a short-term perspective while the Japanese tend to adopt a long-term perspective. This difference in perspective can result in conflicts in communication. For example, the American may view the Japanese as being too prudish and stingy for not participating in entertainment activities. On the other hand, the Japanese may view the American as being too unreliable for not making future plans. Such situations can cause misunderstandings, even though both parties are right when viewed in the context of their respective cultures.
To conclude, American and Japanese varies in different ways. The key areas of differences lie in the areas of Individualism, Uncertainty Avoidance and Long-Term Orientation. These differences can result in miscommunication if individuals are unaware of them and do not take steps to view from each other’s perspective.
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