L23a Cultures Uncertainty - TRIBGROUP TAMU Cultures_Uncertainty.pdfUncertainty Avoidance Index Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind By Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede

1

LectureCultural dimension:

What is Different is DangerousLuis San Andres

Mast-Childs Tribology ProfessorTexas A&M University

http://rotorlab.tamu.edu/me489

ME 489 Practices of Modern Engineering

2

Uncertainty Avoidance

Cultures and Organizations: Software of the MindBy Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede

The tolerance to the ambiguous and unpredictable

All humans have to face the fact that we do not know what will happen tomorrow: the future is uncertain, but we have to live with it anyway.

3



Extreme ambiguity causes intolerable anxiety. Every society has developed ways to reduce/manage the anxiety.

Technology – avoids uncertainty from natureLaws and rules – prevent uncertainties in behavior from other peopleReligion – a control of the future - transcends beyond mortality

4



Uncertainty is a feeling, a subjective experience!

Anxiety is a diffuse “state of being uneasy or worried about what may happen.” It is NOT fear, which has an object. We are afraid of something, but anxiety has no object.

5

Uncertainty Avoidance Index


The extent to which members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situationsAnxious cultures tend to be expressive cultures: places where people talk with their hands, raise voices, showing emotion, pounding, etc.

In weak UAI countries, anxiety levels are low. Aggressions and emotions are not shown (stress cannot be released easily)

6Cultures and Organizations: Software of the MindBy Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede

http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions


Map


Uncertainty Avoidance Index for 74 countriesCountry SCORE RANK

Less strong

strong

Country SCORE RANK

Most Latin-American

and Mediterranean

countries


Uncertainty Avoidance Index for 74 countriesCountry SCORE RANK

weak

Lessstrong

Country SCORE RANK

Most G-7 countries(developed)

Singapore is a surprise

Happiestcountries

Arab countries UAI: 68

9



vs. Masculinity

Masculinity

Unc

erta

inty

Inde

x

feminine masculine

weak

strong

10



vs. Individualism

Uncertainty

Indi

vidu

alis

m (I

DIV

)

individualism

weak

collectivist

strong

11

Key Differences


Health& Education


Weak UAI Strong UAI

12

Key Differences


Shopping


Weak UAI Strong UAI

13

Key Differences


Workplace & Organization


Weak UAI Strong UAI

14

Key Differences


Organization & Motivation


Weak UAI Strong UAI

15

Key Differences

Uncertainty AvoidanceThe citizen


Weak UAI Strong UAI

16

Key Differences


The State


Weak UAI Strong UAI

17

Key Differences

Uncertainty AvoidanceTolerance, Religion &

Ideas


Weak UAI Strong UAI

18

Satisfaction with life index

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_with_Life_Indexhttp://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/database-of-happiness/1080

19

GINI Coefficient

A measure of income inequality, the most unequal society will be one in which a single person receives 100% of the total income and the remaining people receive none (G=1); and the most equal society will be one in which every person receives the same income (G=0).

World CIA Report 2009

20

Practices of Modern

Engineering © Luis San AndresTexas A&M University2011

http://rotorlab.tamu.edu/me489

21

Questions?Next lecture

Documents

L23a Cultures Uncertainty - TRIBGROUP TAMU Cultures_Uncertainty.pdfUncertainty Avoidance Index Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind By Geert Hofstede and Gert Jan Hofstede