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Dutch Culture & LanguageLecture 1: General introduction about culture
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Familiar?
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Familiar? Huntington: Clash of
civilizations
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Culture
• What is “culture”?
• How can you measure or describe culture and cultural differences?
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Culture
Definition of culture:Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Today, in the United States as in other countries populated largely by immigrants, the culture is influenced by the many groups of people that now make up the country.
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Culture
Comparing cultures… is there a way to describe and measure differences?
Could this be a helpful tool in working in international business to smoothen international relations? Or is it merely a hobby of certain individuals?
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Culture
Some attempts to describe cultural differences:• Edward Hall, The silent language• Fons Trompenaars, model of national
cultural differences• Geert Hofstede, cultural dimensions
theory
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Edward T. Hall
Most important difference between cultures:- Proximics- High Context and Low
Context cultures- Polychronic versus
monochronic time
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High context vs. Low context
Low context:- Explicit messages- Little attention for
the status of the person, task oriented
High context:- Not just the message
is important- Relation oriented
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Polychronic vs. Monochronic
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Trompenaars & Hampden Turner
7 Dimensions/dilemma’s of intercultural communication:• Universalism vs. particularism • Individualism vs. collectivism
(communitarianism)• Neutral vs. emotional• Specific vs. diffuse • Achievement vs. ascription• Sequential vs. synchronic• Internal vs. external control
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Universalism vs. Particularism
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Individualism vs. Collectivism
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Neutral vs. Emotional
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Specific vs. Diffuse
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Achievement vs. Ascription
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Sequential vs. Synchronic
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Internal vs. External control
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Geert Hofstede
Developed a theory to measure cultural differences.
Problem: How to quantify culture?
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Geert Hofstede
Defining culture in 5 dimensions, based on research at IBM:• Power Distance index• Individualism• Uncertainty avoidance
index• Masculinity• Long term orientation
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Power distance
• Power distance is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.
• Does not reflect an objective difference in power distribution, but rather the way people perceive power differences.
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Power distance index
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Individualism
The degree to which individuals are integrated into groups.
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Uncertainty avoidance index
• A society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. Reflects the extent to which members of a society attempt to cope with anxiety by minimizing uncertainty.
• People in cultures with high uncertainty avoidance tend to be more emotional. More attention for planning step by step and procedures
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Uncertainty avoidance index
High uncertainty avoidance
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Low uncertainty avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance index
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Masculinity
The distribution of emotional roles between the genders. Masculine cultures' values are competitiveness, assertiveness, materialism, ambition and power, whereas feminine cultures place more value on relationships and quality of life.
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Long term orientation
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Dutch culture
• The Dutch culture belongs to the Nordic culture group. The culture that is the most similar is probably Danish culture.
• Hofstede scores: Low power distance, very low masculinity, high individualism, medium long term orientation and medium uncertainty avoidance.
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Factor analysis of the five dimensions of Hofstede for both Netherlands and Germany
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Assignment:Find out Hofstede scores for your own country and compare these with The Netherlands.
Describe in an essay of maximum 400 words the differences and similarities with the Dutch culture, and indicate which differences you may expect when dealing with Dutch companies.
