Assignment: Hofsteade CD Practice Assignment

IB BUSINESS & MGMT HL C 2024
2024-08-30T15:09:09Z

Due: Sep 15, 2024 by 11:59pm

Professor Geert Hofstede was a famous social psychologist who proposed that there are different "Cultural Dimensions" within organizations and countries. Hofstede argued that understanding the different dimensions of culture will help facilitate better understanding and communication between cultures. This is important for both international diplomacy and international business.

Investigate how cultures differ in two different countries of your choice. Spend 10 minutes investigating. Information about the cultural dimensions in different countries can be found here.

Take a look at the three questions below and respond based on your understanding of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.

1. You are a cultural psychologist who works for a large multinational company in Denmark. One of your colleagues has never travelled outside of his country but is about to move to South Korea for a promoted post in the company. In South Korea, he will be working as the senior manager of his division. What advice can you give him based on what we know about the dimensions of South Korean culture?

2. Max is Russian. He is coming to you as he and his colleague, who is from Thailand, are having difficulties working together. You wonder if there could be a cultural basis to their difficulties. What questions might you ask them based on what you know about their respective cultures (you will need to do some research on the cultural differences in Russia and Thailand).

3. An experienced Czech businesswoman has been offered the opportunity to work with one of three international businesses located in the centre of Prague. She is undecided about whether to accept the job offers from the American, French, or Russian companies. Based on her national cultural background, which business environment do you suggest that she would most easily adjust to? Be able to justify your recommendation.

Professor Geert Hofstede was a famous social psychologist who proposed that there are different "Cultural Dimensions" within organizations and countries. Hofstede argued that understanding the different dimensions of culture will help facilitate better understanding and communication between cultures. This is important for both international diplomacy and international business.

Investigate how cultures differ in two different countries of your choice. Spend 10 minutes investigating. Information about the cultural dimensions in different countries can be found here.

Take a look at the three questions below and respond based on your understanding of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.

1. You are a cultural psychologist who works for a large multinational company in Denmark. One of your colleagues has never travelled outside of his country but is about to move to South Korea for a promoted post in the company. In South Korea, he will be working as the senior manager of his division. What advice can you give him based on what we know about the dimensions of South Korean culture?

2. Max is Russian. He is coming to you as he and his colleague, who is from Thailand, are having difficulties working together. You wonder if there could be a cultural basis to their difficulties. What questions might you ask them based on what you know about their respective cultures (you will need to do some research on the cultural differences in Russia and Thailand).

3. An experienced Czech businesswoman has been offered the opportunity to work with one of three international businesses located in the centre of Prague. She is undecided about whether to accept the job offers from the American, French, or Russian companies. Based on her national cultural background, which business environment do you suggest that she would most easily adjust to? Be able to justify your recommendation.