When we see an iceberg, the portion which is visible is only a small piece
of a much larger whole. Similarly, people often think of culture as the
characteristics of a group that we can see with our eyes. The reality, however, is that these are external manifestation of the
deeper and broader components of culture.
10%: When you first interact with a new culture, maybe through travel or other experiences, this is the part that
is immediately evident to you. This is the part of culture you can see, taste, smell, hear, and touch.
Food
Music
Languages
Festivals
Flag
Arts
Dress
Literature
90%: The surface can be divided into two categories. The first are those
things which are near the surface, but still hidden. We can think of these as the unspoken rules of a
society.
Values
Frienship
Religion
Rules
Norms
Expectations
Body Language
Gender Roles
Leadership
Social Status
Fairness
Cultural Dimensions
Professor Geert Hofstede conducted one of the most comprehensive studies of how
values in the workplace are influenced by culture. He defines culture as “the collective
programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people
from others”.
Power distance: the degree of inequality among people which the population of a country
consider normal
Individualism vs. collectivism: the extent which people feel they are supposed to take care
of themselves, their families or organizations
Masculinity vs. femininity: the extent to which culture is conductive to dominance,
assertiveness and acquisition of things versus culture
Uncertainty avoidance: The degree to which people in a country prefer structured over unstructured situations
Long-term vs. short-term orientation: Long term values are orientated towards the future. Short term values are orientated towards the past and present