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Culture and International Business

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Submitted By tayjem
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Dealing with national cultural differences therefore requires not only knowledge about adequate behaviors but, more importantly, an understanding of deeper-level assumptions and values that explain why certain behaviors are more appropriate than others. A number of cultural frameworks exist that characterize and describe cultures along different value dimensions. The most widely used framework for categorizing national cultures is the one developed by Geert
Hofstede. I am limiting myself to this framework as far as this assignment is concerned.
According to Hofstede, everyone, from wherever in the world, has his or her unique personality, history, and interest. Yet all people share a common human nature. Our shared human nature is intensely social: we are group animals. We use language and empathy, and practice collaboration and intergroup competition. But the unwritten rules of how we do these things differ from one human group to another. "'Culture" is how we call these unwritten rules about how to be a good member of the group. Culture provides:
• moral standards about how to be an upstanding group member; and
• defines the group as a 'moral circle". It inspires symbols, heroes, rituals, laws, religions, taboos, and all kinds of practices - but its core is hidden in unconscious values.
We tend to classify groups other than our own as inferior or (rarely) superior. In our globalized world most of us can belong to many groups at the same time. But to get things done, we still need to cooperate with members of other groups carrying other cultures. Skills in cooperation across cultures are vital for our common survival.
Hofstede’s Five Dimensions of Culture
Cultural Dimension #1: Individualism (IDV)
This refers to the strength of the ties people have to others within the community. A high IDV score indicates a loose connection with people. In countries

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