India

If we explore the Indian culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Indian culture relative to other world cultures. Power distance This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. India scores high on this dimension, 77, indicating an appreciation for hierarchy and a top-down structure in society and organizations. Individualism The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. India, with a rather intermediate score of 48, is a society with both collectivistic and individualistic traits. The individualistic aspect of Indian society is seen as a result of its dominant religion/philosophy - Hinduism. Masculinity A low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life. Uncertainty avoidance

Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - Leadership Training from MindTools Understanding Workplace Values Around the World Learn how to be more sensitive to the needs of people in different cultures. We know that we are living in a global age. This is exciting, but it can also be frustrating and fraught with uncertainty. Building connections with people from around the world is just one dimension of cultural diversity. How can we understand cultural differences? Fortunately, psychologist Dr Geert Hofstede asked himself this question in the 1970s. With access to people working for the same organization in over 40 countries of the world, he collected cultural data and analyzed his findings. He scored each country using a scale of roughly 0 to 100 for each dimension. The Five Dimensions of Culture Armed with a large database of cultural statistics, Hofstede analyzed the results and found clear patterns of similarity and difference amid the responses along these five dimensions. The five dimensions are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Note: Hofstede's analysis is done by country.

Leveraging Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory to Improve the Quality of Information Operations Hypothetical Scenario A new company commander has just taken ownership of battle space in a Middle Eastern country during an operation to enforce a peace treaty after a civil war. One of his first tasks is to explain his company’s presence and mission to the local population through local leaders. They are skeptical of the mass media messages they have received about the operation since the previous regime used the media only for propaganda. Furthermore, since the regime restricted the population’s access to basic information, they are ignorant about the world outside of their communities. The commander notices the local leaders appear dumbfounded and anxious after he makes his initial case. Hofstede’s Theory Successful information operations (IO) often require effective inter-cultural communications in order to inform and influence foreign audiences. Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory is an analytical tool at the disposal of the IO practitioner. Uncertainty Avoidance Conclusion