Hofstede Cultural Dimension

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This dimension shows the degree to which the individuals of a society feel whether comfortable or uncomfortable in an unstructured situation and how a society handles an unexpected situation and the impact of change.

Societies with high UAI are Uncertainty avoiding societies. They are less tolerant of change and they tend to reduce the possibility of ambiguous situations by applying laws and rules, using strict behavioral codes, disapproval of deviant views and safety and security measures. Individuals in uncertainty avoiding societies are additionally more emotional, and inspired by inner nervous energy. They seek a collective ‘’truth’’.

Its inverse, societies with low UAI are uncertainty accepting societies. People are more tolerant of views and thoughts that are not the same as what they are used to. They tend to have as few principles, rules and laws as possible. On the philosophical and religious level, they are relativist and permit numerous current to flow side by side. Individuals within these societies are more phlegmatic and contemplative and not anticipated that by their environment to show feelings. They are more open to change and enjoy unexpected situations.

Long Term Orientation versus Short Term Normative Orientation (LTO)

This dimension describes a society’s time horizon (News.telelangue.com, 2015).

Societies with low LTO score are considered as short-term oriented societies. They wish to uphold traditional methods and standards while seeing societal change with suspicion. They take a substantial time to build relationships, national pride and in general perspective time as circular.

Its inverse, long-term orientation, which considers time to be linear and looks to the future in particular saving, persistence and adapting to changing situations instead of the present or the past. It is goal-oriented and values rewards. Societies with a high LTO score support thrift and efforts in present education as an approach to get ready for the future.

Indulgence versus Restraint (IND)

Indulgence vs. Restraint measures a society’s capability to fulfill the immediate needs and desires and wants of its individuals. Those that esteem restraint have firm social principles and norms under which fulfillment of drives is regulated and discouraged.

Indulgence remains for a society that permits moderately free satisfaction of personal and natural human wants and desires related to enjoying and having fun in life. Restraint remains for a culture that suppresses satisfaction of human needs and it is regulated by strict social rules and norms.

Cultural differences between UK and Russia

Russia is the world largest country. it covers more than one-eighth of the world’s inhabited land area. Russia is also the 9th most populated country in the world with almost 144 million people in its population

Whereas, United Kingdom or Britain is a sovereign state in Europe. The country is the world’s 80th largest sovereign state and 11th largest in Europe with a land area of 243,000 km2 .the population of UK is an estimated 64.5 million inhabitants making the country as world’s 22nd most populous country.

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Cultural Dimensions

Russia

UK

Power Distance

Centralized

decentralized

Individualism/Collectivism

Collectivism

Individualism

Masculinity/Femininity

Femininity

Masculinity

Uncertainty Avoidance

Higher

Lower

Long/Short term-orientation

Long term oriented

Short term oriented

Indulgence/Restraint

Restraint

Indulgence

From the chart and table above you can compare five cultural factors of Russia and UK. There’s a huge difference in cultural behavior between Russia and UK.

Power Distance

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The first score shown in the chart is Power Distance (PDI). Russia scored 93 in PDI. Russia, scoring 93, is a nation where power holders are very distant in society (Geert-hofstede.com, 2015).

This is due to the fact that Russia being the biggest country on the planet is tremendously centralized. 2/3 of each and every foreign direct investment is taken into Moscow, the capital of Russia. Moscow plays the main role in the economy of Russia where it attracts the largest share of foreign investments as well as 80% of Russia’s financial potential is concentrated in there. The enormous disparity among the more powerful individuals and less powerful individuals leads to an extreme importance of status symbols. Behavior needs to represent and symbolize the status roles in every aspect of business interactions. Whether it is negotiations or cooperation, the methodology ought to be top-down and give clear orders to any work. Other countries which has high power distance score are Malaysia, Guatemala, Panama and Philippines etc. these countries share the same values as Russia in terms of Power Distance.

On the other hand, Britain stands among the lower rankings of PDI with the score of 35. which indicates that the society of UK endeavor to even out or balance the distribution of power as they accept and expect that inequalities among individuals must be reduced. Research indicates that PD index in UK is lower among the upper classes than among the working classes. at first PDI score appears to be incongruent with the well settled and historical UK class system. it also uncovers one of the inherent tensions in the UK culture-between the significance of birth rank on one side and a deep placed belief that the place a person was born must not confine how far he/she can go in life. A sense of fair play leads to a belief that individuals ought to be treated equally