Cultural Environment of the United Arab Emirates - Essay Example

Cultural Environment of the United Arab Emirates according to Hofstede’s Framework Hofstede indulged in an extensive study that sought to describe the frameworks that defined culture in each society. Hofstede was a renowned psychologist, who sought to establish certain guidelines that would help people have an idea of the cultural set-up of people from different parts of the globe. He reasoned that such frameworks were necessary as globalization dynamics were compelling people to embrace diversity. He defined a five-dimension model that he used to describe the cultural environment of many countries. He relied on statistics from IBM employees, who exhibited a high level of national diversity. This paper will focus on describing the cultural environment of the United Arab Emirates, according to the model described by Hofstede. The Five Dimensions of Culture It is of critical importance to describe the five dimensions that Hofstede described. The first of these dimensions is the power/distance, which denotes the degree of inequality that is evident in the society (Reiser 9). According to this psychologist, the people in the society have usually accepted that inequality exists, and realize their place. In cultures registering high scores of this dimension, uneven distribution of power thrives, with people in the system living within the limits of their place. Societies that have a lower score in this dimension exhibit a level of power sharing and dispersion and the members in the society consider each other as equals. . Societies that register high scores in this dimension have a hierarchical society whereby the gap between each level keeps widening. The second dimension is individualism, which denotes the depth of ties existing between people and their communities. Societies that register a high score in individualism have many people practicing autonomy, and the exhibit a high level of independence. Societies that have low scores in this dimension exhibit complex community networks and value the societal projects (Reiser 11). The people have an indomitable connection with their societies, a factor that makes them focused on pursuing community projects. The third dimension that he used to describe societies was masculinity, which denoted the society’s tendency to adhere to gender roles attached to both men and women. High scores in this dimension illustrates that a society holds onto the gender system that defines masculine and feminine roles, with men associated with the tough responsibilities. On the other hand, low scores reveal that a society has embraced gender equality and that women in that society can take up various careers, including those taken up by men. Low scores do not imply that a certain society exhibits reversed gender roles, but rather describes the changed attitudes towards the stringent gender system that has defines masculine and feminine roles. The fourth dimension that Hofstede defined was the uncertainty or avoidance index, a framework that relates to the society’s tendencies to avoid ambiguity or confusing situations. Societies that score highly in this sector usually avoid any form of ambiguity by setting up multiple rules and regulations that define the necessary action and option under any circumstance (Reiser 13). Low scores in this area indicate that a society lacks laws that define each probable situation, and that novelty is encouraged under different circumstances. The fifth dimension describes a society’s preference for long-term orientation. High scores in this dimension indicate that a society prefers to hold onto traditional values that define the society. Low scores are exhibited by countries that have lost an attachment to traditional values and are willing to adopt dynamic trends. Geert Hofstede Analysis for United Arab Emirates According to Hofstede, the United Arab Emirates exhibits a high score on the power and distance of 80 highlighting that the society is highly hierarchical. There are differential classes that define the society, with the upper and lower classes exhibiting distinct places, and each group operating within its limits. This means that the leaders and the followers have to know their distinct places and live only within those settings. Therefore, they are never equals within any societal setting (Reiser 15). Concerning the second dimension of individualism, the United Arab Emirates scores 38, a score far much lower than the global average of 64. Apparently, this society values societal projects and values promoting a collectivist attitude. This society has remained reluctant on adopting the individualistic that has spread widely to many societies. The people from this society exhibit a valued attachment to the ability to belong to the family unit, extended family union, and the build a binding societal ideology. The United Arab Emirates is exhibits a 52 score on masculinity, a score that is close to the 50.2 average mark for all the countries that Hofstede described. This score has intriguing implications because it is evident that males have a level of dominance. However, a critical clarification is that the dominance is because of the Muslim faith that is rampant in the region, and not defined by the societal culture definitions. The country also exhibits a high score of 68 on the uncertainty avoidance index. This implies that the society exhibits a low level of tolerance towards uncertainty. Therefore, the society has multiple rules and regulations that define each aspect of life (Reiser 25). Many of the stringent rules, policies, regulations, and laws have a strong connection to the society’s lack of tolerance to change. Therefore, these rules serve to reduce chances of unexpected changes, which the society perceives as risky. Moreover, the country has a high score on the long-term orientation ranging around 90, showing its determination to persist in its pursuit of a certain order or adherence to traditional values. The country holds onto a pragmatic view of the future that lies ahead. Non-verbal communications The society has a reserved mode of dressing that places emphasis on modesty with women expected to cover all body parts. A level of decency in men is also of importance. In the business world, men should wear a buttoned up shirt and tie, with women expected to be in concealing skirts and tops. The left hand should not be used in any role because it is associated with uncleanness. In this society, foreigners should remain decently dressed despite the hot weather (Reiser 30). It is unacceptable for a woman to offer a man her hand without his initiative. Men may walk hand in hand and kiss on the cheek, and this is considered normal. It is inappropriate to expose the sole of the shoes while crossing legs and some people consider the thumb-up sigh as inappropriate. Implication for Dealing and Managing People from this Society It is critical to understand the cultural environment of the United Arab Emirates society before indulging in business with the people. For example, business people from this country are likely to expect stringent policies, and regulations that define any business contract because of the high scores in the uncertainty avoidance index. These people are likely to take all the necessary measures to limit unexpected risks in behavior. Management of people from this country requires a hierarchical organizational structure that accords each employee a specific place with defined responsibilities (Reiser 29). It is also critical to allow employees to work in teams and belong to the organization, because they are used to pursuing collectivist agendas. Therefore, working in teams can give the employees a feeling of belonging to the team, and motivating them to pursue collective goals. Moreover, people from the UAE are more comfortable when working with pragmatic leaders who conform to a certain order. In the recent past, the UAE has sought to exhibit tolerance to other cultures, especially those of other faiths. During the years when Hofstede did his research, the country had a stringent adherence to the Muslim faith and the moral values that defined the society. Moreover, over the years, capitalism has replaced the collectivist systems, prompting people to pursue individualistic goals. However, Hofstede’s findings still exhibit a high level of relevance in understanding the UAE culture. Conclusion Hofstede indulged in an extensive research, in which he defined a five-dimension model that he used to describe the cultural environment of many countries. He relied on statistics from IBM employees, who exhibited a high level of national diversity. It is evident that the United Arab Emirates has high scores in the power distance, uncertainty avoidance index, and long-term orientation. The lowest score is on the dimension of individualism, and an average score on masculinity. Work Cited Reiser, Danina. Analysis of Cultural Differences in Dubai.BWV Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, 2011.Internet resource. Read More