The chapter additional material chosen is a Geert Hofstede YouTube video on Cultural Dimensions. Geert Hofstede was interviewed on his cultural awareness. He begins by defining culture as the collective mental programming that distinguishes members of one group or category of people from others (Hofstede You Tube). He examines cultural metrics, national culture, corporate culture, cultural dimensions, and cultural functions. Culture is generally acquired through the things that people who live in the same place share. When a new employee joins an organization, he gradually absorbs the culture of the organization. Culture is measured on the basis of collective phenomena according to Geert Hofstede (Hofstede You Tube). By observing how people behave one can identify their culture. Also if you are new in the area you can collect data from individuals and analyze it hence getting to understand their culture. Again culture can be compared according to nations or organizations. (Hofstede, 2014)National culture compares similar people, similar organizations similar situations in different countries and it is acquired before puberty while organization culture compares different organizations in the same country. People learn the culture of an organization when they join it. They get to know the symbols, rituals, and heroes of the organization. Good culture of an organization makes it be productive since workers relate well with each other and have adapted to their culture.
However, some dimensions of culture can fail an organization when it sticks to them. For example, when members stick to power distance index they cannot interact freely with their leaders and share ideas of development since they believe in power inequality (Northouse, 2015). Masculinity versus femininity means the distribution of duties between the genders. When an organization establishes the culture of feminine men can become demoralized since they are not valued like the women are. Some feel unsatisfied and can quit the job. In summary, culture functions as the glue that keeps society together and it is good when people express their culture accordingly since there cannot be single worldwide culture (Hofstede You Tube).
References
Hofstede, G. (2014). Geert Hofstede National Culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdh40kgyYOY
Northouse, P. G. (2015). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
