Work-Related Values

Hofstede's "Differences in Work-Related Values" shows how to analyze a culture's position toward influence.6 Hofstede studied managers  in 40 countries to look at how they acknowledge unequal allocation of power, their attitudes toward individu- alism versus a group compass reading,  their tolerance for vagueness, and their materialism  versus concern for others.

Hofstede refers to power sharing in a culture in terms of "power distance," the amount to which power is despotic. Cultures such as Sweden and Israel tend to be more democratic-which would imply that communication is more participative. France, on the other hand, exemplifies a high-power distance, which means they tend to have less distress for participative organization and greater concern with who has the power.

In terms of the individual versus the group, the United States was one of the most individualistic out of the 40 countries that Hofstede studied, while Venezuela and Peru tended to be much more collectivist in compass reading.  These attitudes have implication for what communication style might work best in a particular civilization.