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Uncertainty Avoidance

Uncertainty Avoidance. Masculinity vs Femininity. Uncertainty Avoidance. Uncertainty avoidance refers to the extent to which a culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure.

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Uncertainty Avoidance

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  1. Uncertainty Avoidance Masculinity vs Femininity

  2. Uncertainty Avoidance • Uncertainty avoidance refers to the extent to which a culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure

  3. Uncertainty about the future is a basic fact of human life with which we try to cope through the domains of technology, law and religion. In organizations these take the form of technology, rules, and rituals. (Hofstede, 1980,1984)

  4. The tolerance of uncertainty and dealing with uncertainty are culturally different. High Uncertainty Avoidance/ Low Uncertainty Avoidance

  5. High Uncertainty avoidance • Low tolerance for ambiguity • Avoid uncertainty and disagreement • Desire consensus • Resist change and feel threatened by new ideas and processes

  6. Low uncertainty avoidance • Have a high tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity • Believe in accepting and encouraging • Believe in taking risks and trying new things • Don’t have a strong need to control things, people and events by clearly defining and categorizing them (责权模糊）

  7. High Uncertainty Avoidance Organization • More structuring activities • More written rules • Larger number of specialists • More ritual behavior • Lower labor turnover • Less ambitious employees

  8. Low Uncertainty Avoidance Organization • Less structuring activities • less written rules • Smaller number of specialists • Less ritual behavior • Higher labor turnover • more ambitious employees

  9. UA and history, religion Latin countries Higher UAI Protestant, catholic protestant mixed, Buddhist countries Lower UAI

  10. Japan 92 France 86 Spain 86 Mexico 82 Israel 81 Brazil 76 Singapore 8 Sweden 29 Hongkong 29 Great Britain 35 Malaysia 36 India 40 Countries with High/Low UAI

  11. Case 1 How to solve the problem? • In a textile company, two managers were in conflict. • The marketing managers wanted to accept small orders from fashion companies. Because he thought that if the company filled the small rush orders, then they would get larger orders from the fashion companies.

  12. The production manager disagree. He had the job of changing the dyes in the machines, and he felt the small orders were costing the company too much money, because he had to shut down the machines and clean them before processing each order. • In your opinion, how to solve the problem?

  13. Masculinity • masculinity versus femininity dimension looks at the relationship between gender and work roles. It indicates the degree to which a culture values such behaviors as assertiveness, achievement, acquisition of wealth or caring for others, social supports and the quality of life.（toughness/tenderness)

  14. Masculinity versus Femininity • In masculine cultures, sex roles are sharply differentiated, and values such as achievement, power, and performance determine cultural ideals. • In feminine cultures, sex roles are less sharply distinguished, and little differentiation is made between men and women in the same job.

  15. Masculinity • Achievement and ambition • Ostentatious manliness, with very specific behaviors and products associated with male behavior • Aggressiveness and assertiveness • Respecting the goal of material acquisition

  16. Masculinity • Achievement is more important than building a long-term relationship • Success is the function of the individual • Society is made up of leaders and followers • Whether you are a success or a failure it is the result of your own actions • Business is a more efficient process than in feminine societies

  17. Masculinity • Men are expected to be strong; they should fight to protect their interests. • Women are expected to be nurturing and sensitive to feelings.

  18. Femininity • Value interpersonal relationships • Modesty, cooperation and tenderness • Put quality of life before material acquisition • Actively express concern for the less fortunate • More reserved and less time-driven

  19. A more feminine future • Technological development • Lower birth rate • Non-automatable jobs (such as service) • The threat from the environment

  20. Japan 95 Austria 79 Venezuela 73 Italy 70 Switzerland 70 Mexico 69 USA 62 Hongkong 57 Sweden 5 Norway 8 Netherlands 14 Denmark 16 Finland 26 Chile 28 Portugal 31 Thailand 34 Countries with high/low MI

  21. Question • Do you think that a country’s social welfare system should protect the weaker members of a society? Or do you think that it is more important that laws and policies reward members of society who are capable?

  22. Question • In the future, what kind of company do you like to work for ? A company with masculine culture or a company with feminine culture?

  23. Reference • 1. Hofstede, G. Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations across Nations (2nd Edition). 上海：上海外语教育出版社。 • 2. Davis, L. 中西文化之鉴，北京：外语教育与研究出版社。（p 218-287)

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