TABLE 6.1a high Uncertainty Avoidance is expressed for example, by a company’s need
for regulations which endeavour to minimize uncertainties in the behavior of
its employees. Company rules are seen as something that ‘should not be
broken, even when the employee thinks it is in the company’s best interest’. In
such an environment, work stress is often high. Conversely in a low
Uncertainty Avoidance work environment, work stress is lower as employees
seem to be less affected by uncertainty such as security of employment.
Individualism versus Collectivism. IBM respondents were asked to grade how
important work goals were for choosing an ideal job. In some countries, pre-
ferred work goals stress employees’ independence from the organization (like
‘freedom’ in the job, ‘work from which you can get a personal sense of accom-
plishment’) while in other countries, preferred work goals stress dependence
on the organization (e.g. ‘good physical working conditions: good ventilation
and lighting, adequate work space, etc.). Independence from the organization
was interpreted as an indicator of respondents’ individualism and they
Culture in Management 145Abbreviations for the countries and regions studied by Hofstede
ARA Arab-speaking ECA Ecuador JPN Japan SPA Spain
countries
(Egypt, Iraq, FIN Finland KOR South Korea SWE Sweden
Kuwait, FRA France MAL Malaysia SWI Switzerland
Lebanon, Libya, GBR Great
Saudi Arabia) Britain MEX Mexico TAI Taiwan
ARG Argentina GER Germany F.R. NET Netherlands THA Thailand
AUL Australia GRE Greece NOR Norway TUR Turkey
AUT Austria GUA Guatemala NZL New Zealand URU Uruguay
BEL Belgium HOK Hong Kong PAK Pakistan USA United
States
BRA Brazil IDO Indonesia PAN Panama VEN Venezuela
CAN Canada IND India PER Peru WAF West Africa
CHL Chile IRA Iran PHI Philippines (Ghana,
COL Colombia IRE Ireland POR Portugal Nigeria,
(rep. of) Sierra
COS Costa Rica ISR Israel SAF South Africa Leone)
DEN Denmark ITA Italy SAL Salvador YUG Yugoslavia
EAF East Africa JAM Jamaica SIN Singapore
(Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Tanzania,
Zambia)
Source:Hofstede, 2001