Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture & high/low context culture. LSS 2113 Intercultural Studies. Hofstede’s six dimensions of culture & high/low context culture. Film Project. Indian Movie - Outsourced. Done By: Hessa Ali Al Hosani. ID: H00293417.

Long term orientation vs. short-term orientation (LTO).. 10:05– 26:30 Puro is lovely man that lives in a naturalistic culture that loved to make relationship with others; he starts asking Todd question about life, food, job, country and himself. In addition Puro is a hard working person, he tries to save his money and dream to be a manager because he wants to reach his goals and marry the love of his life. While Todd was grouchy, firm and anger, he is focusing on fast result when he saw the workforce he was feeling upset and trying to decrease the number to 6 to return back to his country because he was coming from a short term orientation, he doesn’t want to make any relationships with others just finish their work and go back to the USA.   “Long Term Orientation stands for the fostering of virtues oriented towards future rewards”, As India cultures are more likely to save, prepare and have long-term plans and goals. long-term orientation people they think more about future, and they save more money for it. While USA society considers under short-term orientation, which emphasis on quick results. They tend to get the job done without developing any relationships. As statistic shows India got a score of 51, and USA got a score of 26.

Indulgence vs. restraint (IND).. 33:07– 35:50 Indulgence was occurred when Todd went MacDonnell’s and order cheese burger, which actually contain beef, but he shocked because he didn’t find what he was looking for, As we know most of people in India doesn’t eat beef because they worship cows.   In high indulgence culture, the people have the freedom to enjoy life and the society doesn’t restrain the people. That mean USA is under Indulgence which means people are free to eat what they want and they have no control in their desires. On the other hand almost 70% of Indian people are Hindu, and the actions and desire of cows are restrained by social norms and religion. The statistic compares countries show that the USA got a 68, which are under Indulgence society. While India got a 24, which basically under restraint society.

Individualism /collectivism (IDV).. 45:15– 46:55 According to this scene, it shows how different cultures are about living life. Puro surprised when Todd starts talking about his parent and he was asking if he misses them, that acutely he not living with them and didn’t gather regularly, he often sees his parents once a year.   It represents that USA culture is Individualistic society. That’s mean people have the freedom to have their life and supposed to care of themselves only that indicate personal needs and goals are prioritized. On the other hand Indian culture are under collective society, these cultures reinforce extended families and collectives where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. The statistic shows that the USA got a score of 91, high rate of in Individualism. It society believes that individualism will make a better standard of living and eliminate the poverty . While India got a score of 48, where Indian people caring more about their group and country benefit rather that their own benefit. Finally, Score of 48 means it’s a culture with both collectivist and Individualist traits.

Masculinity vs. Femininity (MAS).. 48:10 – 49:10 Moving to this scene, femininity was occurred when Todd had chosen Asha to be the assistant manager after he leave and he was saying: “Asha can do anything.” because he was proud of her and she was on of the best coworkers in the organization. Also, she was better and giving good advices that was helpful.   This illustrates that women and men are equal, and there are no big differences between them so women can do anything/any job a man can do. Finally, femininity one where the quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. Both countries were in the same level, where India scores 56 and a United States 62, almost the same.

high/low context.. 1:09:00 – 1:12:04 This scene describes how different cultures are getting married. As Todd was surprised and shocked when Asha told him that she got engaged to a man that her family now him since she was four years old. How Todd was amazed how her family is interested about her future, as they are being more persistence to ordering relationships and how she agreed to do an arranged marriage because usually in USA people falling in love and build a relationship than marry the person, so he is responsible to choose a wife/husband without the help of the family or refer to the family to choose as young age.   Furthermore, this illustrates that Indian culture is high context culture that means they intermarriage and rarely marry un-known person, while un-known marriage is more common in the USA. This mean USA is low context culture so they have short-term relationship goals as Asha monitored the high rate of American divorce, which reach 50%.

References: Hofstede, G. (n.d.). What about the USA?. Retrieved December 11, 2012, from http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html. Hofstede, G. (n.d.). What about India. (n.d.). Retrieved March 05, 2016, from http://geert-hofstede.com/india.html MacLachlan, M. (2013, Nov 1). INDULGENCE VS. RESTRAINT – THE 6TH DIMENSION. Retrieved from Communicaid: https://www.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-training/blog/indulgence-vs-restraint-6th-dimension/ Hawks, D. (n.d.). Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance Index: Definition & Example Cultures. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/hofstedes-uncertainty-avoidance