General Information on the USA
The USA is the third-largest nation in terms of both size and population. It is geographically situated in North America and surrounded by Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to the west and east respectfully. Canada borders it to the north while Mexico to the south. Since its birth, immigrants dominated the country. Consequently, its inhabitants come from various parts of the world hence diversifying the entire population. Some of its inhabitants came from Europe and other continents (Ardichvili et al., 2010). The geographical scenery fluctuates from the tropical coasts in Florida to the Rocky Mountains, the Steppe reserves, and dry desserts on the western sides. In between these amazing features lies the Great Lakes and Grand Canyon. The wildlife also differs across the landscape with an estimated 20,000 flower species and Bison roaming the woodlands. Due to the huge economy, the USA boasts of wealth and minerals. Inhabitants aged 18 and above vote in the president and vice president every four years. The president rules the nation and lives in the white house. The two houses, that is- the senate and House of Representatives have 100 senators from each state and 435 representatives. These positions are elected every two years. General information of India.
General Information on India
India is located in South Asia and sandwiched between China and Pakistan. Its capital city is known as New Delhi. The capital meets the administrative needs of the entire nation. The government is a constitutional run entity and represents a diverse population made up of various ethnic groups speaking various languages (Swaidan, 2012). India is the second-most populous nation in the world after China. It is known for its complicated but unique urbanization traditions. In the 2600BCE, the Indus civilization dominated the northwestern part of India and ended up influencing most of its cultural norms. The British colonized India in 1858 and changed its political and economic landscape. The British rule ended in 1947 which led to the subcontinent partitioning based on religious lines- India filled with Hindus and Pakistan filled with Muslims. On the other hand, in present-day India, the combination of tangible wealth and cultural vitality despite the persistent domestic predicaments and financial inequality is observable in the country's infrastructure and diverse manufacturing base. The pace at which its science and engineering personnel evolve is quicker hence expanding other sectors of the economy.
Dimensions of Hofstede Model in India and the USA
If Indian culture is studied under the 6D model, one can unveil the intricate fundamental influencers of Indian culture compared to the USA or any other nation.
India
Power distance
These aspects define inequality within society and the reaction towards inequality. In this case, India has an estimated score of 77 in terms of how it appreciates societal hierarchy or the top-down system within its society. If one condenses the Indian characteristics into a comprehensible phrase, terms such as dependent, the employer or the authority would take major precedence. Also, acceptance of unequal rights among the superior class and those from the lower societal class would be more pronounced among the Indians (Venaik, & Brewer, 2010). The higher class has more access to resources than the lower class hence explaining the pecking order. Authority or power is consolidated even though it seems not to be concentrated in one area hence managerial ranks are dependent on their workforce obedience. Workers are supervised and monitored in order to perform their functions correctly.
Individualism
India’s society exhibits both collectivistic and individualistic features unlike USA which is individualistic. The collectivism entails higher liking for larger social systems where people act based on the greater good of a specified group. In line with this context, an individual's actions are influenced by different ideals such as perspectives of one's family or relatives, etc. subsequently, collectivism forces an individual to adhere to the regulations of the majority hence accomplishing a greater well (Kim, & McLean, 2014). For instance, the relationship between the employer and the worker relies entirely on expectations- loyalty from the worker forces the boss to protect the worker and so and so forth. More so, hiring and promotion choices are based on past relationships which are primary in collectivist communities. The individualist element of the Indian people is perceived as an outcome of religion. The Hindu believes in a death and rebirth cycle with each rebirth relying on past deeds and how an individual lived out his past life.
Masculinity
Competition, accomplishments, and victory drive the Indian community. The best individual defines success consequently an indicator of a value system beginning from academic institutions and continues all through organizational life systems unlike USA where with hard work and commitment anything is possible (Halkos, & Skouloudis, 2017). On the other hand, a low score or feminine implies that the dominant value system is caring for other people to improve their way of life. A feminine community considers the quality of life as an aspect of success and easily gaining an edge above all other competitions hence admirable.
Uncertainty Avoidance
This aspect deals with the uncertainty that comes with not knowing the future. India has a medium-low preference for averting improbability. In India, a certain level of imperfections is accepted therefore not all things are planned for or go according to plan (Ardichvili et al., 2010). Indians are patient people and their tolerance levels are at an all-time high. Residents are not driven into actions and settle for acceptable routines without evaluating.
Long Term Alignment
India prefers to preserve its culture at all costs. In India karma concept dominate their thoughts and way of life (Ardichvili et al., 2010). Time is a linear concept hence not an important concept as compared to the USA which scores low in this aspect. Indians are religious people and hold religious perspectives on various international issues. On the other hand, individualism is stronger in the USA compared to Indian societies.
Indulgence
Indian is a restrained culture compared to the USA where overindulgence is key and even encouraged throughout one's life (Ardichvili et al., 2010). The opinion that actions are restrained through social standards and overindulgence is deemed as wrong or sinful.
USA
Comparatively, in USA workforces are part of the discussion process and democratic decision making helps in staffing and organizational structure (Swaidan, 2012). The employers motivate the workers to deliver quality work and in return, the workers reap the benefits through allowances. The American work atmosphere is aggressive because people believe that with hard work and dedication one can achieve anything they set their eyes on and this is why everyone tries to do their best to attain the impossible, unlike India where achievement is based on entitlement. Both the management and the workforce are both ambitious and intelligent. Additionally, both nations scored low in uncertainty avoidance as both nations rely on innovation and risk-taking hence the USA is willing to take more risks than India.
References
Ardichvili, A., Jondle, D., & Kowske, B. (2010). Dimensions of ethical business cultures: Comparing data from 13 countries of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Human Resource Development International, 13(3), 299-315.
Halkos, G., & Skouloudis, A. (2017). Revisiting the relationship between corporate social responsibility and national culture. Management decision.
Kim, S., & McLean, G. N. (2014). The impact of national culture on informal learning in the workplace. Adult Education Quarterly, 64(1), 39-59.
Swaidan, Z. (2012). Culture and consumer ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 108(2), 201-213.
Venaik, S., & Brewer, P. (2010). Avoiding uncertainty in Hofstede and GLOBE. Journal of international business studies, 41(8), 1294-1315.
