英语系附件C文献综述—模板(英文).docVIP

附件C： Literature review 1. Review of cross-cultural theories 1.1 Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture Just as Hofstede (2001) said “culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy; cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster” (p.23). For those who work in international business, it is sometimes amazing how different people in other cultures behave. We tend to have a human instinct that deep inside of all people are the same, but they are not in effect. Therefore, understanding cultural differences is often considered a prerequisite for successful international business.? According to Hofstede (2001), “each culture must deal with questions that can be resolved according to a series of dimensions, which results in a unique gestalt for each society, depending on the intensity of its tendency towards one or another end of each culture dimension spectrum” (p.34). The Five Dimensions are Individualism Uncertainty avoidance index Power distance index Masculinity Long-term orientation Individualism focuses on the degree the society reinforces individual or collective achievement and interpersonal relationships. Uncertainty Avoidance focuses on the level of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity within the society. Power Distance focuses on the degree of equality, or inequality, between people in the countrys society. Masculinity focuses on the degree the society reinforces, or does not reinforce, the traditional masculine work role model of male achievement, control, and power. Long Term Orientation focuses on the degree the society embraces, or does not embrace long-term devotion to traditional forward thinking values. These five dimensions, taken together, can give important insights for someone wishing to enter a new culture for business, study, or other purposes. Though he made a great contribution to cross-cultural business field, his research still has some limitation. Hofstede’s Five Dimensions Theory has