Culture's Consequences, International Differences in Work-Related Values (Cross Cultural Research and Methodology) [Hardcover]

Geert Hofstede (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1997 | ISBN-10: 080391444X | ISBN-13: 978-0803914445

In his bestselling book Culture's Consequences, Geert Hofstede proposed four dimensions on which the differences among national cultures can be understood: Individualism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and Masculinity. This volume comprises the first in-depth discussion of the masculinity dimension and how it can help us to understand differences among cultures.

The book begins with a general explanation of the masculinity dimension, and discusses how it illuminates broad features of different cultures. The following parts apply the dimension more specifically to gender (and gender identity), sexuality (and sexual behaviour) and religion, probably the most influential variable of all. Hofstede closes the book

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080391444X
• ISBN-13: 978-0803914445
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An International Manager's Must, May 27, 1999

By 

A. J. Valasek (Clemmons, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cultures Consequences : International Differences in Work-Related Values (Cross Cultural Research and Methodology) (Paperback)

If you need to learn about various cultures for different countries, this book is THE source. Hofstede's groundbreaking work is internationally recognized. Although the study was done in the late 1960's - early 1970's, the information is still relevant and interesting. For anyone who has to spend time in another country, they would be doing themselves a favor by getting a hold of this book. The only problem with this book is that it is not one of the easiest reads I've ever seen by far. To his credit however, he provides lots of tables and charts for the person who typically scans material. A must have for expatriates or those seeking an MBA.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The seminal work on cross-cultural management., August 15, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Cultures Consequences : International Differences in Work-Related Values (Cross Cultural Research and Methodology) (Paperback)

The scope of Hofstede's study (more than 100,000 surveys in 60+ countries) has been called "vast" and "staggering": it certainly stands as the largest cross-cultural values survey in history.

More importantly, the book has changed the way that management and psychology researchers look at cross-cultural (or cross- national) comparisons. By providing four dimensions of culture (individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) and numerical scores, he has both provided a theory for differences between national cultures and a way to cross-check those differences.

It is one of the most cited works in international management (1000+ citations according to Songergaard in a 1994 article in Organization Studies).

Those with a non-academic interests (i.e., those involved in international trade) may be better off with his more readable 1991 book, Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His worldwide scope and rigorous method are fascinating., February 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cultures Consequences : International Differences in Work-Related Values (Cross Cultural Research and Methodology) (Paperback)

I have never seen elsewhere a survey with such a well-constructed methodology and world-wide scope. If you can wade through (or bleep over) the methodology, you'll be impressed at the ways the cultures of the 40 countries covered resemble and differ from each other. One of my all-time favorites.