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Essay / Cultures and peoples of the world - 706
The people of the world speak approximately 250 different languages across countries; they dress in different ways and eat different foods. Societies share basic institutions such as government, the education system, and religious institutions. Therefore, culture is a learned system of shared beliefs and activity habits that guide a person's daily behavior. In this essay, I will compare the cultural dimensions of Japanese culture with those of the culture of my country, India. I will compare the four cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation (LTO)/short-term orientation (STO), and masculinity/femininity between these countries. Power Distance Index (PDI)This dimension calculates the distribution of wealth and power among individuals in a country or institution. The PDI illustrates the extent to which ordinary citizens submit to authority. Countries with lower PDI show authority figures working closely with citizens, while countries with higher PDI follow an authoritarian hierarchy, where employees recognize and respect the authority of the boss. India scores 77 because status and respect are accepted on the basis of seniority and not on skills or knowledge. Therefore, the hierarchical relationships between boss and subordinate are obvious. Japan scores 54 because it is a medium hierarchical society. In the workplace, Japanese practice a slow decision-making process followed by confirmation from upper management. Even in Japanese education, it is taught that everyone is born equal. Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) This dimension deals with society's acceptance of certainty (truth) and uncertainty (ambiguity). Different cultures of the world have inculcated various ways of managing the middle of paper societies in the world. In Japan, it is generally a competition for excellence and perfection between different aspects of society. The Japanese are workaholics; therefore it is a major factor for masculinity. As a result, women find it difficult to climb the corporate ladder. “Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are at best a nuisance and often an international disaster” (Geert Hofstede, Dutch social psychologist). Humans are social creatures and interact with many levels of culture, from family to workplace to community and finally international culture. Due to the expansion of global trade and the globalization of industries and professions, individuals need a tool to discover cross-cultural differences. Thus, the cultural dimensions of GLOBE are used as a tool to address the challenges of the global community..