CULTURES COMPARISON: UNITED

KINGDOM & INDIA

OLEH KELOMPOK 1:

ARIF AULIA HAQQI

DILA REZKI AMALIA
INTAN AYU PUTRI
NADIYA HARTATI
GERY ABSOLEM
JOKO ISMANTO
UNITED KINGDOM
INDIA
 Power Distance

This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal it
expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power
Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions
and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed
unequally.
Power Distance-United Kingdom

At 35 Britain sits in the lower rankings of PDI

i.e. a society that believes that inequalities
amongst people should be minimized.
Interestingly is that research shows PD index
lower amongst the higher class in Britain
than amongst the working classes. .

The PDI score at first seems incongruent with the well

established and historical British class system and its exposes
one of the inherent tensions in the British culture between
the importance of birth rank on the one hand and a deep
seated belief that where you are born should not limit how
far you can travel in life. A sense of fair play drives a belief
that people should be treated in some way as equals
 Power Distance-India
India scores high on this dimension, 77, indicating an appreciation for
hierarchy and a top-down structure in society and organizations. If one were
to encapsulate the Indian attitude, one could use the following words and
phrases : dependent on the boss or the power holder for direction,
acceptance of un-equal rights between the power-privileged and those who
are lesser down in the pecking order, immediate superiors accessible but one
layer above less so, paternalistic leader, management directs, gives reason /
meaning to ones work life and rewards in exchange for loyalty from
employees

Real Power is centralized even though it may not appear to be

and managers count on the obedience of their team
members. Employees expect to be directed clearly as to their
functions and what is expected of them. Control is familiar, even
a psychological security, and attitude towards managers are
formal even if one is on first name basis. Communication is top
down and directive in its style and often feedback which is
negative is never offered up the ladder.
 Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of
interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do
with whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In
Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves
and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to
in groups that take care of them in exchange for loyalty
Individualism United Kingdom

At a score of 89 the UK is amongst the highest of the Individualist scores, beaten

only by some of the commonwealth countries it spawned i.e. Australia and the
USA. The British are a highly Individualist and private people. Children are taught
from an early age to think for themselves and to find out what their unique
purpose in life is and how they uniquely can contribute to society. The route to
happiness is through personal fulfillment. As the affluence of Britain has increased
throughout the last decade, with wealth also spreading North, a much discussed
phenomenon is the rise of what has been seen as rampant consumerism and a
strengthening of the ME culture
Individualism India

India, with a rather intermediate score of 48, is a

For a collectivist, to be rejected by ones peers or
society with both collectivistic and Individualist
to be thought lowly of by ones extended and
traits. The collectivist side means that there is a
immediate in-groups, leaves him or her
high preference for belonging to a larger social
rudderless and with a sense of intense
framework in which individuals are expected to
emptiness. The employer/employee relationship
act in accordance to the greater good of ones
is one of expectations based on expectations
defined in-group(s). In such situations, the
Loyalty by the employee and almost familial
actions of the individual are influenced by
protection by the Employer. Hiring and
various concepts such as the opinion of ones
promotion decisions are often made based on
family, extended family, neighbours, work group
relationships which are the key to everything in a
and other such wider social networks that one
Collectivist society.
has some affiliation toward.
Individualism India

The Individualist aspect of Indian society is seen as a result of its

dominant religion/philosophy - Hinduism. The Hindus believe in a cycle
of death and rebirth, with the manner of each rebirth being
dependent upon how the individual lived the preceding life. People
are, therefore, individually responsible for the way they lead their lives
and the impact it will have upon their rebirth. This focus on
individualism interacts with the otherwise collectivist tendencies of
the Indian society which leads to its intermediate score on this
dimension.
 Masculinity

A high score (Masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by
competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner/best
in field a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational
life.
A low score (Feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society
are caring for others and quality of life. A Feminine society is one where quality of life
is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The
fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (Masculine)
or liking what you do (Feminine).
 Masculinity United Kingdom

At 66, Britain is a Masculine society highly success oriented and
driven. A key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent
contradiction between the British culture of modesty and
understatement which is at odds with the underlying success driven
value system in the culture. Critical to understanding the British is
being able to read between the lines What is said is not always
what is meant. In comparison to Feminine cultures such as the
Scandinavian countries, people in the UK live in order to work and
have a clear performance ambition.
United Kingdom
India
India scores 56 on this dimension and is thus considered a Masculine society.
India is actually very Masculine in terms of visual display of success and
power. The designer brand label, the flash and ostentation that goes with
advertising ones success, is widely practiced. However,India is also a spiritual
country with millions of deities and various religious philosophies. It is also
an ancient country with one of the longest surviving cultures which gives it
ample lessons in the value of humility and abstinence. This often reigns in
people from indulging in Masculine displays to the extent that they might be
naturally inclined to. In more Masculine countries the focus is on success and
achievements, validated by material gains. Work is the center of ones life
and visible symbols of success in the work place are ery important.
Uncertainty Avoidance United
Kingdom

At 35 the UK has a low score on Uncertainty Avoidance which means that as a nation they
are quite happy to wake up not knowing what the day brings and they are happy to make it
up as they go along changing plans as new information comes to light. As a low UAI country
the British are comfortable in ambiguous situations - the term muddling through is a very
British way of expressing this. There are generally not too many rules in British society, but
those that are there are adhered to (the most famous of which of of course the British love
of queuing which has also to do with the values of fair play).
In work terms this results in planning that is not detail oriented the end goal will be clear
(due to high MAS) but the detail of how we get there will be light and the actual process
fluid and flexible to emerging and changing environment. Planning horizons will also be
shorter. Most importantly the combination of a highly Individualist and curious nation is a
high level of creativity and strong need for innovation. What is different is attractive! This
emerges throughout the society in both its humour, heavy consumerism for new and
innovative products and the fast highly creative industries it thrives in advertising,
marketing, financial engineering.
 Uncertainty Avoidance India

India scores 40 on this dimension and thus has a medium low preference for avoiding uncertainty.
In India, there is acceptance of imperfection;nothing has to be perfect nor has to go exactly as
planned. India is traditionally a patient country where tolerance for the unexpected is high ; even
welcomed as a break from monotony. People generally do not feel driven and compelled to take
action-initiatives and comfortably settle into established rolls and routines without
questioning. Rules are often in place just to be circumvented and one relies on innovative methods
to bypass the system. A word used often is adjust and means a wide range of things, from
turning a blind eye to rules being flouted to finding a unique and inventive solution to a seemingly
insurmountable problem. It is this attitude that is both the cause of misery as well as the most
empowering aspect of the country. There is a saying that nothing is impossible in India, so long
as one knows how to adjust.
 Long Term Orientation

United Kingdom

With an intermediate score of 51 in

this dimension, a dominant
preference in British culture cannot
be determined.

India

With an intermediate score of 51 in this dimension, a dominant preference in Indian culture cannot be determined.
In India the concept ofkarma dominates religious and philosophical thought. Time is not linear, and thus is not as
important as to western societies which typically score low on this dimension. Countries like India have a great
tolerance for religious views from all over the world. Hinduism is often considered a philosophy more than even a
religion; an amalgamation of ideas, views, practices and esoteric beliefs. In India there is an acceptance that there
are many truths and often depends on the seeker. Societies that have a high score on pragmatism typically forgive a
lack of punctuality, a changing game-plan based on changing reality and a general comfort with discovering the
fated path as one goes along rather than playing to an exact plan.
 Indulgence

United Kingdom

A high score of 69 indicates that the British culture is one that is classified as
Indulgent. People in societies classified by a high score in Indulgence generally
exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and desires with regard to enjoying
life and having fun. They possess a positive attitude and have a tendency
towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher degree of importance on
leisure time, act as they please and spend money as they wish

India receives a low score of 26 in this dimension, meaning that it is a

culture of Restraint. Societies with a low score in this dimension have a
tendency to cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent
societies, Restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time
and control the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation
have the perception that their actions are Restrained by social norms
and feel that indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.