1. How does Professor Hofstede define culture?
Professor Hofstede defines culture as the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the
members of one group or category of people from others. He focuses on how people acquire their
programming. Professor Hofstede refers to collective programming in the since of two things people
have just shared but grew up in the same forest.
2. What is according to Professor Hofstede the function of culture?
Professor describes the function of culture as the glue that keeps societies together. He thinks that
culture is the unwritten rules of the social game and you need culture to play the roles of everyday
social relationships. In an organization the rules are at a different level, they are more profound and
explicit. You need culture to participate in everyday life.
3. What is the difference between culture in nation states and culture in organizations?
Our national culture relates to our deeply held values regarding good vs. evil, normal vs. abnormal, safe
vs. dangerous, and rational vs. irrational. National cultural values are learned early, held deeply and
change slowly over the course of generations. Organizational culture, on the other hand, is comprised of
broad guidelines which are rooted in organizational practices learned on the job. Professor Hofstede
thinks that changing organizational culture is difficult and takes time.
