Trompenaars Seven Dimensions Of Culture

Fons Trompenaars developed 'The Seven Dimensions of Culture', a model that gives scope into different cultures and why they are different (Trompenaars, 1993). This framework was chosen as it is a highly relevant theory that allows people to understand different cultures to reduce misunderstandings and allow us to work more effectively. Trompenaars found that cultures differ in very specific and predictable ways, and aren't just randomly different. But that cultures each have specific ways of thinking, values, beliefs and preferences for different factors (Trompenaars, 1993). To identify what distinguishes different cultures from each other Trompenaars developed seven dimensions of culture. Depending on where these different cultures fall

They typically place rules before relationships but they try to deal fairly with people based on these rules (Trompenaars, 1993). The U.S. is typically a universalist culture.

• Particularism is the opposite where people dictate the rules they live by based on circumstances and relationships (Trompenaars, 1993). They consider what is happening at the moment, and whose involved and make their decisions based on this (Trompenaars, 1993). Russia, Latin-America and China are typically have particularistic cultures

2. Individualism vs Commmunitarianism

• Individualism is when people believe that must take care of themselves through making their own decisions. They also believe in personal freedom and achievement (Trompenaars, 1993). Countries whose culture are typically individualistic are the U.S., Australia and the UK.

• Commmunitarianism is where people find the group more important than the individuals. Loyalty is used in exchange for help and safety. The group is always placed before the individuals (Trompenaars, 1993). Communitarian cultures include Africa, Japan and Latin-America.

3. Specific vs

They very much value staying on schedule and have the 'time is money' attitude, if their schedule is thrown off they don’t appreciate it (Trompenaars, 1993). Cultures typical of this are Germany, the U.K. and the U.S.

• Synchronous time is when people do not plan as much and like to see the past, present and future interwoven. They view plans and commitments as flexible and like to work on several projects at once (Trompenaars, 1993). Japan, Argentina and Mexico are cultures that have this characteristic.

7. Internal Direction vs Outer Direction

• The belief that people can control their environment to achieve goals is known as internal direction. Teams within organisations are also included in this (Trompenaars, 1993). Cultures with this characteristic include the U.S., Australia and the U.K.

• Outer Direction is when people believe that their environment controls them. They believe in order to achieve goals they must work with the environment. They focus their actions on others and like to avoid conflict. They often need reassurance that they're doing a good job (Trompenaars, 1993). China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are examples of cultures they display this