Dealing with Uncertainties is Part of a Culture
How cultures deal with uncertainties was studied by Geert Hofstede, a Dutch Social Psychologist in his theory on Cultural Dimensions. Hofstede defined culture as collective programming of the mind, and that people from the same culture (indicated by nations) tend to behave in similar characteristics. The theory on Cultural Dimensions was developed to reveal how people from different cultures behave differently. Hofstede’s research has been used as reference both in academics as well as coorporate world.
The concept of uncertainty avoidance indicates to which extent a person or culture is threatened by ambiguos or unknown situation. In high uncertainty avoidance culture, individuals are more stressful around uncertainties, therefore a system is created in which putting big importance on being on-time, structure, planning, and scheduling. On the other hand, individuals in low uncertainty avoidance tend to have lower level of stress around uncertainty, and views it as something noble. Adapting high uncertainty avoidance means there is a high necessity for rules and laws, and that innovations are adapted carefully. People in this culture tend to stay in the same job for long period of time. On the opposite, people from low uncertainty avoidance culture don’t consider rules and laws as important, and innovations tend to be adapted quickly. In this culture, it is also common for people to frequently changing jobs.
How does understanding the concept has implication to our daily lives? Mainly, it is to allow us to identify which cultural dimensions that we are adapting on our own and which one implies in our surrounding. Understanding the concept will also be more necessary for people who are frequently interacting with others who are culturally different from them. However it is important to take into account that while traditionally people that belongs to the same culture tend to have similar characteristics, some external conditions may cause some adjustments or shifts. With societies being more globalized, it allows people to be more exposed to cultures that are different from their own, and start adapting it. For example, we can say that most Indonesian tend to be low in uncertainty avoidance, but higher level of uncertainty avoidance may be apparent among some Indonesians that are working in foreign Western companies due to different organizational culture.
Understanding the concept of uncertainty avoidance also allows us to challenge our capabilities to stretch out of our own cultural habits and behaviour. For example, we may be very used to be well planned to minimize uncertainty, but there are times or ocassions where we really need to work on our creativity and improvisation when uncertainty is inevitable, or vice versa, and still be accepting about it. Moreover, as we are now living in a globalized world, understanding differences in cultural dimensions is probably one of the required skills. This specific skill allows us to be more aware cultures, habits, and ways that are different, and therefore allowing to make better judgements on daily basis. Followed by an open minded attitude, good judgements should also help to reach more opportunities and possibilities.
For more information about Hofstede’s dimensions, go to www.geert-hofstede.com
