理论结构
本文提出的五个维度的民族差异可以理解为 权利距离 个人主义和集体主义 不确定性的规避指数，男性还是女性的长期导向性。不确定性规避指数是一个成员觉得自己面对事情的不确定性的程度，男性与女性在日常生活中起的作用。本文从这方面进行探讨他们之间的差别和文化差异。
在上述情况下，权利主义和集体主义的观点是，美国是最高的个人主义，甚至比韩国都高出很高。美国崇尚个人主义，而韩国的文化有利于集体主义。这说明美国人的行动，更关心个人的感受和体验，而集体主义更关注总体和别人的情感。所以当做出决定和采取措施的时候，都会受到影响
2. Theoretical framework
Hofstede (1984) proposed five dimensions on which the differences among national cultures can be understood: Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, Masculinity vs. Femininity and Long Term Orientation. The terms are explained as follows: individualism focuses on the interests of individuals while the collectivism on the group; power distance is the degree of righteousness of power in an organization; uncertainty avoidance index is the degree of anxiety a member feels in face of uncertainties; masculinity and femininity deals with the role of both female and male in an organization; long-term orientation is the outlook by the members in a certain group. This volume comprises the first in-depth discussion of the dimension and how it can help managers as well as ordinary people in daily routine life to understand differences among cultures (Hofstede, 1984).
In the discussed case above, the point of power distance and individualism vs collectivism are involved. Americans ranks the highest in term of individualism while South Koreans rank much lower in the same aspect, according to Hofstede (1984). The different inclination towards individualism and collectivism reveals the discrepancy in different cultures. American culture advocates of individualism while South Korean culture is in favor of collectivism and the difference in the same action of asking for blankets on Air New Zealandcan best illustrate the difference. The South Korean passenger ask for the blanket for the whole group in the same need of blankets while American passenger demands blanket without showing consideration for other passengers although they come from the same group. Individualism, which is best demonstrated by the action of Americans, cares more about individual feelings and experience while collectivism focuses on the feelings of others in relation to the subject. When making decisions and taking actions, people in collectivism culture would compromise to others in the same group or in relation to themselves rather than follow one’s own inclination while those who stick to individualism would decide considering only the specific demands of his or her own.
The other dimension in the culture difference as is discussed in the five cultural dimensions by Hofstede (1984) is the power distance. The youngest South Korean passenger in the certain group, which would more often than not be the lowest in hierarchy in that group, would carry out the business of all the other members in his group for the simple reason that his is the lowest level of the group. South Korean adopts the principle that people are strictly classified in a company or an organization and the subordinate levels have the duty to obey the orders of higher levels. The power distance in South Korean society is huge and people accept the fact that the subordinate level would obey the orders of higher authorities under almost all the conditions. People inSouth Koreatend to accept that different levels of people possess different levels of power in the society, thus forming the habit of obeying those who are superior to them in terms of hierarchy. In contrast, the power distance in the society ofAmericais relatively narrow and even the common workers have the right to refuse the orders of the highest level of leaders in the same group. As a result, the passenger from South Korea would take it normal that the youngest take the labor and ask for all the blankets for the whole group since he is the lowest in hierarchy while the Americans would do the business on their own since they believe that all men are equal.
