Question

Power distance concerns the way the culture deals with the unequal distribution of power.

True

False

Answer 1

Ans 1. True

Power Distance Index was developed by Geert Hofstede (a Dutch psychologist) in between the years 1967 to 1973 during a survey of IBM employees working in different countries of the globe, and a study. Power distance in one proportion of the Cultural Dimension Theory (a framework of communication across cultures) put forward by Hofstede, others being uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/feminist (or task/person orientation), and individualism/collectivism.

Power Distance can be defined as the degree to which individuals in a society (at a lower level) and part of a culture assess/accept/judge that the distribution of power is unequal. Power distance can be studied in sociological, psychological, as well as management studies to find out how the employees perceive their management or the inequalities that may exist between people of culture and society. For instance, in some cultures and countries, the employees may be afraid to express their disagreement with their bosses and managers more than the others.

Cultures with autocratic or paternalistic control may have high Power Distance and high Power Distance Index (PDI). PDI may be calculated through surveys, questionnaires, and use of research scales. In high PDI cultures, there is lesser decentralization, employees accept their inferior positions easily and there is a lot of dependency on people who hold power. The relationship status also reflects in the social and cultural practices. For instance, those at the higher positions will not dine with those at low or inferior level positions in a culture with high PDI.

On the other hand, in the consultative or democratic cultures, interdependent relationships with the power holders are fostered, and the distribution of power between the people has more equality. These are the countries with cultures having low Power Distance Index and greater degree of decentralization. Superiors in these cultures may listen to those in the inferior positions readily here, and maintain an open door policy of communication.