In this presentation we are going to reflect upon the differences between organizational culture

in Italy and The Netherlands using six dimensions – Power Distance,

Individualism,Masculinity,Uncertainty avoidance,Long Term Orientation and Indulgence, using
the Hofstede Insights database.

Power distance - refers to the relationship between higher-ranking and lower-ranking

individuals that depends on how the latter react to the former. It is a concept used in cultural
studies to understand the relationship between individuals with varying power, the effects, and
their perceptions.
Italy has a score of 50, this indicates that Control and formal supervision is generally disliked
among the younger generation, who demonstrate a preference for teamwork and an open
management style.
The Netherlands has a score of 38 which means that the following characterises the Dutch
style: Being independent, hierarchy for convenience only, equal rights, superiors accessible,
coaching leader, management facilitates and empowers. Power is decentralized and managers
count on the experience of their team members. Employees expect to be consulted. Control is
disliked and attitude towards managers are informal and on first name basis. Communication is
direct and participative.

Individualism - It has to do with whether people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or

“We”. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct
family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in
exchange for loyalty.
The Netherlands has a high score of 80- meaning that is an Individualist society. in which
individuals are expected to take care of themselves and their immediate families only. In
Individualist societies offence causes guilt and a loss of self-esteem, the employer/employee
relationship is a contract based on mutual advantage, hiring and promotion decisions are
supposed to be based on merit only, management is the management of individuals.
At a score of 76 Italy is also an individualist culture. So family and friends becomes an important
antidote to this feeling; but the word “friend” should not be misinterpreted because in business
it has a slightly different meaning: someone that you know and can be useful for introducing
you to the important or powerful people.

Masculinity - A high score on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by
competition, achievement and success, a value system that starts in school and continues
throughout organisational behaviour.
A low score on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others
and quality of life. A Feminine society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and
standing out from the crowd is not admirable. 
At 70 Italy is a Masculine society – highly success oriented and driven. Children are taught from
an early age that competition is good and to be a winner is important in one’s life. As the
working environment is the place where every Italian can reach his/her success, competition
among colleagues for making a career can be very strong.
The Netherlands scores 14 on this dimension and is therefore a Feminine society. In Feminine
countries it is important to keep the life/work balance and you make sure that all are included.
An effective manager is supportive to his/her people, and decision making is achieved through
involvement. Managers strive for consensus and people value equality, solidarity and quality in
their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation and Dutch are known
for their long discussions until consensus has been reached.

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE - The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way
that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known.
The Netherlands scores 53 on this dimension and thus exhibits a slight preference for avoiding
uncertainty. Countries exhibiting high Uncertainty Avoidance maintain rigid codes of belief and
behaviour and are intolerant of unorthodox behaviour and ideas. In these cultures there is an
emotional need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money, people have an
inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and punctuality are the norm, innovation may be
resisted, security is an important element in individual motivation.
At 75 Italy has a high score on Uncertainty Avoidance which means that as a nation Italians are
not comfortable in ambiguous situations. Formality in Italian society is important and the Italian
penal and civil code are complicated with clauses, codicils etc. What is surprising for the
foreigner is the apparent contradiction between all the existing norms and procedures and the
fact that Italians don’t always comply with them. In work terms high Uncertainty Avoidance
results in large amounts of detailed planning. The low Uncertainty Avoidance approach (where
the planning process can be flexible to changing environment) can be very stressful for Italians.
In Italy the combination of high Masculinity and high Uncertainty Avoidance makes life very
difficult and stressful. To release some of the tension that is built up during the day Italians need
to have good and relaxing moments in their everyday life, enjoying a long meal or frequent
coffee breaks. Due to their high score in this dimension Italians are very passionate people:
emotions are so powerfully that individuals cannot keep them inside and must express them to
others, especially with the use of body language.

Long term orientation - This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some
links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and societies
prioritise these two existential goals differently. Normative societies. which score low on this
dimension, for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing
societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand, take
a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to
prepare for the future.
Italy’s high score of 61 on this dimension shows that Italian culture is pragmatic. In societies
with a pragmatic orientation, people believe that truth depends very much on situation, context
and time. They show an ability to adapt traditions easily to changed conditions, a strong
propensity to save and invest, thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving results.
The Netherlands receives a high score of 67 in this dimension, which means that it has a
pragmatic nature. In societies with a pragmatic orientation, people believe that truth depends
very much on the situation, context and time. They show an ability to easily adapt traditions to
changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and invest, thriftiness and perseverance in
achieving results.

Indulgence - This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their
desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak control is called
“Indulgence” and relatively strong control is called “Restraint”. Cultures can, therefore, be
described as Indulgent or Restrained.
With a high score of 68, the culture of the Netherlands is clearly one of Indulgence. People in
societies classified by a high score in Indulgence generally exhibit a willingness to realise their
impulses and desires with regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive
attitude and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher degree of
importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend money as they wish.
A low score of 30 indicates that Italian culture is one of Restraint. Societies with a low score in
this dimension have a tendency to cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent
societies, Restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control the
gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the perception that their actions
are Restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.