Page 90 - Cultures and Organizations

72 DIMENSIONS OF NATIONAL CULTURES

TABLE 3.3 Key Differences Between Small- and
Large-Power-Distance Societies
I: General Norm, Family, School, and Health Care

SMALL POWER DISTANCE LARGE POWER DISTANCE

Inequalities among people should be Inequalities among people are
minimized. expected and desired.
Social relationships should be Status should be balanced with
handled with care. restraint.
Less powerful people and more Less powerful people should be
powerful people should be dependent.
interdependent.
Less powerful people are emotionally Less powerful people are emotionally
comfortable with inter dependence. polarized between dependence and
counterdependence.
Parents treat children as equals. Parents teach children obedience.
Children treat parents and older Respect for parents and older
relatives as equals. relatives is a basic and lifelong virtue.
Children play no role in old-age Children are a source of old-age
security of parents. security to parents.
Students treat teachers as equals. Students give teachers respect, even
outside class.
Teachers expect initiatives from Teachers should take all initiatives in
students in class. class.
Teachers are experts who transfer Teachers are gurus who transfer
impersonal truths. personal wisdom.
Quality of learning depends on two- Quality of learning depends on
way communication and excellence excellence of the teacher.
of students.

Less educated persons hold more More educated and less educated
authoritarian values than more persons show equally authoritarian
educated persons. values.
Educational policy focuses on Educational policy focuses on
secondary schools. universities.
Patients treat doctors as equals and Patients treat doctors as superiors;
actively supply information. consultations are shorter and
controlled by the doctor.