Cultural differences in a workplace go deeper than an appreciation of different foods and a preference for different clothing. Western cultures shake hands. Cubans kiss. Some cultures hug when greeting one another. Many bow and bow differently. Japanese bow from the waist; the deeper the bow, the greater the respect. Thais bow with their hands chest high, palms together. Taiwanese are more likely to nod than bow. Dressing, eating and greeting, however, only scratch the surface of cultural differences. Geert Hofstede has argued that differences among cultures can be explained according to four dimensions of culture: individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, time orientation, and masculinity.

In comparison with the U.S., determine where Nigeria is positioned on each of these points and identify specific changes that an American business will need to make when doing business in your country? Additional and more detailed information on Hofstede Cultural Dimensions can be found at