Culture's Influence on International Business in Canada

In this chapter, you learned that understanding cultural differences can reduce global blunders and help those doing business in other countries. People-not countries-are the ones who trade. Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofstede identified six cultural dimensions for understanding the cultural differences between different countries.

Using the information in your textbook, list and explain where Canada ranks on each of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in a chart like the one below. For each dimension, explain whether you agree or disagree by providing evidence from your own personal experiences, and examining how it could apply to business. Conclude by writing a reflection supporting or challenging the theory. Be sure to give yourself plenty of room in your chart to include your responses.

Cultural dimension	rank	Agree or Disagree? Why?
Power Distance Index (PDI)	39 (low)
Uncertainty avoidance index (UAI)	48 (average)
Long-term vs. Short-term orientation (LTO)	36 (low)
Individualism vs. collectivism (IDV)	80 (high)
Masculinity vs. femininity (MAS)	52 (low)
Indulgence vs. restraint (IND)	68 (high)
conclusion on canada's cultural dimension: