Comparing Corporate Cultural Profiles Using the Cultural Dimensions of Hofstede

Abstract

A functioning corporate culture is vital for economic success and a fundamental characteristic of every enterprise. The objective of the present paper is to analyze and compare the cultural profiles of the Mexican footwear manufacturing company Vogatti and the Mexican, but German-based, automotive supplier Novem Car Interior Design using the model of the cultural dimensions of Geert Hofstede. Hofstede describes general and organizational culture by using the following 6 cultural dimensions: power distance, individualism-collectivism, masculinity-femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long term-short term orientation and indulgence-restraint. The present paper is based on a collective case study approach and uses a Likert scale questionnaire. Generally, the two enterprises show remarkably different corporate cultural profiles in comparison to the original results of the Hofstede study for the Mexican society. Moreover, significant differences, due to different corporate characteristics, can be identified within the comparison of the two enterprises.