IODA World Café Session 4: Exploring the Six Cultural Dimensions of the Hofstede Model (Emphasis 1&2)

The 2024 IODA World Café series reflects and encompasses the interests communicated by IODA members. As we continue to focus on sustainability of this practice, we will continue to be responsive to improving global workforces with all stakeholders in mind.

ABOUT THE SESSION

Have you ever experienced that your OD methods work well within one context, while they seem to create less progress in another cultural environment? Have you thought about the cultural assumptions underlying your instruments and approaches? What would it take to make some adaptations to various contexts or to a more diverse group of people

During the following three World Cafés sessions, we will explore the cultural contextualization of your OD instruments and approaches. We will use the dimensions of national culture of the late Prof. Hofstede, to structure our thinking and analyses.

FOCUS OF THE SESSION

With 3 World Cafés and 6 cultural dimensions, we will be able to explore two dimensions per session. Each cultural dimension will be introduced with a small story, an example of an adaptation. In a small break out group, you will be able to share and analyse a tool or approach you often use, guided by some questions. The dimension will be concluded with sharing and last remarks in plenary, after which we will go to the next.

On July 27th we will start with the dimensions of Power Distance (hierarchy) and Individualism vs Collectivism. Possible questions will be:

• Does your tool/approach assume low or high hierarchy?
• What is asked from the individual and is there space for ingroup relationship building?
• How do (in) direct communication styles influence the outcome?
• What could be done to accommodate other values and how can you adapt to an opposite context?

SESSION DETAILS

Date: Saturday July 27th

Time: 03:30 London | 04:30 Madrid | 08:00 New Delhi | 10:30 Singapore | 12:30 Sydney | 22:30 New York (Friday) | 22:30 Santiago (Friday). Check your time zone here.

Length: 90 minutes

Cost: Free for all. This event is open to IODA members as well as non-members.