World Café Session 6: Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions & OD (Dimensions 5&6)

Have you ever noticed that your OD methods work seamlessly in one setting but seem less effective in a different cultural context? Have you considered the cultural assumptions embedded in your tools and approaches? What would it take to adapt them for diverse environments or broader audiences?

In this series of three World Cafés, we are exploring how to culturally contextualize OD instruments and methodologies. To structure our discussions, we will use the late Professor Geert Hofstede’s dimensions of national culture.

Following two IODA webinars on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions in May and June 2024, participants expressed a strong desire to dive deeper and apply these concepts in practice. With three World Cafés and six cultural dimensions, we are dedicating each session to exploring two dimensions in depth.

Each session begins with a short story illustrating an adaptation in practice. In small breakout groups, you will have the opportunity to share and analyze an OD tool or approach you frequently use, guided by reflective questions. Afterward, we will reconvene in plenary to discuss insights before moving on to the next dimension.

So far, we have covered:

• July 27th: Power Distance (Hierarchy) & Individualism vs. Collectivism
• January 25th: Masculinity vs. Femininity (Tenderness vs. Toughness) & Uncertainty Avoidance

On March 22nd, we will explore:

• Time Orientation (Long-Term vs. Short-Term): How much do you encourage participants to dream versus plan? Does your approach emphasize flexibility, multiple perspectives, and the balance of yin and yang? Or does it lean toward a more principled stance, distinguishing between “right” and “wrong”?
• Indulgence vs. Restraint: How much humor do you integrate into your interventions? Is playfulness encouraged, or is a more serious tone expected?

If you missed previous sessions, no problem! You are welcome to join at any time and contribute to the conversation.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday March 22nd
Time: 10:00 New York | 11:00 Santiago | 14:00 London | 15:00 Madrid | 19:30 New Delhi | 22:00 Singapore. Check your time zone here.
Length: 90 minutes
Cost: Free for all. This event is open to IODA members as well as non-members.