Hofstede: the collective programming of the mind, which distinquishes the members of one
group … of people from another.
Hall: the way of life of a people, the sum of their learned behavior patterns, attitudes and
material things.
Trompenaars: culture is the way in which a group of people solve problems.
TOPOI Model
T – Tongue
O – Order
P – People
O – Organization
I – Intention and influence
Stereotypes
- Images of how all people of a certain group behave
- Often an exaggerated image which doesn’t match reality
- Sometimes assigning one characteristic of one person to a whole group
Hall’s Model of Cultural Differences:
• High and Low Context
• Monochronic - Polychronic
• Personal space
• Fast and Slow Messages
• Fast and Slow Information Flow
• Action Chains
Low Context Communication:
The message …
• is verbalised explicitly
• is clearly structured, in separate ‘compartments’
• is direct
• is more literal (less metaphorical)
• places more emphasis on the spoken as well as written words
• places less emphasis on non-verbal communication
• starts with the main point, and then moves on to details
Examples: North-Western Europe, North America (USA, Canada), Australia, New Zealand.
High Context Communication:
The message …
• is part of the person, thus, it is not always verbalised explicitly
• Flows freely instead of staying within compartments
• is indirect: avoid bluntness, hurting feelings and create consensus
• is coded so that you interpret it metaphorically
• Transferred non-verbally is as important as the verbal message
, • starts with the context, circling towards the main point, sometimes zigzags between
details and main points
Examples: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania.
Monochronic and Polychronic Time
Monochronic Countries Examples: North-Western Europe, North America (USA, Canada),
Australia, New Zealand.
Polychronic Countries Examples: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Asia, Africa, Latin America,
Oceania.
Personal Space
Low Context Countries in the north personal space can be large.
Examples: Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, USA.
High Context Countrie personal space is smaller.
Examples: Spain, Morocco, Indonesia.
Fast and Slow Message
Fast Message: headlines, TV commercials, emails, text messages.
Slow Message: poetry, art, philosophy, TV documentaries, books, letters.
Kluckhohn’s Model of Basic Assumptions
• There is a limited number of common human problems for which all people must at
all times find a solution
group … of people from another.
Hall: the way of life of a people, the sum of their learned behavior patterns, attitudes and
material things.
Trompenaars: culture is the way in which a group of people solve problems.
TOPOI Model
T – Tongue
O – Order
P – People
O – Organization
I – Intention and influence
Stereotypes
- Images of how all people of a certain group behave
- Often an exaggerated image which doesn’t match reality
- Sometimes assigning one characteristic of one person to a whole group
Hall’s Model of Cultural Differences:
• High and Low Context
• Monochronic - Polychronic
• Personal space
• Fast and Slow Messages
• Fast and Slow Information Flow
• Action Chains
Low Context Communication:
The message …
• is verbalised explicitly
• is clearly structured, in separate ‘compartments’
• is direct
• is more literal (less metaphorical)
• places more emphasis on the spoken as well as written words
• places less emphasis on non-verbal communication
• starts with the main point, and then moves on to details
Examples: North-Western Europe, North America (USA, Canada), Australia, New Zealand.
High Context Communication:
The message …
• is part of the person, thus, it is not always verbalised explicitly
• Flows freely instead of staying within compartments
• is indirect: avoid bluntness, hurting feelings and create consensus
• is coded so that you interpret it metaphorically
• Transferred non-verbally is as important as the verbal message
, • starts with the context, circling towards the main point, sometimes zigzags between
details and main points
Examples: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania.
Monochronic and Polychronic Time
Monochronic Countries Examples: North-Western Europe, North America (USA, Canada),
Australia, New Zealand.
Polychronic Countries Examples: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Asia, Africa, Latin America,
Oceania.
Personal Space
Low Context Countries in the north personal space can be large.
Examples: Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, USA.
High Context Countrie personal space is smaller.
Examples: Spain, Morocco, Indonesia.
Fast and Slow Message
Fast Message: headlines, TV commercials, emails, text messages.
Slow Message: poetry, art, philosophy, TV documentaries, books, letters.
Kluckhohn’s Model of Basic Assumptions
• There is a limited number of common human problems for which all people must at
all times find a solution
