Reading your Intercultural Awareness Profile
Your personal cross-cultural profile (shown below) is based on the Trompenaars' 7 dimension model of culture.
In order to interpret your scores, please refer to the seven dark blue bars, each labelled as one of the 7 dimensions. Your score on each dimension is shown by the position of the light blue bar at the top of the dimension. The closer you are to one extreme or the other, the more your orientation resembles the extreme end of that dimension.
For example: if your score is more towards the right of the second dimension, (this dimension is about individualism-communitarianism), you have a more communitarian orientation.
The dimension for 'time' consists of three different zones: past, present and future. The larger the zone, the more important it is to you.
Using your personal Intercultural Awareness Profile
Understanding your profile and thereby your own personal cross-cultural orientation, is the first step to developing your cross-cultural competence. Ask yourself what your orientation means for doing business and managing. How can you work better with people with a different cultural orientation to you?
This profile is made for the group ''
41
| Universalismus | Partikularismus |
34
| Individualismus | Kommunitarismus |
47
| Spezifische | Diffus |
49
| Neutral | Affektiv |
60
| Errungenschaft | Zuschreibung |
61
| Synchrone | Sequentiell |
53
| Intern | Extern |
Your score on dimension 1
Universalism-Particularism
What is this dimension about?
The dimension universalism-particularism concerns the standards by which relationships are measured.
Universalist societies are based on rules: their members tend to feel that general rules and obligations are a strong source of moral reference. Universalists are inclined to follow the rules and look for "the one best way" of dealing equally and fairly with all cases (even when friends are involved). They assume that their standards are the right standards, and they attempt to change the attitudes of others to match theirs.
Particularist societies are predominantly based on relationships: particular circumstances that lead to exceptions are more important than rules. Bonds of particular relationships (family, friends) are stronger than any abstract rules, therefore the response to a situation may change according to the circumstances and the people involved. Particularists often argue that "it all depends".
41
| Universalismus | Partikularismus |
People with a particularistic orientation tend to see themselves as pragmatic and flexible. This may be expressed in your inclination to acknowledge exceptions, and to adapt or relax rules as relationships develop and circumstances change.
Potential traps
Remember that taking particularism to the extreme might lead to inconsistency and arbitrariness.
Different viewpoints
Particularists tend to see universalistic people as rigid and overly disciplined. Remember that these people might consider themselves consistent. In their eyes, you may appear to be undisciplined or even inclined to apply “situational ethics”.
Your score on dimension 2
Individualism-Communitarianism
What is this dimension about?
The dimension individualism versus communitarianism is about the conflict between an individual's desire and the interests of the group one belongs to. Do people primarily regard themselves as individuals or as part of a group?
In a predominantly individualistic culture, people are expected to make their own decisions and to only take care of themselves and their immediate family. Personal freedom and individual development are fundamental to get a higher quality of life. Decisions are often made on the spot, without consultation, and deadlocks may be resolved by voting.
In contrast to this, members of a predominantly communitarian society place the interest of the community before the individual, whose main responsibility is to serve the group. By doing so, individual needs will be taken care of naturally. The quality of life for the individual is seen as directly dependent on the degree to which he or she takes care of fellow members, even at the cost of individual freedom. People are are mainly oriented towards common goals and objectives. They are judged by the extent to which they serve the interest of the community, that provides help and protection in exchange for a strong sense of loyalty. Negotiation is often carried out by teams, who may withdraw in order to consult with reference groups. In the decision making process, discussion is used to reach consensus.
34
| Individualismus | Kommunitarismus |
Those with a communitarian orientation tend to see themselves as people who take shared responsibility, are committed to common goals and objectives, and are loyal to the group they belong to.
Some caution is necessary. People with a group orientation may put a different emphasis on the importance of specific group affiliations.Does “we ” refer to the immediate or extended family ? Or does it indicate the team collaborating on the business project, who have developed a strong group identity ? Or does “we ” refer to the company as a whole ?
Your communitarian orientation may be expressed in the value you attach to involving and consulting others and working in teams.
Potential traps
Remember that taking communitarianism to the extreme might lead to a lack of personal initiative, ambition, and personal responsibility.
Different viewpoints
Communitarians tend to see people with an orientation on the individualistic side of the dimension as having a lack of commitment to common goals and objectives, or even as egoists who use teams to work for their personal goals.Remember that these self - oriented people might consider themselves to be individuals who take initiative and responsibility, and who are accountable.
Your score on dimension 3
Specific-Diffuse
What is this dimension about?
Generally, people from specifically oriented cultures begin by looking at each element of a situation. They concentrate on hard facts, analyze the elements separately, then put them back together again - viewing the whole is the sum of its parts.
People from diffusely oriented cultures see each element in the perspective of the complete picture. All elements are related to each other. The elements are synthesized into a whole which is more than simply the sum of its parts.
Diese Dimension betrifft auch den Grad, in dem wir andere in Beziehungen einbeziehen: Beziehen wir sie in bestimmte Lebensbereiche und einzelne Persönlichkeitsebenen ein oder beziehen wir sie in mehrere Lebensbereiche und mehrere Persönlichkeitsebenen gleichzeitig ein?
Specifically oriented individuals are "low involvement": they engage others in specific areas of life, affecting single levels of personality. In such cultures, a manager separates the task relationship with a subordinate from the private sphere.
Diffusely oriented individuals are "high involvement": they engage others diffusely in multiple areas of life, displaying several levels of personality at the same time. In these cultures, every life space and every level of personality tends to be interwoven.
47
| Spezifische | Diffus |
Those with a more specific orientation than you tend to see themselves as people who segregate their task or business relationships from personal relationships, much more than you seem to be willing to do. On the other hand, those with a more diffuse orientation than you tend to see themselves as people who allow their different life spaces to permeate each other, and want to be personally involved in business relationships.
Potential traps
Remember that taking specificity to the extreme might lead to a lack of true personal involvement.
Different viewpoints
People with a specific orientation tend to initially see people with a more diffuse orientation as indirect, reserved, and evasive, and find it hard to make contact with them at first. Remember that more diffuse people than you might consider themselves as modest, initially reserved with new relationships, but in the end warm and much more personally involved in the business relationship. In their eyes, you may appear to be superficial and blunt, and your directness might make people with a diffuse orientation "lose face".
Your score on dimension 4
Neutral-Affective
What is this dimension about?
Bei dieser Dimension geht es darum, inwieweit Menschen Emotionen zum Ausdruck bringen, und um das Zusammenspiel von Vernunft und Gefühl in menschlichen Beziehungen.
In affective cultures, emotions are spontanously displayed: moods and feelings aren't hidden or bottled up. On the contrary, the expression of emotions is acceptable or even required, as a sign of sincerity, attachment to what you are doing and a factor of trust.
In the so called neutral cultures, people are more reserved and don't openly display emotions as they are taught that it is incorrect to overtly show them. Not expressing emotions is seen as a positive sign of self-control and reason dominates one's interaction with others
49
| Neutral | Affektiv |
Those with a more neutral orientation than you value the ability of keeping cool and self - possessed and tend to see themselves as more self - controlled and professional, to the point of showing a face devoid of expression(e.g.during negotiations).On the other hand, people with a more affective orientation than you value the fact of expressing what they think or feel and tend to show emotions without inhibition, even in a work - related environment.They tend to perceive themselves as more spontaneous, expressive, vital, and animated.
Potential traps
Remember that taking neutrality to the extreme may lead to monotony when speaking and might be perceived as coldness, lack of spontaneity or low engagement, while taking an affective orientation to the extreme might easily lead others to feel insulted and enraged.
Different viewpoints
People with a neutral orientation tend to see people who are more emotionally expressive as unprofessional and untrustworthy because they do not seem to be in control of their emotions and are easily insulted. People with an affective orientation tend to see neutral people as cold, detached, disinterested, lacking spontaneity and engagement.
Your score on dimension 5
Achievement-Ascription
What is this dimension about?
The dimension achievement-ascription focuses on how personal status is assigned.
In "achievement-oriented" societies the status is a reflection of performance, of what an individual does and has accomplished. In short, "you are what you do."
On the other hand, in the so called "ascribed" cultures, status is a reflection of what you are and how the other individual within a group (community and/or organization) relate to you. Factors like age, class, gender, education, etcetera are fundamental in attributing status. In short, taking it to the extreme, in this type of culture "you are what you are from birth."
60
| Errungenschaft | Zuschreibung |
Those with this orientation tend to see themselves as people looking only at competence and achievement. The status is assigned basing on what people do, regardless of background. This may be expressed through ignoring differences in personal power and authority (e.g. hierarchical status, formal titles, educational or family background, gender, age). They may also prefer to delegate authority.
Potential traps
Remember that taking an achievement orientation to the extreme might lead to instability in the organization and to judging people based on their last performance.
Different viewpoints
People with an achievement orientation tend to see people with an ascriptive orientation as not challenging the status quo and sustaining a rigid organization. Remember that these people might consider themselves to be fostering stability by showing respect to people who acquired positions of power, status, and authority. In their eyes, your lack of showing respect may appear to threaten the stability of the organization.
Your score on dimension 6
Time Orientation
What is this dimension about?
Sequentialism and synchronism form the different approaches to structuring time. In business, how people structure time is important with how we plan, strategize and co-ordinate our activities with others.
People who structure time sequentially view time as a series of passing events. They tend to do one thing at a time, and prefer planning and keeping to plans once they have been made. Time commitments are taken seriously and staying on schedule is a must.
On the other hand, people structuring time synchronically view past, present, and future as being interrelated. They have a "multi-tasking" approach and usually do several things at once. For them, time is flexible and intangilble, therefore they are less concerned about what single-tasking cultures define as punctuality. Time commitments are desirable rather than absolute and plans are easily changed as more value is placed on the satisfactory completion of interaction with others.
61
| Synchrone | Sequentiell |
People with a such a small past orientation combined with a relatively large present and future circle tend to see the past as less important than the actual present times and the possible future state. This may be expressed in your inclination to speak often about the historical context as over and done with. It is all about the present and future.
Potential traps
Remember that taking a small past orientation to the extreme might lead to living in a present and future overlooking the need for understanding the historical context in which things have developed.
Different viewpoints
People with a very small past orientation tend to see people with a larger past orientation as not respecting the present or future. Remember that they might consider themselves to be taking a longer-term perspective, making plans and setting deadlines to reach future goals and plucking the strawberry of today rather than remaining in a nostalgic past.
Your score on dimension 7
Internal-External
What is this dimension about?
Diese Dimension betrifft die Beziehung der Menschen zur Umwelt und den wahrgenommenen Grad der Kontrolle über sie.
Internally controlled people have a mechanistic view of nature: it can be dominated once one has understood how it functions by developing suitable instruments for influencing it. This mechanicistic view of the environment favors a feeling of internal control: people seek to take control of their lives and see their own internal perspective as the starting point for determining the "right" action.
In business this translates into a "technology push" attitude.
In contrast to this, cultures with an externally controlled (or organic) view of nature assume that human beings are controlled by nature and unpredictable external forces such as fate, chance and the power of others. For this reason, they tend to "go with the flow" and orient their actions towards others. In business, this attitude leads to a "market pull" approach, that implies focusing on and responding to the environment and the need of the customers.
53
| Intern | Extern |
People with a higher internal control orientation than you tend to see themselves as strong and in control of their environment, while people with an external control orientation tend to see themselves as more adaptive to the environment.
Potential traps
Remember that taking an internal control orientation to the extreme might lead to reluctance to accept innovations from outside: the “not invented here” syndrome, while taking an external control orientation to the extreme might lead to using fate as an excuse for not accomplishing results.
Different viewpoints
People with an internal orientation tend to see more outer-directed people as weak and using fate as an excuse for not accomplishing results, while they might consider themselves to be more adaptive to the environment by waiting for the right moment and taking advantage of existing forces (such as market pull). In their eyes, more internally driven people like you may appear to be arrogant and looking for conflict. This may be expressed in their perception that you attach value to taking initiative, being able to persuade others, and to risking conflict in order to improve your bargaining position.