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Outline:

I. Value Chain activities countries

II. Hofstede framework of cultural dimensions

A. Belgium and Asia

1. China
2. India
3. Japan
4. Malaysia
5. Singapore
6. Overview Belgium and Asia

III. Brief summary of major cultural differences

II. Hofstede’s framework of cultural differences

Hofstede has developed five cultural dimensions. (5D Model) These

translate into the following measurements:

PDI: Power Distance Index

IDV: Individualism
MAS: Masculinity
UAI: Uncertainty Avoidance Index LTO:
Long-- Term Orientation

A. BELGIUM AND ASIA:

1) Hofstede Comparison of Belgium and China

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The PDI is higher for China than in Belgium that means that people in
China accept inequality much more than in Belgium that there is
unequal distribution of power. However, the difference is not
extreme.

The IDV level in Belgium is much higher then in China. Belgium is a much
more individualistic society where everyone looks after him or herself.
This is not the case in China. China is a more collective
society. The collectivism of China most likely is due to the fact of
having a strong communist basis.

One can read from the above graph that both countries are more or less of
Masculine culture this means that both females and males value
competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition and the accumulation of wealth
and material possessions.

The UAI level for Belgium difference is much higher than that of
China. This means that Belgium is a structured society and China is
not.

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LTO relates mostly to countries with a Confucian heritage. This
dimension is not to be found in Belgium. Therefore, it seems that
Belgians have less values.

2) Hofstede Comparison of Belgium and India

The PDI is higher for India than in Belgium that means that people in
India accept inequality much more than in Belgium that there is
unequal distribution of power. However, the difference is not
extreme.

The IDV level in Belgium is much higher then in India. Belgium is a

much more individualistic society where everyone looks after him or
herself. This is not the case in India. India is a more collective society.

One can read from the above graph that both countries are more or less of
Masculine culture this means that both females and males value
competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition and the accumulation of wealth
and material possessions.

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The UAI level for Belgium difference is much higher than that of
India. This means that Belgium is a structured society and India is
not.

Belgium doesn’t have a LTO dimension. LTO relates to values such as

family, protecting one’s face, pride, etc. These values are present in Indian
society.

3) Hofstede Comparision of Belgium and Japan

The PDI is higher for Japan than in Belgium that means that people in
Japan accept inequality much more than in Belgium that there is
unequal distribution of power. However, the difference is not
extreme.

The IDV level in Belgium is much higher then in Japan. Belgium is a

much more individualistic society where everyone looks after him or

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herself. This is not the case in Japan. Japan is a more collective
society.

One can read from the above graph that Japan is a much more
masculine society than Belgium. This means that both females and
males value competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition, and the
accumulation of wealth and material possessions. This aspect of
Japanese society can maybe relate to the fact that Japan was already a
very prosperous society in the beginning of the 20th century.

The UAI level for Belgium and Japan are at the same level. It seems that
these countries are both very structured.

Belgium doesn’t have a LTO dimension. LTO relates to values such as

family, protecting one’s face, pride, etc. These values are present in
Japanese society.

4) Hofstede Comparison of Belgium and Malaysia

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The PDI is higher for Malaysia than in Belgium that means that
people in Malaysia accept inequality much more than in Belgium that
there is unequal distribution of power.

The IDV level in Belgium is much higher then in Malaysia. Belgium is a

much more individualistic society where everyone looks after him or
herself. This is not the case in Malaysia. Malaysia is a more
collective society.

One can read from the above graph that both countries are more or less of
Masculine culture this means that both females and males value
competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition and the accumulation of wealth
and material possessions.

The UAI level for Belgium is much higher than that of Malaysia. It is
obvious that Malaysia is not a structured society.

Belgium doesn’t have a LTO dimension. LTO relates to values such as

family, protecting one’s face, pride, etc. These values are present in
Malaysian society.

5) Hofstede Comparison of Belgium and Singapore

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The PDI is higher for Singapore than in Belgium that means that people
in Singapore accept inequality much more than in Belgium that there
is unequal distribution of power.

The IDV level in Belgium is much higher then in Singapore. Belgium is a

much more individualistic society where everyone looks after him or
herself. This is not the case in Singapore. Singapore is a more
collective society.

One can read from the above graph that both countries are more or less of
Masculine culture this means that both females and males value
competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition and the accumulation of wealth
and material possessions.

The UAI level for Belgium is much higher than that of Singapore. It is
obvious that Singapore is not a structured society.

Belgium doesn’t have a LTO dimension. LTO relates to values such as

family, protecting one’s face, pride, etc. These values are present in
Singapore society.

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6. Overview Belgium - Asia:

When comparing China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore to

Belgium we see that the above countries are quite similar in culture
compared to Belgium.

The PDI and IDV level is higher than Belgium in all five Asian
countries and there is no level of LTO in Belgium.

Japan is the only different case in the group of Asian countries. Japan
is a high level masculine country compared to the other Asian
countries that are equal to Belgium on the MAS scale. Japan is also
different in the dimension of UAI compared to the other Asian
countries. On the UAI, scale Japan has an equal level to Belgium,
compared to the other countries scoring lower. Japan is the only
country in the Belgian-- Asian comparison that can be said to have a
structured society.

Find below an overview of the Belgium -- Asia comparison:

Belgium China India Japan Malaysia Singapore

PDI Higher Higher Higher Higher Higher
IDV Lower Lower Lower Lower Lower
MAS About About Higher About About
equal equal equal equal
UAI Lower Lower About Lower Lower
equal
LTO Present Present Present Present Present

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Francine Carron-- MGM1-- AEBE

III. Brief summary of major cultural differences

As I previously mentioned in China, India, Japan, Malaysia and

Singapore is the PDI higher than in Belgium this means that people are
better at accepting unequal power distribution. It seems that
Asians accept their place in society better as it is. For the value chain
activities this means that for example most important meetings
happen behind closed doors where only a select few, powerful
leaders can attend. For operational answers, employees probably have to
wait for the top for the answers.

In order to work in countries with a high level of PD it is important to

respect hierarchy and acknowledge a leader’s power.

Japan is a different case in Asia. Japan is a high level MAS country. This
means that there is a well--defined distinction between men’s work and
women’s work. This can cause issues for European
countries who send their female managers to Japan to oversee
production facilities for example.

Belgium compared to the Asian countries is a high UAI country,

which means business, is conducted with lots of rules and policies
whereas in Asia there is a more informal business attitude; they are
willing to accept the risk of change. If parameters are not clear from the
beginning western companies can run into issues as previously seen in
the Wahaha -- Danone case.