AMID TREETOPS AND ASTRIDE CAMELS
Our group had been discussed about power distance from the Hofstede’s cultural model of analysis. Power distance is cross cultural dimension that refers to the degree of which the members of society accept differences in power and status among themselves. Hofstede’s power distance index measures the extent to which the less powerful members of organization and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.
Big degree power distances are those citizens generally accept status and power inequalities. Countries that subscribes are Argentina, Malaysia, Mexico, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Small degree power distances are those whose citizens generally do not accept status and power inequalities. Country that subscribes is Finland, Israel, Norway and Sweden.
Characteristics of high power distance:
· Centralized company
· Strong hierarchies
· Large gaps in compensation, authority and respect
Characteristics of low power distance:
· Flatter organizations
· Supervisors and employee are considered almost as equals.
According to the Amid Treetops and Astride Camels story, we can relate this story with the power distance. Firstly we can identify that the power distance exist when a high-powered American executive from a multinational oil company told the writer that he had bought tones of toilet paper to be freighted to Malaysia after visiting the restroom. In our opinion, America is high power distance because they think that they are a big country and have high technological compared to Malaysia. So, they have power to make anything that they want.
The power holders are entitled to special right and privileges. In countries with a low power distance, people believe that inequality in society should minimize. But the high power distance score indicates that society accepts an unequal distribution of power and people understand “their place “in the system.
Secondly the power distance exists when Soraya is a Malaysian citizen was married with an American, Henry. By applying the concept of high power distance, Soraya as an American’s wife she needs to follow and accept the culture of America by practice this culture. However, she felt frustrated because the neighbors and her husband’s relatives seemed to find unusual and surprised that she could speak fluently and in such beautiful English but she still practice.
As a conclusion, we can state that the power distance refers to the degree of inequality that exists and it accepted among people with and without power. Superiors and subordinates should consider each other to be different kinds of people. Sometimes power is a basic fact of society, notions of good and evil are irrelevant. Titles are used, formality is the rule, and authority is seldom by passed.
Prepared by:
Aisyah, Fazlida, Salwa, Nazrul, Zafir
