Cultural dimensions of France

The Power Distance Index (PDI) - 68 With the power distance index of 68, France belongs to the countries of the European Union with one of the highest degrees of inequality in society. This result may well be justified by the fact that France is a country with highly centralized power and the management of the state is considered bureaucratic and authoritarian (which is also transmitted in the management of the company).In the field of management, this score means that superiors and subordinates are not created equal and that this inequality is accepted and expected.Managers are characterized by authoritarian and paternalistic management and they treat their employees in a very formal way. Also, it is not uncommon for them to have certain privileges (such as the expensive car or reserved parking space) and that they like to expose to admiration their status and wealth.

The Individualism Index (IDV) - 71 The score of 71 shows that France is a highly individualistic country with an emphasis on the opinions and skills of an individual. People look after their own interests and those of their families. In industrial relations, everything is based on the contract and it is welcome the autonomous work and the original approach to the execution of the given task. Even remuneration reflects the skills of employees who are evaluated in an individual way. In this organization, everyone is allowed to express their own opinion.

The masculinity index (MAS) - 43 With the masculinity index of 43 points, France ranks among the female countries. Whether in the family or in work, the French are very keen on the quality of life. The latter could be well justified by their favorable system of social security, 35 hours of work per week or five weeks of leave during the year. At the work level, they emphasize values such as modesty, politeness and good relations between employees. The quiet and pleasant work environment is also important. On the other hand, rivalry is not overly supported and all conflicts are resolved by compromises.

AI) - 86 The uncertainty index, 86 points, is the highest of the five indices in this country. In the company, the importance is given to the respect of the punctuality and all the management systems are precisely formalized. Certainty is ensured by the follow-up of numerous rules, laws and standards. Otherwise, the feeling of uncertainty and frequent change is a source of stress. In addition, societies are less tolerant of change, leading to difficulties in the introduction of innovations and new thoughts.

The Long-term Orientation Index (LTO) - 39 This last index shows that France, with 39 points, belongs to countries with short-term orientation. Concerning business, there is a tendency to "live in the present" with an emphasis on current activities and immediate results (eg management follows quarterly results). It is not uncommon for organizations to miss financial sources for new investments because they are not able to save money.

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