Hofstede CWQ Trial

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCOVER WHERE YOU FIT INTO THE FOLLOWING GRAPH?

The graph below is an illustration of a participant’s Hofstede Culture in the Workplace Questionnaire™ results for one of the dimensions, Certainty.

Culture in the Workplace Questionnaire™ Preferences for Certainty barchart

In these scores, we are comparing the participant’s individual scores to country averages. As such, there are many individuals in these countries with scores that differ from their own country averages (and that may be closer or further from the participant’s scores). National tendencies are indicated clearly through the country scores. The participant (an American) in this case is very similar to the larger U.S. sample. American participants often, but not always, score quite “low” on the Certainty dimension, meaning that they prefer an environment which is less bound by rules and regulations more than many of their counterparts in other countries.

Interpretation of the Bar Chart

In the Certainty area, the participant’s score is at the low end of the Certainty dimension and indicates a preference for Tolerance for Ambiguity. People with a Tolerance for Ambiguity appreciate organizations that encourage individuals to use creative approaches. They believe that there should be no more rules than is strictly necessary and that rules may be broken for pragmatic purposes. It is acceptable to challenge and question “the way things are done.” There is a tolerance of differences, innovative ideas and a wide range of behaviors. Managers are mainly concerned with strategic issues and it is accepted that they may not have all the solutions at any given time..

In Need for Certainty countries such as Japan, France and Germany, there are more formal and widely understood ways of behaving and getting the work done. Those with a Need for Certainty put into place rules, procedures and structures, and try to plan for different contingencies. This helps make events more predictable and interpretable.

To learn more about your own preference for Certainty, try the questionnaire below!
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Preference for Certainty Questionnaire

Please indicate your level of agreement to the following 6 statements using this scale:

1
Strongly Disagree
2
Tend to Disagree
3
Undecided
4
Tend to Agree
5
Strongly Agree

Please click on a number from 1 to 5 for each of the 6 statements below.

1. For innovation to be successful, all contingencies must be taken into account.
1
2
3
4
5
2. An organizational structure in which certain subordinates have two bosses should always be avoided.
1
2
3
4
5
3. Before making a decision, it is important to think through all possible scenarios and outcomes.
1
2
3
4
5
4. One can be a good manager without having precise answers to most of the questions that subordinates may raise about their work.
1
2
3
4
5
5. I am uneasy in situations in which there are no clear rules or guidelines.
1
2
3
4
5
6. Rules and regulations hinder creativity and innovation.
1
2
3
4
5

Countries for Comparison (choose ONLY 2):

Argentina France Mexico
Brazil Germany Russia
Canada Great Britain India
China Japan USA

 















For more information about the full six dimension of Hofstede Culture in the Workplace Questionnaire™ and its cost, please contact Culture in The Workplace™