REaCT: Lessons of tolerance - Inclusive teaching of adults

Power Distance: in this dimension, members who have less power in a society accept and expect that the distribution of power takes place unequally. Culture is characterized by a strong hierarchical structure within organizations. In such societies, managers are respected in and out of the organization and are rarely contradicted in public. “The fundamental issue here is how a society handles inequalities among people.”

• Power Distance: Centralised organisations, more complex hierarchies, large gaps in compensation, authority and respect. Examples of high-power distance culture are: Belgium, France, Malaysia, The Arab World.
• ·Lower Power Distance: Flat organisations. Supervisors and employees are considered almost equals. Examples of low power distance culture are: The Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Germany, Nordic countries.

High-Context Cultures

 Far East (Japan, China), Indian subcontinent

 Arab Countries, Latin America

 Eastern Europe, Latin Europe, UK, Quebec

 English Canada, US

 Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland,

 Low-Context Cultures

A person from a High Context Culture can misperceive the culture - behaviour of people from Low Context Cultures as insensitive, disrespectful, uncaring and extremely careless regarding protocol and etiquette.

Low Context Culture persons can misperceive the culture behaviour of people from High Context Cultures as very sensitive, extremely formal and very strict about details.