Jan's Blog 2025

 Hello G'Day everyone! Today we will discuss Hofstede's yet another index, and I can already feel that you are very very excited to read this blog.  The index is called Long-Term Orientation Index (LTO), yet it has nothing to do with this blog's title. To be honest it was meant to mislead you and evoke an emotional reaction, so that you would be more attentive. LTO is also known as Confucianism Index, so it orients how cultures deal with change and how they react to it.  I'm giving mic to Mr. Dutch: In a long-time-oriented culture, the basic notion about the world is that it is in flux, and preparing for the future is always needed. In a short-time-oriented culture, the world is essentially as it was created, so that the past provides a moral compass, and adhering to it is morally good.  [1]  Congrats, now you became smarter by one more term!  So as we usually do let us compare Japan (grey), Poland (blue? I honestly have no idea what is this color, don'...

 Hello G'Day, Today we will discuss the most interesting parts of Japanese political system and link them to my own personal experience and opinions. Starting right from the big shocker - Japan has a Dominant Party System, meaning that there is one main party and some non relevant other parties. Since 1955 Liberal Democratic Party has been ruling this beautiful country, that's precisely 70 years! According to some political theories, when one party rules for more than 11 years, the risk to the democracy turning into authoritarian system is significantly elevated. Yet, in this case it somehow does not apply.   For me elections are like a buffet. You enter, you take your plate and ponder, which dish will suit my appetite the most. Some years you carve a steak, and the other for a chocolate ice cream. So having one party system can be compared to constantly attending a buffet with only one dish, or with one high quality very nicely served dish, and other that are 3 days old,...

Hello G'Day welcome to yet another post on the most respectable Mr. Hofstede and his cultural model. Honestly speaking, I think at this point I can write his surname without even thinking about it given that it's my 4th consecutive year of dealing and chewing upon his work. So without further ado, we shall proceed to our little tradition of comparing Japan, Poland and Canada. Alas, I have forgotten to properly define what we are supposed to discuss today. The answer is Uncertainty Avoidance. Allow me to perhaps cast a light on this vague term by quoting Hofstede. Uncertainty avoidance has nothing to do with risk avoidance, nor with following rules. It has to do with anxiety and distrust in the face of the unknown, and conversely, with a wish to have fixed habits and rituals, and to know the truth.       Ahhhhhh POLAND WINNING AGAIN!!!!!! But here comes the interesting part, while Poland scores around 93 in this index, Japan scores 92. Which makes these two culture...