HOFSTEDE MODEL: BULGARIA VS COLOMBIA

Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory was developed by Geert Hofstede, is a framework for cross cultural communication, it shows the effects of a society's culture on the values on it's members. It is used to distinguish between the different cultural countries around the world,assess their impact on business settings and determine the dimensions in which the cultures vary. 

The Hofstede model identified six categories with which have been defined Bulgarian culture and to have a better understanding about it, we gonna make a  comparison between Colombian  Bulgarian culture. 

POWER DISTANCE  

This dimension indicates to us what is the position and tolerance of a country's culture with respect to authority, centralization and inequality. 

As we can see, the power distance index in Bulgaria is slightly high, with a score of 70, which indicates that in Bulgaria the people tend to accept the centralization, the differences of power and inequality, it is could be due to the fact that in Bulgaria the subordination is popular because the Bulgarians was subdue a political government very closed,  without organized opposition and without to refuse the determined and even managed from Russia. Although the people fought it, the culture still reflects this behavior of subordination.   

In comparison with the Index in Colombia, there isn’t too much difference with Bulgaria, we obtained a score of 67, a little less lower than Bulgaria which currently represents the same history of Bulgaria. In Colombia, once upon a time, the government encouraged inequality and was managed by the Spaniard crown, the bureaucracy was very popular and although the people fought for years, the subordination even in the jobs, continued thriving.

INDIVIDUALISM 

With this category, we can appreciate that the score is slightly low in both cultures, with a score of 30 and 13, but also we can see that the score of Bulgaria is bigger than Colombia which indicates that Colombia is more collectivist than Bulgaria. It is due to research show how the culture from Europe brings their children up with a knowledge of independence and freedom. Furthermore, in Colombia, the parents tend to bring their children up with a sense of responsibility to the family, to the group, sacrificing their personal freedom and independence.

MASCULINITY 

We obtained scores with a little more difference, Bulgaria has a score of 40 while Colombia has a score of 64. That show us how Colombian culture is more masculinity than Bulgarian culture. The difference is because in Colombia still thrive the chauvinist knowledge where the women have to stay in home, care the children, and look for quality of her home while the men go to work and bring the resources (money) to survive. Meanwhile the Bulgarians women have  fought chauvinist and although this still lives on the fight of the women have been meaningful.

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE 

With the uncertainty avoidance index, both scores are closed and highest, with 85 and 80, that is due to the fact that in both cultures the people don't take risks by the fear of the unknown, if it could be wrong or inappropriate. That is reflected in the business of both cultures. These countries are known for don’t take risks which is the reason because the economies of these haven’t been exploited and just have survived with the traditional.

LONG TERM ORIENTATION 

As I mentioned before, Colombia is a very traditional country, not just with the upbringing, also this traditional culture is illustrated with the example of orientation. They focus on the short term projects and work for the present more than the future and the index shows us that it is a fact, with the score of 13, a very low score. It could be because it is easier for the Colombians to have success in these projects than focus in the future with the terrible and changing Colombian economy.  On the other hand, Bulgaria obtain a score of 69, a very high score which reaffirmed that in Europe the sight about the tradition is changing and the people look for new opportunities, think more about the future and it is due to they have a better economy, they can focus in the future changes because they have the resources and can get it easier than Colombia. 

INDULGENCE 

The cultures have very different scores in this category. While Bulgaria has a score of 16, Colombia has a score of 83. That difference is because in Colombia the people are very expressive. To the Colombians it is important to celebrate all their achievements, it is  a tradition too due to is a way to encourage the people and show them the support meanwhile in Bulgaria, the people tend to be more prudent, we can see some celebrations but to this people the tranquility is important even in the street when you hang out with some friends, in Bulgaria is popular don’t draw attention.