In a short essay, discuss the value of Hofstede's values study to managers

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: In one view, Hofstede's study is nothing more than a collection of national stereotypes that confirms the basest caricatures of different ethnicities: the "hot-tempered" Greeks, the Japanese who just want to "fit in" with the group, the "exacting" Germans. In using Hofstede's data, managers should be aware of these limitations and should not try to make generalizations about any individual based on a cultural archetype or stereotype.

Managers should also be aware that Hofstede's characterizations are not set in stone, and that, for example, a German might turn out to be hot-tempered and a Greek to be exacting. That said, there is predictive value in Hofstede's characterizations. They are, in a sense, a small window into each culture that can be used as a guide to the culture's hopes, dreams, and self-image as well as its habits and priorities. Used wisely, Hofstede's data can help managers understand the national psychology of a country as it relates to buying, selling, and markets.