Attached please find a copy of a report comparing and contrasting the cultures of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Contained in the report are an Executive Summary, an introduction to the research project along with its focus and methodology, and a discussion of findings. Attached to the report are a listing of references used and copies of all journal articles employed in the study. Table of Contents
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Report Organization Plan 5
Discussion 6
Conclusion and Recommendations 10
References 14 Executive Summary
This report examines issues that differentiate American and Saudi Arabian culture. The goal of the study was to develop a brief overview of such differences for use in the business sector. General observations of the critical cultural orientations of Saudi Arabia and the United States, based on a dimensional typology developed by Geert Hofstede (1997, 2000), indicate that on several key dimensions (i.e., individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and time orientation [long- versus short-term perspectives]) the two countries are almost polar opposites. On the dimension of masculinity versus femininity, there is a greater congruence but not an exact or even close correlation between the two countries.
The implications of these cultural differences are examined in the report. They key findings are: 1) American managers or workers interacting with Saudis must recognize the importance of Saudi collectivism and its emphasis on family, friends, and interpersonal relationships; 2) Saudis prefer a low level of uncertainty and accept a high power distance between workers and subordinates; 3) Saudis are less likely than Americans to respond rapidly to change or innovation and more like...