Power Distance

Power Distance Index (PDI)

Hofstede’s Power Distance Index expresses “the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.” – Geert Hofstede http://geert-hofstede.com/dimensions.html

•  This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above.

• It suggests that a society’s level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders.

|Low Power Distance |High Power Distance |

|Inequalities among people should be minimized. |Inequalities among people are both expected and desired. |

|Interdependence between less and more powerful people. |Less powerful people should be depended on the more powerful people.|

| |Hierarchy in organisations reflects the existential inequality. |

|Hierarchy in organisation means an inequality of roles. |Centralization is popular. |

|Decentralization is popular. |Wide salary range. |

|Narrow salary range. |Subordinated expect to be told what to do. |

|Subordinated expect to be consulted. |The ideal boss is benevolent autocrat or good father. |

| |Privileges and status are both expected and popular. |

|The ideal boss is resourceful democrat. | |

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