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Culture in the Land Down Under:

A Malaysian Manager’s Perspective
Thomas S.C. Yap
Research & Corporate Affairs Projects, UCSI
thomasyap@ucsi.edu.my

Abstract
The author had the privilege of spending three (3) years, from 1997 to 1999, in Australia while undertaking a course of study at a
university in Perth, Western Australia. His perception of Australia before travelling to Melbourne, therefore, was largely shaped by
his experience in Perth. His short stint in Melbourne seemed to have altered certain views that he had held to be true. Perhaps it may
not be that he had a wrong perception of Australia whilst in Perth but rather that there is also a cultural difference between states
within Australia. This is among numerous other discoveries that the author made in Melbourne. In this paper, Hofstede’s Cultural
Dimensions will be used to analyze the Australian and Malaysian cultures.
Keywords: Culture, Cultural Diversity, Managing Across Cultures

1. CROSS CULTURAL THEORIES: AN carrying out their duties. As a result, the author had always
INTRODUCTION believed that Australians, although laid back, took great pride in
their work and were highly conscientious of the level of quality
Geert Hofstede, an influential Dutch expert on the interactions they delivered.

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between national cultures and organizational cultures, conducted
a comprehensive study of how values in the workplace are It would not be uncommon to assume (as the author has) that
influenced by culture, upon which he developed a model that most Caucasian Australians are of Anglo-Saxon origin. In actual
identified four primary Dimensions to assist in differentiating fact, many Australians have very diverse origins. For example,
cultures: Power Distance - PDI, Individualism - IDV, Mr. Michael John Segon (a lecturer with RMIT University) has
Masculinity - MAS, and Uncertainty Avoidance - UAI Italian blood, Dr. Thierry Volery (a lecturer from Perth) migrated
(www.geert-hofstede.com). He later added a fifth Dimension, to Australia from France almost a decade ago, and Pastor
after conducting an additional international study with a survey Graham Johnston (Senior Pastor at a church the author used to
instrument developed with Chinese employees and managers, attend in Perth) was born in Dallas, Texas.
known as Long-Term Orientation – LTO (www.geert-
hofstede.com). However, this fifth Dimension will not be The author perceived Australians to be generally tolerant and that
discussed in this paper. they easily accepted other cultures but a one and a half hour-long
conversation with Geoff, a Grayline tour coach driver, on the
Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (1997, pp. 8-10), on the other way back to Melbourne from Philip Island revealed a slightly
hand, propose that there are seven Dimensions to culture covered different twist.
under three broad headings: Relationships with People, Attitudes
to Time, and Attitudes to the Environment. The first five
Dimensions can be found in the heading Relationships with 3. PERCEPTION OF AUSTRALIA DURING AND
People. These are Universalism versus Particularism, AFTER MELBOURNE VISIT
Individualism versus Communitarianism, Neutral versus
Emotional, Specific versus Diffuse, and Achievement versus A. Population and Racial Mix
Ascription. The remaining two Dimensions happen to be the
remaining two headings. For the purpose of this paper, we will Table 1. Comparison of Population & Racial Mix Before and After
focus only on Hofstede’s four Cultural Dimensions. Residential Visit [7]
Perception Before Understanding During &
Items
Residential Visit After Residential Visit
2. PERCEPTION OF AUSTRALIA BEFORE Population 18 – 19 million 20.09 million
MELBOURNE VISIT Caucasian) 60% 92%
During his stay in Perth, the author found Australians to be a Asian 20% 7%
very hospitable and friendly group of people. The local Aborigines &
authorities, particularly, made a tremendous impression on him. 20% 1%
Others
The Immigration and Customs officers at the airport as well as
the Immigration Office were professional and efficient. The local
police too were well organized and equally professional in

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The misconception of the ethnic make-up or racial mix is, to a language of the aboriginal people, the original natives of the land
large extent, influenced by the author’s experience in Perth, now known as Australia. For example, the word kangaroo – the
Western Australia. The Asian and aboriginal communities there name of one of Australia’s mascots – means “I don’t know” in
were fairly large back then in 1999. It should also be noted that the native language. Similarly, Canberra was made the official
the population in Melbourne alone is approximately 3 million. capital city of Australia because it was “the meeting place”
The Asian community in Melbourne seems a lot larger than that between the early settlements of Melbourne and Sydney. Another
in Perth as well. Even the aboriginal communities in Australia example would be that of the Yarra River. It literally means
are varied. The aborigines in Perth are known as the Noongar “river that flows”. These are only some of the many examples of
while those in Melbourne are known as the Koori. adaptations of aboriginal words in the modern Australian society.
Comparatively, the Noongar community is much larger than that
of the Koori. Hardly any aborigines were seen in Melbourne’s C. Economy and Principal Industries
Central Business District. The author was told that they could
only be found in the suburbs. In Perth, the aborigines are quite Table 2: Comparison of Economy & Principal Industries Before and After
Residential Visit [7]
urban and a common sight in the city. The more highly educated
aborigines hold corporate positions while others work at petrol Perception Understanding
kiosks, drive taxis, or work with the local town councils. Items Before During and After
Residential Visit Residential Visit*
B. The Australian People 3.5% (based on
GDP Growth 5% (wild guess)
2004 estimates)
Aussies, as the Australians are affectionately known, were
perceived to be generally tolerant and that they easily accepted 5.1% (based on
Unemployment 8% (wild guess)
other cultures. To the uninitiated, this may seem to be true but 2004 estimates)
one needs to dig deeper below the surface to uncover the reality. 2.3% (based on
The author spent close to an hour and a half just having a casual Inflation 4% (wild guess)
2004 estimates)
conversation with one of the Grayline tour coach drivers tasked
with taking the tour group to and from Philip Island. Geoff, who Wheat, Barley,
migrated from East London in the late 1970s, seemed like the Sugarcane, Fruits,
Agriculture,
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typical Aussie “bloke”. He was passionate about Footy (Aussie
rules football) and could not stop talking about his favourite
team, the St. Kilda Saints.
No doubt, Australians are generally tolerant of foreign
immigrants including Asian and Muslim migrants, but things
became touchy when it came to culture. Geoff said that Aussies
tend to welcome these migrants, who usually bring with them
cuisine new to Australia, and interesting festivals like Chinese
New Year and Aidilfitri that were relatively unheard of in
Australia before, with open arms. However, it is the tendency of
these migrant groups to congregate together, or in Geoff’s words
“the herd mentality”, which puts Australians off. What is worse
is that some of these groups even demand for ethnic-type
schools, such as Chinese schools or Islamic schools. Australians
take offence at such a demand as it is viewed as a form of racial
discrimination. “We don’t mind Asians, or any foreigners for
that matter, migrating into Australia. Just don’t try to change us!
They should learn to assimilate and become Aussie Asian, or
Aussie Greek, or Aussie whatever! They shouldn’t expect Aussies
to change and suit them!” Geoff exclaimed at one point of the
conversation. Being a migrant himself, it was good to note that
Geoff practised what he preached.
The conversation with that elderly Aussie Englishman revealed
that Australians and Malaysians had at least one thing in
common: the land that we are currently occupying cannot really
be called “home”. In fact, both Australians and Malaysians are
migrant nations to begin with. Malaysians would be able to
identify with Geoff’s rationale because that is precisely how we
feel about the foreigners that migrate to our country.
Cattle, Sheep,
Poultry &
Poultry, Mining,
Livestock
Principal Industrial and
Farming,
Industries Transportation
Automotive,
Equipment, Food
Dairy Products,
Processing,
and Tourism
Chemicals, and
Steel
Australia employs a Western-style capitalist economy, with a per
capita GDP on par with four dominant West European
economies, namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany and
Italy. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business
and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials
and agricultural products are fuelling the economy. The
Government's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing
ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's
strength. The impact of the combination of drought, weak foreign
demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up
from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, and then down to
$13 billion in 2004.
(www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/as.html)
While Australia’s strengths lie in various aspects such as
innovation, health and education plans, research, and the
agriculture industry, it faces serious issues in the
commercializing of the ideas, and balance of payments and
balance of trade deficits. Such issues need to be addressed
swiftly to ensure its economic survival.

The Australians, keenly aware that they are a migrant nation,

have given the Koori a special place in society. Many Australian
names of places and animals have their roots in the tribal

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4. CROSS CULTURAL ANALYSIS
A. Culture Defined
Before we begin analyzing cultures across borders, perhaps it
would be appropriate to first of all understand what culture is
about. Abdullah (1992, p. 3) defines culture as a shared and
commonly held body of general beliefs and values, which define
the “shoulds” and “oughts” of life of certain ethnic
communities. According to her, these beliefs and values were
usually acquired so early in life that people are usually unaware
of their influence in their lives. In another book, Abdullah (1996,
p. 2) adds that culture is a collection of behavior patterns
relating to thoughts, manners and actions, which members of a
society have shared, learned and passed on to succeeding
generations.
Abdullah (1992, p. 3) quotes Hofstede’s definition of culture as
the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the
members of one group from another. Hofstede (www.geert-
hofstede.com) suggests that there are four Dimensions to culture
namely, Power Distance - PDI, Individualism - IDV, Masculinity
- MAS, and Uncertainty Avoidance - UAI. Meanwhile,
Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (1997, p.6) are of the opinion
that culture is the way in which a group of people solves
problems and reconciles dilemmas. They (1997, pp. 8-10)
suggest that the basis of cultural differences lie in Relationships
with People, Attitudes to Time, and Attitudes to the
Environment.
B. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions – A Comparison
Between Australia and Malaysia
Chart 1: Comparison of Hofstede Scores
Between Australia & Malaysia [5], [6]
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Power Distance – PDI
According to Hofstede (www.geert-hofstede.com), the Power
Distance Index (PDI) focuses on the degree of equality, or
inequality, between people in the country's society. A High
Power Distance ranking indicates that inequalities of power and
wealth have been allowed to grow within the society. These
societies are more likely to follow a caste system that does not
allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. A Low Power
Distance ranking indicates the society de-emphasizes the
differences between citizen's power and wealth. In these societies
equality and opportunity for everyone is stressed.
From Chart 1, Australia has a relatively low PDI in comparison
to Malaysia. In other words, the Australian society emphasizes a
lot on equality and is generally not status conscious. In fact,
Australia has tough anti-discrimination laws in place to protect
the rights of each individual in the country. No community
within the Australian society is marginalized in any way.
Australians treat each other as equals. This is another uniquely
Australian concept that differentiates it from Malaysia – the
concept of “mateship”. Corporate executives dressed in
expensive suits have no qualms sitting next to a road repairs
worker and having “a cuppa” (a cup of coffee) together. For
example, Professor Bennington, the Head of the RMIT
University School of Management addressed lecturers and
administrators as her “colleagues” rather than her “staff”.
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Malaysians, on the contrary, are relatively status conscious
although they do not fit the description of following a caste
system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its
citizens. While most people view protocol as a funny thing and
do not take it seriously, Malaysians regard protocol as very
important and take it very seriously. Ali (2002, p. 24) reinforces
this fact when he wrote, “Everyone wants to be recognized. The
higher he or she gets, his or her station needs to be recognized…
This is especially so in this country (Malaysia) with all the titles
and ranks: the Tunkus and the Ungkus, the Tuns and Tan Sris,
the Dato’ Seris and Dato’s… All these people know their station
in life and expect to be accordingly treated. Because of this,
responsible people in this country (Malaysia) should take more
interest in protocol.”
Malaysian Managers, or anyone for that matter, should be careful
not to abuse the concept of mateship. A standard of
professionalism at work must always be exercised.
Individualism – IDV
Hofstede (www.geert-hofstede.com) advocates that
Individualism (IDV) is concerned with the degree the society
reinforces individual or collective achievements and
interpersonal relationships. A High Individualism ranking
indicates that individuality and individual rights are paramount
within the society. Individuals in these societies may tend to
form a larger number of looser relationships. A Low
Individualism ranking typifies societies of a more collectivist
nature with close ties between individuals. These cultures
reinforce extended families and collectives where everyone takes
responsibility for fellow members of their group.
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Chart 1 shows that Australia is a highly individualistic society
while Malaysia is the opposite – it is a more collectivist society.
This is quite interesting because the concept of mateship –
watching out for your fellow man or woman – is very strong in
the Australian society. Therefore, Hofstede’s findings seem to be
a little contradictory in this instance. However, his findings bear
some truth in that Australians hold their individual rights in high
regard – from gender equality at the workplace to freedom of
expressing their opinions.
Malaysian Managers intending to migrate to or work in Australia
must be sensitive to these rights and tread carefully. Infringement
of these rights may result in very serious consequences.
Masculinity – MAS
Hofstede (www.geert-hofstede.com) suggests that Masculinity
(MAS) focuses on the degree the society reinforces, the
traditional masculine work role model of male achievement,
control, and power. A High Masculinity ranking indicates the
country experiences a high degree of gender differentiation. In
these cultures, males dominate a significant portion of the society
and power structure, with females being controlled by male
domination. A Low Masculinity ranking indicates the country
has a low level of differentiation and discrimination between
genders. In these cultures, females are treated equally to males in
all aspects of the society.
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Hofstede’s scores for Masculinity for both Australia and
Malaysia are contrary to the author’s experience. In Chart 1,
Australia has a higher Masculinity ranking than Malaysia. This is
rather unusual given that Aussies are highly aware of their
individual rights, and have strict anti-discrimination laws.
A visit to the Geelong Ford Discovery Centre, southwest of
Melbourne, supports this opinion best. A heavy industrial
factory, similar to the Ford assembly plant, in Malaysia would
have more male workers than female. Female workers in such
factories are a rare sight. Instead, they are often found in
electronic components manufacturing plants like Panasonic or
Motorola where work is limited to soldering small electronic
components, packaging, or quality control. In the Ford plant in
Geelong, there were quite a number of female workers working
on huge machinery and handling large and heavy engine
components.
Uncertainty Avoidance – UAI
Hofstede’s (www.geert-hofstede.com) Uncertainty Avoidance
Index (UAI) deals with the level of tolerance for uncertainty and
ambiguity within the society. A High Uncertainty Avoidance
ranking indicates that the country has a low tolerance for
uncertainty and ambiguity. This creates a rules-oriented society
that institutes laws, rules, regulations, and controls in order to
reduce the amount of uncertainty. A Low Uncertainty Avoidance
ranking indicates that the country has less concern about
ambiguity and uncertainty and has more tolerance for a variety of
opinions. This is reflected in a society that is less rule-oriented,
more readily accepts change, and takes more and greater risks.
According to Chart 1, Australia scored higher than Malaysia
indicating that Australia is less tolerant of uncertainty and
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ambiguity compared to Malaysia. This can be attributed to the
fact that Malaysia is a developing country. For it to progress, it is
compelled to take certain risks. For example, former Malaysian
Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had to take the risk
of pegging the Ringgit against the US Dollar during the Asian
Financial Crisis instead of taking the easy way out by borrowing
from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This was to ensure
that Malaysia would not be too deep in debts, which would
hinder its attainment of Vision 2020. His decision proved to be a
wise one.
5. CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES: CONCLUDING
REMARKS
The two-week experience has indeed been an eye-opening
experience. The author had the opportunity of discovering many
new things and, at the same time, analyze the differences and
similarities between Australia and Malaysia. While, the cultural
make-up of the two countries may differ, both share a
commonality in that they are both migrant nations. As such, they
both share relatively similar worldviews and perspectives on
issues affecting their individual societies.
In the final analysis, managers must learn to be culture savvy in
an era where business is increasingly extending beyond borders.
One cannot learn about another country’s culture by simply
reading from textbooks, journals or even the Internet. While
these resources are helpful in providing background information,
they are not sufficient on their own. The key to learning about a
country’s culture is immersing oneself in it. The author
personally learnt a lot by interacting with the typical Aussie
bloke and sheila on the street.
6. REFERENCE LIST
1. Abdullah, A. 1992, Understanding the Malaysian Workforce,
Guidelines for Managers, Malaysian Institute of Management
2. Abdullah, A. 1996, Going Glocal, Cultural Dimensions in
Malaysian Management, Malaysian Institute of Management
3. Ali, A. 2002, Malaysian Protocol & Correct Forms of Address, 3rd
Edition, Times Books International
4. Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions, Australia – Australian Geert
Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Explained, viewed 25 October 2005,
<www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_australia.shtml>
5. Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions, Geert Hofstede Cultural
Dimensions, viewed 25 October 2005, <www.geert-
hofstede.com/index.shtml>
6. Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions, Malaysia – Malaysian Geert
Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Explained, viewed 25 October 2005,
<www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_malaysia.shtml>
7. The World Factbook, Australia, viewed 21 October 2005,
<www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/as.html>
8. Trompenaars, F. & Hampden-Turner, C. 1997, Riding the Waves of
Culture, Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business, Nicholas
Brealey Publishing Ltd.
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