ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the characteristics Hofstede attributes to ‘national culture’ are not derived from, or verified by, the IBM survey data – the foundation of his work – nor are they plausible. His ostensibly dispassionate analysis of data is suffused with preconceptions, speculation, and neglect of counter-evidence and critical literature. Mere opinion masquerades as established facts. Overwhelmingly, he provides no supportive evidence for his lengthy lists of the purported consequences of ‘national culture’ – and many are demonstrably incorrect.
