ABSTRACT
This chapter critically evaluates Hofstede’s work appearing in consecutive editions of two books, Culture’s Consequences and Cultures and Organizations, across decades (1980–2010).
Part one reminds us of the circumstances of the Hermes-IBM project (late 1960s). Particular attention is drawn to methodological problems related to the construction of cultural dimensions and their conceptual interpretation. Seen by today’s standards, these dimensions lack theoretical validity. Part two is devoted to examining the external validity of Hofstede’s measures. Empirical evidence has demonstrated that except for power distance, these dimensions fail to demonstrate expected relationships. Hofstede’s legacy belongs to the history of social sciences. Using it for contemporary applications or research should be strongly discouraged as anachronic, as it might lead to biased and misleading interpretations.
