Education – The Model To Practice Dialogues MTPD™

Cultural influence on RE activities: An extended analysis of state of the art

MTPD Culture — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:27:33 +0000

Designing mobile software that aligns with cultural contexts is crucial for optimizing human-computer interaction. Considering cultural influences is essential not only for the actual set of functional/non-functional requirements, but also for the whole Requirement Engineering (RE) process. Without a clear understanding of cultural influences on RE activities, it’s hardly possible to elaborate a correct and complete set of requirements. This research explores the impact of national culture on RE-related activities based on recent studies. We conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of studies published in 2019-2023 and compared them to an older SLR covering 2000-2018. We identified 17 relevant studies, extracted 33 cultural influences impacting RE activities, and mapped them to the Hofstede model, widely used for cultural analysis in software development research. Our work highlights the critical role of national culture in RE activities, summarizes current research trends, and helps practitioners consider cultural influences for mobile app/software development.

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Break the Checkbox: Challenging Closed-Style Evaluations of Cultural Alignment in LLMs

MTPD Culture — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:24:35 +0000

A large number of studies rely on closed-style multiple-choice surveys to evaluate cultural alignment in Large Language Models (LLMs). In this work, we challenge this constrained evaluation paradigm and explore more realistic, unconstrained approaches. Using the World Values Survey (WVS) and Hofstede Cultural Dimensions as case studies, we demonstrate that LLMs exhibit stronger cultural alignment in less constrained settings, where responses are not forced. Additionally, we show that even minor changes, such as reordering survey choices, lead to inconsistent outputs, exposing the limitations of closed-style evaluations. Our findings advocate for more robust and flexible evaluation frameworks that focus on specific cultural proxies, encouraging more nuanced and accurate assessments of cultural alignment in LLMs.

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Comment on Anthony Good’s ‘Interpretation, Translation and Confusion in Refugee Status Determination Procedures’

MTPD Culture — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:07:53 +0000

Anthony Good’s paper on interpretation and translation in asylum cases is an excellent contribution to the complex subject matter of cultural diversity in the legal arena. In particular, by presenting an example from the field of refugee law, it discusses a problem that often arises in many other areas of law: What impact does the use of interpreters have on legal processes?

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The Impact of National Culture on Innovation: A Comparative Analysis between Developed and Developing Nations during the Pre- and Post-Crisis Period 2007–2021

MTPD Culture — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:12:41 +0000

Abstract

This empirical study investigates the impact of the Hofstede cultural dimensions (HCD) on the Global Innovation Index (GII) scores in four different years (2007, 2009, 2019 and 2021) to compare the impacts during the pre- and post-crisis (financial and COVID-19) period by employing ordinary least square (OLS) and robust least square (Robust) analyses. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of cultural factors on the innovation development for different income groups during the pre- and post-crisis period. We found that, in general, the same cultural properties were required for countries to enhance innovation inputs and outputs regardless of pre- and post-crisis periods and time variances. The significant cultural factors (driving forces) of the innovation performance do not change over time. However, our empirical results revealed that not the crisis itself but the income group (either developed or developing) is the factor that influences the relationship between cultural properties and innovation. It is also worth noting that cultural properties have lost much of their impact on innovation, particularly in developing countries, during recent periods. It is highly likely that in terms of innovation, no cultural development or change can significantly impact the innovation output of developing countries without the construction of the appropriate systems.

Keywords:

Hofstede cultural dimensions (HCD); Global Innovation Index (GII); financial crisis; COVID-19; comparative analysis

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DECOLONIZING THE BUSINESS SCHOOL:RECONSTRUCTING THE ENTREPRENEURSHIPCLASSROOM THROUGH INDIGENIZING PEDAGOGYAND LEARNING

MTPD Culture — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 13:58:07 +0000

Decolonization is an ongoing process of addressing power imbalances and knowledge
hierarchies that require critical self-reflection from those teaching in business schools
today (Joy & Poonamallee, 2013; Smith, 2012). As educators, if we are to take decolonizing seriously, we must create space for Indigenous Peoples to reconnect and engage with
their own knowledge systems and ways of knowing. We present a teaching and learning
case in entrepreneurship that explores an indigenizing process that makes visible Indigenous knowledge frameworks, practices and language in a business school classroom.
Drawing on the suggestions from extant literature that research examining business
school education should include micro-level studies, we examine the use of a virtual
learning platform by Indigenous students engaged in entrepreneurship education. Three
specific questions are addressed: (a) What might indigenizing look like? (b) How is learning created that supports active indigenizing practices? and (c) What is the role of the
business school educator in the indigenizing journey? In answering these questions, we
explore how Indigenous knowledge and wisdom can thrive alongside Western knowledge in a decolonized business school, and, in so doing, be part of the wider movement of
decolonization of academia and society.
Kia rangona te matauraga M aori i roto i te whare akoranga pakihi. Me tuwheratia e nga
kaiako he wahanga kia rongohia nga akonga. Me wetewetehia ng a herenga o te ao
Pakeha. Ma t enei, ka puawai ng a whakaaro M aori.

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THE IMPACT OF HOFSTEDE’S NATIONAL CULTURAL DIMENSIONS ON TRUST: A RESEARCH IN GAZZA STRIP SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN PALASTINE

MTPD Culture — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:44:49 +0000

This study examines the impact of Hofstede’s (1980) four national cultural dimensions (collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity) on trust between school teachers and their principals in secondary schools in the Gaza Strip in Palestine using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Using qualitative data from eight informants and drawing on our review of cross-cultural trust literature, we define interpersonal trust and derive a model of Hofstede’s national cultural dimensions on interpersonal trust between school teachers and their principals in Gaza Strip in Palestine. Regression analysis results indicate that three of Hofstede’s national cultural dimensions namely collectivism, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity are positively related to trust, however, power distance is negatively related to trust between teachers and principals.

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Exploring Palestinian Culture and its Educational

MTPD Culture — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:39:09 +0000

ABSTRACT: This paper used Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, precisely the dimensions of power

distance, individualism/collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance, as a framework to analyze Palestinian culture

and educational practices. Though Arab societies do not fully embrace Islamic teachings, religious principles

significantly shape cultural beliefs and behaviors. Therefore, analyzing traditional Palestinian proverbs

provides insight into entrenched societal values. According to Hofstede’s model, Palestine aligns with broader

Arab countries, ranking high in power distance and uncertainty avoidance and low in individualism. These

cultural tendencies manifest in Palestinian educational norms, such as deference to teachers, collectivist

learning environments, and resistance to pedagogical reform. However, technological advances have begun

shifting specific dynamics, like teacher-student relationships. This paper argues that educational progress

requires leveraging positive collectivist and power distance attributes while utilizing modern learning

technologies. Examples from Japan and South Korea demonstrate how Palestinian Education can honor

cultural heritage yet develop critical thinking skills. Suggestions include establishing ethics for online learning,

integrating global education trends without compromising Palestinian identity, and focusing on cooperative

facets of collectivism. Palestinian Education can thrive despite ongoing political challenges with proper

community and policy support.

KEYWORDS: Palestinian culture, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Educational practices, Teacher-student

dynamics; Educational reform; Modern learning technologies; Power distance.

Practices through Hofstede’s Lens

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An Analysis of the Palestinian Culture Using Hofstede’s Cultural Framework and its’ Implication on Teachers’ Classroom Practices and Student’s Cultural Identity

MTPD Culture — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 16:50:39 +0000

Using Hofstede’s cultural framework, this paper analyses some fundamental cultural values found in the knowledge base of the Palestinian societal culture. It also reflects on the influence of the values on teachers’ classroom practices and on the effect of these practices on students’ cultural identity in this context from a cultural perspective.

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Cultural Diversity and Mental Health: Considerations for Policy and Practice

MTPD Culture — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:19:19 +0000

The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the key considerations that lie at the intersection of cultural diversity and mental health. Mental health providers and professionals across the world have to work with clients that are often from cultures other than their own. The differences in cultures have a range of implications for mental health practice, ranging from the ways that people view health and illness, to treatment seeking patterns, the nature of the therapeutic relationship and issues of racism and discrimination. This paper will excavate some of these considerations with a view to raising possible ways in which mental health systems and professionals can engage across cultures more equitably and sustainably.

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Culture and Psychiatry

MTPD Culture — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:15:24 +0000

The word culture refers to the unique behavior
patterns and lifestyle shared by a group of people
that distinguish it from other groups. A culture is
characterized by a set of views, beliefs, values, and
attitudes. Culture is manifested in the core of
behavior and the various ways in which life is regulated, such as rituals, customs, etiquette, taboos,
and laws. It is reflected in such things as common
sayings, legends, drama, art, philosophical thought,
and religions. Culture shapes people’s behavior, but
at the same time it is molded by the ideas and
behavior of the members of the culture. Thus, culture and people influence each other reciprocally
and interactionally. Culture is generally recognized
in social or institutional patterns, and it affects specific behaviors and reactions of the individual. The
individual may be aware of these influences or the
influences may be operating at a subconscious level
(Tseng 2001, p. 26).

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