Introduction
Today’s world is quite diverse and involves many cultures and nations, each with its own values and beliefs. For example, Italy, while being one of the European countries, tends to have its own unique approaches. When dealing with the workforce in Italy, it is crucial to remember to embrace the local culture, priorities, and approaches, both in work and personal life.
Country Description
Religion
The first aspect that must be addressed is the prevalent religion in the country. Italy is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, with most of the population identifying as Catholic (Hien, 2021). What is noteworthy is that religion plays an integral role in the everyday life of the citizens, manifesting in traditions, values, and beliefs (Hien, 2021). Therefore, the majority of the population maintains their faith in various forms.
Kinship
Another crucial social element in the Italian population is family and social ties. In Italy, a family is defined by close bonds and the mutual support of every person in it. Put another way, Italians highly value their family members’ wants and opinions and have close relationships with them (Tomassini et al., 2020). Thus, networks of extended family members and close-knit family relationships are highly valued.
Recreation
Meanwhile, recreation in the country does not differ much from other nations. Italians appreciate free time and leisure activities (Cocozza et al., 2020). Reading books and doing sports are less prevalent among the general public, but watching TV and reading media outlets are among the most typical everyday pastimes for Italian households (Cocozza et al., 2020). Accordingly, the population prefers passive forms of pastime.
Attitudes Toward Time
However, there is a specific attitude toward time that is noticed among Italians. As was established, most Italians do not have much stress when dealing with time (Meredith et al., 2021). There is less rigorous emphasis on punctuality, and social interactions and connections frequently take priority over rigid timetables and deadlines (Meredith et al., 2021). As a result, Italians tend to have a more relaxed approach.
Attitudes Toward Change
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Italians are hesitant about change. In other words, the country’s population leans toward conservative perspectives, which determines their views and approaches (Meredith et al., 2021). Rural areas might have more conservative opinions and resistance, with urban regions being more flexible (Meredith et al., 2021). In this case, acceptance of change and modernization in the country varies.
Attitudes Toward Material Factors
Nowadays, Italian society can be characterized as one that praises craftsmanship and quality. In an attempt to capitalize on preconceptions of Italy as a pre-industrial civilization and promote the nation as a center of exceptional artisanal inventiveness, traditional connections with artistic expression were abandoned (Devine, 2022). Material possessions play an essential role in the life of the Italian community (Devine, 2022). Thus, aside from placing much emphasis on possessions, a focus on art is also made.
Attitudes Toward Individualism
The final point regarding Italian attitudes is the perception of individuality. It was mentioned before that the nation pays much attention to family ties and social bonds. However, Italians also appreciate their individual expression and freedom (Di Napoli et al., 2021). In this case, there is a balance between collective identity and individualism, where people are still encouraged to follow their aspirations.
Hofstede’s Comparison of Italy and the U.S.
Hofstede’s four dimensions help us understand Italy better, especially when comparing it to the U.S. For example, starting with the power distance, Italy has a relatively high power distance, indicating a hierarchical society, while the U.S. has a lower power distance, demanding more equality (Meredith et al., 2021). Regarding uncertainty avoidance, the U.S. has a lower uncertainty avoidance, showing a greater tolerance for ambiguity, and Italy has a reasonably high uncertainty avoidance, suggesting a preference for established standards (Meredith et al., 2021). Regarding masculinity, while Italy has a high score, the States have a lower one, demonstrating differences in perception of success and competition (Meredith et al., 2021). Finally, Italy has a lower individualism score than the States, meaning there are differences in acceptance of autonomy.
As a manager in a subsidiary in Italy, I know that the aforementioned values can affect the workforce in terms of priorities, with employees desiring to emphasize their personal lives and family. In such situations, it is crucial to recognize the importance of family ties and relationships and not put much pressure on the team. Moreover, the workforce can be affected by deadlines, with staff members failing to keep pace. Here, a manager must offer a certain level of flexibility and be patient regarding punctuality.
Conclusion
In summary, it is essential to remember to accept the regional customs, priorities, and ways of doing things when interacting with the Italian workforce, both in terms of business and personal life. Italy exhibits a system of hierarchies, as seen by its relatively high power distance. The country has a rather high level of uncertainty avoidance, indicating a desire for accepted norms. Lastly, the nation under consideration scores highly in masculinity but worse in individualism.
References
Cocozza, S., Sacco, P. L., Matarese, G., Maffulli, G. D., Maffulli, N., & Tramontano, D. (2020). Participation to leisure activities and well-being in a group of residents of Naples-Italy: The role of resilience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(6), 1-17. Web.
Devine, K. (2022). Selling Italy: Craft and Italianness in Italy at work: Her Renaissance in design today (1950–53). The Journal of Modern Craft, 15(3), 259-273. Web.
Hien, J. (2021). Culture and tax avoidance: The case of Italy. Critical Policy Studies, 15(2), 247-268. Web.
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Mantel, S. J. (2021). Project management: A managerial approach. Wiley.
Di Napoli, I., Guidi, E., Arcidiacono, C., Esposito, C., Marta, E., Novara, C.,… & Marzana, D. (2021). Italian community psychology in the COVID-19 pandemic: Shared feelings and thoughts in the storytelling of university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 571257. Web.
Tomassini, C., Zamberletti, J., Lallo, C., & Cavrini, G. (2020). Associations of family and social contact with health among Italian grandparents. Genus, 76(1), 1-22. Web.