The Relationship Between Power Distance Cultural Dimension and Organizational Assimilation of Filipino Online ESL Teachers
Rudell A Ramirez
Discipline: Cultural Studies
Abstract:
This study explored the relationship between power distance and
organizational assimilation among online English as a Second Language (ESL)
teachers. It determined the relationship of Hofstede’s power distance to Jablin’s
organizational assimilation. A total of 162 respondents working as office-based
online English teachers in Metro Manila participated in the study. Results
showed that the respondents had a moderate level of assimilation with a mean
score of 119.01. As to the power distance, the respondents had a high level of
power distance with a 59.05 mean score, which agrees with Hofstede et al.
(2010) that the Philippines is a high power distance society. Correlation test
results revealed that power distance and organizational assimilation have a weak
positive yet significant relationship with rho = 0.251 and a p-value = 0.002, which
means members have a possibility to assimilate easily if high power distance
is present in the organization. Correlational tests were also conducted to see
if there are significant relationships between sociodemographic variables and
power distance and organizational assimilation but no significant relationships
were found between the variables mentioned. Personal interviews were
conducted to deepen the analysis of the study. Different factors were determined
that influenced the assimilation in connection to power distance, and these are
personality, relationship, age, and family and affiliation. Influences of power
distance on assimilation were also determined. These are saturation point and
disengagement, compromise and retaliation, and being outspoken.
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