B- Scenario analysis (4 points) (Word limit: 50-70 words) of
stion
Richard, an Australian, is part of a team of lawyers based in Paris. Claude, 48, is the team's
PA. Claude works from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m., with an hour and a half for lunch. Richard is very
pleased with the quality of Claude's, work and her commitment to the team. Unfortunately
because of his extensive travel commitments abroad, he has never had the opportunity to
have lunch with her or spend any time with her and the team outside the work environment.
After a while, Richard asks to be addressed by his first name. Several months later, however,
Claude is still calling him 'Monsieur Lafleur' and addressing him with Voulez-vous bien..."
although Richard calls her 'Claude' and addresses her with Veux-tu.
Richard is puzzled and decides to talk to Claude about this matter in order to clarify the
situation. To his amazement, Claude replies that she prefers to call him by his surname and
refer to him with the formal vous.
How would you explain these differences in terms of Hofstede's cultural dimensions
and communication styles?