Informing Science Journal Volume 7, 2004 The original version of this paper was published as one of the 24 “best” papers in the proceedings of the 2003 Informing Science and IT Education Conference in Pori, Finland http://2003.insite.nu The Reflexivity between ICTs and Business Culture: Applying Hofstede’s Theory to Compare Norway and the United States Jan-Oddvar Sørnes Bodø Graduate School of Business Bodø, Norway Keri Keilberg Stephens The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA Jan.Oddvar.Soernes@hibo.no keriste@mail.utexas.edu Alf Steinar Sætre Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway Larry Davis Browning The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA alfs@iot.ntnu.no lbrowning@mail.utexas.edu Abstract This study compares how workers in Norway and the United States use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Our data—72 in-depth interviews of advanced ICT users – were coded, analyzed, and placed into Hofstede’s four dimensional framework (power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, and masculinity). We proposed that ICT use comparisons between the two countries are congruent to Hofstede’s findings. We find partial support for these propositions. As expected, Norway and the US are similar on two dimensions (power distance and uncertainty avoidance), but contrary to expectations, they are also similar on the two dimensions where we expected differences (individualism and masculinity). We suggest possible explanations for these findings, including our focus on an expert-user subculture, external triggering events, and technical codes inscribed in Internet applications and software. Keywords: Culture, Information and Communication Technologies, Hofstede, Cross-Cultural Studies, National Culture, Organizational Culture, Organizational Communication Introduction Modern technology is changing how much of the world now communicates, collects, stores, and distributes information. That transformation is being driven by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which allow new ways of working in both the physical and the virtual world (Avolio, Kahai & Dodge, 2001; Mansell & Silverstone, 1997). The increasingly global nature of organizational relationships, fueled by the worldwide reach of these technologies, now enables exchanges across national borders (Drucker, Material published as part of this journal, either online or in print, is copyrighted by the publisher of Informing Science. Permission to make digital or paper copy of part or all of these works for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage AND that copies 1) bear this notice in full and 2) give the full citation on the first page. It is permissible to abstract these works so long as credit is given. To copy in all other cases or to republish or to post on a server or to redistribute to lists requires specific permission and payment of a fee. Contact Editor@inform.nu to request redistribution permission.