Qual Quant (2014) 48:3327–3342 DOI 10.1007/s11135-013-9959-5 Specifying and assessing a formative measure for Hofstede’s cultural values: a Malaysian study Lei Mee Thien · Ramayah Thurasamy · Nordin Abd Razak Published online: 28 November 2013 © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013 Abstract The growing interest on Hofstede’s cultural values has dominated the area of management and organizational research. However, the extant literature with disappointing psychometric results have provoked a pressing need to re-examine its measurement model specification. To fill this gap, this study attempts to specify the epistemic nature of Hofst- ede’s cultural values and its underlying dimensions, and to assess a proposed second-order reflective–formative model for Hofstede’s cultural values at individual level in the school organizational context. The stratified sample consisted of 1,154 teachers selected from 30 Malaysian primary schools. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square analysis with SmartPLS 2.0 software program. Findings revealed the absence of multicollinearity with the convergent, nomological and discriminant validity were affirmed. This study has confirmed Hofstede’s cultural values as formative second-order hierarchical latent construct which are commonly operationalized by means of reflective dimensions would be better captured using a formative measure perspective by providing rigorous empirical evidence. Limitations and thoughts to stimulate future studies are discussed. L. M. Thien (B ) Research & Development, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 11700 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: crystalmee@yahoo.com R. Thurasamy Operations Management Section, School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: ramayah@usm.my URL: http://www.ramayah.com N. Abd Razak School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: norazak@usm.my 123