What comes to your mind when I mention Colombia and when I mention Portugal?

Being honest, 

You could have thought about things like cocaine, Pablo Escobar, a happy place, beautiful women, prostitutes or other thing when I say Colombia. 

And  things like football, unpunctual and lazy people or other thing when I say Portugal.

You might be a little bit fussed about the last two questions but it has a purpose, Although Colombia and Portugal looks different in the beginning, their cultures have a lot of things in common, don’t you believe me? Ok I’m going to show you. 

Have you ever thought that both countries might have a similar sense of national identity and pride?

According to the Hofstede model they both have low scores in the long-term orientation that means they are short oriented and what does it mean?  

That means they are normative countries thus they are more traditionalist, concept strongly related patriotism, and more focused on the immediate and not in the future.

In Portugal the short-term oriented is evident as in the social as in the business culture. They look for quickly results, and this can be seen in their educational system where they are focused more in the academic achievement than in the planning of future careers.

Besides that, other example is the preference for the traditional social hierarchy where who have money is the king and the other people are the servants

In the business culture, it falls in the time management with punctuality is not a priority, therefore it’s not rare that in Portugal the meets start late and the deadlines may be extend

In the other side in Colombia things are similar because of the predominant disregard of the laws depending on the situation. Colombia falls in the pursuit of academic achievement rather the planning of the future and it is known there is a plan for the vocational guidance but this comes only on the last year of secondary education, at least in the public school. Additionally, the lack of opportunities is another factor to consider, because we are talking about a 13,7% of workforce without a job (DANE, 2023)

Did you know people as in Colombia as in Portugal prefers don’t accept the uncertainty?

They both scores highly, but Portugal scores highest than Colombia in this dimension with a 99. That means that both societies feel uncomfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty and risk. From there the resistance to the changes in all the aspects, technology, politics, business etc. 

This means in both countries there is a marked preference for the guidelines, the rules, the procedures to do everything. In the case of Colombia this something more related with the bureaucracy.

In the same order of ideas, in the two countries losing your job is seen as a big tragedy and thus it is avoided whatever it takes.

Finally, have you ever heard about the Colombia or Portugal is not individualism?

Colombia and Portugal are two collectivism countries according to the Hofstede model, because of their low scores in the dimension of individualism. But what does it mean? 

That means that in both culture is more important the wellness of the group than the wellness of each individual as a isolated piece, these words can’t be misunderstand they only pursuit the wellness of their group, that is their directed family, friends and every person that they considered as part of their group; all this, looking for exchange of loyalty.

Both countries have strong family values thus Family members are expected to support each other emotionally and financially, and decisions are often made with the best interests of the family in mind.

Both countries give importance to the consensus with the group, a lot of times only to conserve the harmony of the group regardless there is a real consensus.

Portuguese people have the tendency of making a strongly network for the circumstances where they need their help. In Colombia, for other side, that group is larger and acquires a funny name: “la rosca” and it is strongly related to corruption and other dark things.

In conclusion, we can see that while one country may be considered richer and more developed than the other, both cultures meet them in certain points or dimensions as they are the short-term orientation; with their national identity and pride, their tendency to avoid the uncertainty and their collectivism.

These key values, precisely are so important to understand the point of view from each country and like that get in its worldview for a second.

References

OECD. (2016). Review of school resources: Portugal (Combined summary). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/education/school-resources-review/CombinedSummaryPortugal.pdf

Portugal, un país asimétrico con grandes desigualdades. (2022, July 25). La Vanguardia. https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220725/8430227/portugal-pais-asimetrico-grandes-desigualdades.html

Trading Economics. (2022). European Union Productivity. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/productivity#:~:text=Productivity%20in%20European%20Union%20averaged,the%20first%20quarter%20of%201995.

Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE). (2023). Empleo y desempleo. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.dane.gov.co/index.php/estadisticas-por-tema/mercado-laboral/empleo-y-desempleo#:~:text=Para%20el%20mes%20de%20enero,fue%20de%2062%2C6%25.

SBS. (n.d.). Portuguese culture. Cultural Atlas. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/portuguese-culture/portuguese-culture-core-concepts#interactions-and-outlook