A comparative study of Turkish and Italian business cultures in the context of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory

Globalization has made it inevitable for businesses to operate in an international context, where economic and cultural boundaries are gradually disappearing. Today, businesses must not only possess financial and technical competencies but also develop an understanding of different cultural contexts and adapt accordingly. This necessity has rendered the role of culture in business management more critical than ever. Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory provides a significant framework for understanding the impact of different cultures on business management. This study, within the framework of Geert Hofstede's four primary cultural dimensions, compares the cultural similarities and differences between Turkish and Italian businesses. It investigates how employees within these business cultures respond to cross-cultural interactions and how organizations adapt their operations in different cultural contexts. Furthermore, it explores the impact of cultural differences on management styles, leadership approaches, and organizational structures, highlighting their influence on business processes. The analysis is conducted based on four key dimensions: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs. collectivism, and masculinity vs. femininity. A multiple case study design was adopted as the research method. The study population consists of 105 exporting companies registered with the Düzce Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among these, five Italian and five Turkish companies that met the selection criteria were included in the research. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis methods. The findings indicate that Turkish business culture is characterized by a high power distance, lower uncertainty avoidance, and a more feminine and collectivist structure. In contrast, Italian business culture exhibits a lower power distance compared to Turkish business culture, a similarly low level of uncertainty avoidance, and a more feminine and collectivist orientation. Keywords: Culture, Organizational Culture, Hofstede, Turkish Business Culture, Italian Business Culture,