49 
Hofstede's Culture Values Survey in Albania: How the 
Cultural Scores Have Shifted Over Time?  
Irma Gjana
*
 
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the changes that 
Albanian cultural dimensions’ scores have undergone over time. 
Hofstede’s Value Survey Module 2013 (VSM 2013) has been applied to 
examine the six dimensions of culture; power distance, individualism, 
masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation and 
indulgence. The survey data (N = 387) was collected in the two largest 
private hospitals in Albania. Globalization, technological 
developments, economical flourishing and crisis, war, and peace, 
influence the shifting of national cultural dimensions’ scores toward 
negative or positive values (Hofstede et al., 2010). In this study we aim 
to show the shifting of Albanian culture value scores in time and 
compare the results with the ones predicted by the researchers of the 
field. The results obtained show a negative shift on Albanian culture 
dimension score of power distance, individualism, long term 
orientation and indulgence, and a positive shift on masculinity and 
uncertainty avoidance values. Implications for researchers of the field 
are discussed in the paper. 
Keywords: Hofstede; Albania; private hospitals; culture dimensions; 
shifting of scores. 
Raziskava Hofstedejevih kulturnih vrednot v Albaniji: 
kako so se kulturni vzorci spreminjali s ča so m? 
Povzetek: Namen tega prispevka je osvetliti spremembe, ki so jih skozi čas 
doživeli rezultati albanskih kulturnih razsežnosti. Za proučitev šestih dimenzij 
kulture je bil uporabljen Hofstedejev modul za raziskovanje vrednosti 2013 
(VSM 2013); razdalja moči, individualizem, moškost, izogibanje negotovosti, 
dolgoročna usmerjenost in popuščanje. Podatki iz ankete (N=387) so bili 
zbrani v dveh največjih zasebnih bolnišnicah v Albaniji. Globalizacija, 
tehnološki razvoj, gospodarski razcvet in kriza, vojna in mir vplivajo na premik 
rezultatov nacionalnih kulturnih razsežnosti v smeri negativnih ali pozitivnih 
vrednosti (Hofstede et al., 2010). V tej raziskavi želimo prikazati časovno 
premikanje rezultatov vrednosti albanske kulture in primerjati rezultate s 
tistimi, ki jih napovedujejo raziskovalci na tem področju. Pridobljeni rezultati 
kažejo negativni premik na oceno dimenzije albanske kulture oddaljenosti 
moči, individualizma, dolgoročne orientacije in popuščanja ter pozitiven 
premik na vrednosti izogibanja moškosti in negotovosti. V prispevku so 
obravnavane posledice za raziskovalce na tem področju. 
1.01 Original scientific article = Izvirni znanstveni članek  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
PhD Student, Epoka University, Department of 
Business Administration, Rr. Tiranë-Rinas, Km. 12, 
1039, Tirane, Albania; igjana09@epoka.edu.al 
How to cite this paper = Kako citirati ta članek: 
Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey 
in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted 
over time? Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = 
Journal of Innovative Business and Management, 
12(1), 49-60. DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
© Copyrights are protected by = Avtorske pravice 
so zaščitene s: 
 Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 
4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) = Creative 
Commons priznanje avtorstva-nekomercialno 4.0 
mednarodna licenca (CC BY-NC 4.0) 
Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of 
Innovative Business and Management  
ISSN: 1855-6175 
 
 
 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
50 
Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
Ključne besede: Hofstede; Albanija; zasebne bolnišnice; kulturne razsežnosti. 
1.  Introduction 
It has been a long time since the study of national culture has attracted the attention of researchers 
(Hofstede et al., 2010; Schein, 2010; Nazarian & Atkinson 2013; Pfajfar et al., 2014; Dimitrov, 2014; Matijevič 
et al., 2015; Rahj et al., 2015). The study of cultural values in the managerial endeavors has gain importance 
over time since it is seen as the starting point of reference to understand changes and enable the adaptation 
of managerial systems to increase outcomes. This explains the importance that managerial study experts 
give to the understanding of the dimensions of culture, since they associate culture with the success or 
failure of businesses (Tkeshelashvili, 2009; Daft, 2010; Schein, 2010; Matijevič et al 2015; Bosson et al., 
2016). 
Under the influence of globalization, the interaction of cultures is very tangible (Sarkar and Huang, 2011; 
Peterlin et al., 2014; Bosson et al., 2016; Nguyen, 2016). It is already impossible to think of an interaction 
between countries and companies without being open to cultural differences and commonalities. Even in a 
more micro aspect, within one country, we expect a significant impact of technological developments, free 
movement of people and culture interactions in the reshaping of cultural values of individuals. 
Understanding the culture and its dimensions will help us understand the people’s attitudes, beliefs, and 
way of behavior. The understanding of the above items will help us develop new forms of communication 
and interaction in order to get the best results without causing unnecessary conflicts.  
Although the term of culture has had different forms of explanation, according to the field of study (Rugman 
and Collinson, 2012), not all researchers have agreed on simplification of this term into dimensions (Schein, 
2010). However, many quantitative studies have been conducted and have measured the dimensions of 
culture, as they have defined them. Some of these studies are the Hofstede’s framework in 1980’s and 2001, 
GLOBE in the 1990’s, Trompenaars in 1993, and World Values Survey in 1990 and 1997 (Beugelsdijk et al., 
2013). 
The authors of this research paper have preferred to use as a measurement tool the framework developed 
by Hofstede. Despite the limitations and criticism that Hofstede cultural framework has received (Smith, 
2006; Venaik and Brewer, 2010; Dimitrov, 2014), mentioning that the study was conducted quasi 40 years 
ago and national cultures has changed since then (Hofstede et al., 2010, Beugelsdijk et al., 2013), fact that 
we are going to question following this study. The simplicity of the application of dimensions, the possibility 
to easily access to a large data set are some of the reasons why the Hoftede 6-dimension cultural method 
is used largely by researchers (Kirkman et al., 2006; Dimitrov, 2014). We must specify that Hofstede’s work 
includes research on Albanian national culture as well. The above submitted facts are some of the reasons 
for choosing Hofstede’s 6-Dimension cultural model as the research method for the development of this 
research.  
In order to collect the data and to examine empirically the Albanian cultural dimension’s scores, we have 
chosen to use the Hofstede’s Values Survey Module 2013. By means of VSM 2013 we measure the following 
six cultural dimensions: 1) Power Distance (PDI), 2) Individualism (IDV), 3) Masculinity (MAS), 4) Uncertainty 
Avoidance (UAI), 5) Long Term Orientation (LTO) and 6) Indulgence versus Restrained (IVR). The VSM 2013 
has been delivered in person to a large number of two biggest private hospitals in Albania, American Hospital 
and International Hospital Hygeia, and results of scores of each dimension are discussed as implications 
for researchers of the field.  

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
The contribution of this study includes the added value to the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions framework, to 
the missing studies on this field in the region and especially in Albania, and finally by presenting the data 
collected in Albania, we shed light and respond to the assumptions that cultural value scores change 
through time according to the movement shift foreseen from the researchers (Hofstede et al 2010; 
Beugelsdijk et al., 2013).  
In this study we are not going to compare the findings with another country, we only aim to show the shift 
of values in time explained by the data collected in the research and discuss the possible impact factors on 
this score shift. 
The paper is organized in five parts. The introduction is followed by the theory and background section, 
where a review of examined topic literature will be presented; the method used will be presented as the third 
section of the paper, followed by the forth section composed by research results. The final part of this 
research paper will be dedicated to the conclusions and implications of the research. 
2.  Theory and Background 
The definition of culture has been presented in many diverse forms. According to Rugman and Collinson 
(2012) definitions of culture change in accordance of the difference of the field of study elaborating this 
variable. Scholars believe that culture is the breadth of common values, beliefs, rules, and expectations that 
characterize groups of people and through which norms of behaviour and roles are produced (Schein, 2010; 
Nazarian and Atkinson, 2013; Pfajfar et al., 2014; Dimitrov, 2014; Matijevič et al., 2015).  
Robbins and Judge (2013) states that the new era manager’s job has changed due to the change of world 
into a global village. They strongly believe that managers need to understand the culture, geography and 
religion that shape the people they work with (Tian and Borges, 2011; Nazarian and Atkinson, 2013; Pires et 
al., 2015; Pfajfar et al., 2016). The workforce diversity apprehension is needed, for an effective workout.  If 
culture and its hidden impacting force within individuals are understood, then problematic behaviours and 
situations within an organization can easily be solved. Understanding the differences helps to find new ways 
of adaptation for optimal solutions (Schein, 2010).  
The cultural patterns show differences in accordance with the social environment they were learned or 
developed. If we perceive our minds as giant software as Hofstede et al (2010) originally did, then culture 
differences are changes in ‘the collective programming of the mind’ of different individuals, groups, and 
societies. The data collection that everyone has in its software show close relation and it is shaped 
according to the environment someone grew up. Family, school, and organizations are some of the 
environments where the process of this ‘collective programming of mind’ is realized (Hofstede et al 2010). 
The researchers have presented the culture as a structure in layers, where the outer layers are influential 
and changeable, while the nucleus is more resistant to change and it is precisely the measurements made 
at this point that give us the right data about a country’s cultural dimension value scores (Schein, 2010; 
Hofstede et al., 2010; Minkov and Hofstede, 2012). 
Different cultural studies have been developed through time, elaborating, and measuring the dimensions of 
culture according to methods and data collected over a wide period and in a very large number of 
populations.  
Hofstede started the elaboration of his model of cultural dimensions in 1967-1969 while he was enabled to 
study on a wide-ranging amount of survey data of the people working in the local subordinate companies of 
a large multinational corporation: International Business Machines (IBM) (Hofstede et al., 2010; Matijevič 

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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
et al., 2015;  Nguyen, 2016). The first model was composed only from four dimensions and only after the 
addition of two more dimensions, one in 1991 and the other in 2007 (Hofstede et al., 2010), arrived in its full 
form, that of six dimensional cultural model (Minkov and Hofstede, 2012). The completed cultural value 
structure consists of six cultural dimensions: Power Distance (PDI), Individualism (IDV), Masculinity (MAS), 
Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), Long Term Orientation (LTO) and Indulgence versus Restrained (IVR). 
Each of these dimensions is measurable according to the specifications they have and are used in the 
comparison of different cultures.  
In every country there exist inequalities. Some people have more power than other people do, some are 
wealthier, some are stronger, and some are more educated than others, and so on. The difference between 
countries and societies stands in the way these inequalities are handled. This attitude of the less powerful 
members of society in expecting and accepting the distribution of inequalities is named Power Distance 
(PDI). We must emphasize that power distance is one of the most attractive cultural dimensions studied 
from the researchers (Dimitrov, 2014). The understanding of power distance helps us understand leader’s 
potential way of acting and follower’s expectation. 
Individualism (IDV) shows the loose ties of the interpersonal ways of communication and interaction of 
societies. In such societies the individual and the individual interest dominate over the groups and group’s 
interests. 
Masculinity (MAS) demonstrates the way countries deal with gender roles. A masculine society is explained 
as societies unfolding masculine cultural values, that shelter and transcends strength, aggressiveness, 
closed to what is different and new, focused on material gains and ego-enhancing environments. A society 
caring feminine cultural dimension is a caring, modest, integrative, focused on quality of the life, where 
effacement of ego prevails. (Hofstede et al., 2010) 
Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) shows the magnitude of confrontation with the unknown and risk-taking 
decisions in a society (Hofstede et al., 2010; Bosson et al., 2016). In uncertainty avoiding countries, just as 
the name suggests, what is uncertain and different is not welcomed, must be avoided, and sometimes must 
be fought. 
Long Term Orientation (LTO) as mentioned in the explanation of the development of 6-dimensional model 
of national culture, is a dimension added later to the first four-dimensional model constructed by Hofstede. 
It is a dimension developed by Michael Bond as a result of the analysis of the Chinese Value Survey (Hoftede 
et al., 2010). The focusing on future results rather than actual outcomes is what long-term orientation 
cultural dimension measures.  In a more concise way, long term orientation shows the prevalence of desire 
of future result over immediate outcomes in individuals (Bosson et al., 2016). 
Indulgence versus Restrained (IVR) is the most recent dimension joining the cultural model developed by 
Hofstede. It is a dimension developed by Michael Minkov derived from World Values Survey. According to 
the dictionary meaning indulgence is the permission you give to yourself to experience something enjoyable. 
The main key items related with indulgence are the subjective feeling of happiness, importance of free time 
and life control perception (Hofstede et al., 2010). 
Globalization, technological developments, economical flourishing and crisis, war, and peace, influence the 
shifting of national cultural dimensions’ scores toward negative or positive values (Hofstede et al., 2010). 
Despite the shifts in the cultural values scores, the stability of national cultural values between countries, 
in respect to one another, is evident and explained by researchers from the prism of culturalism (Beugelsdijk 
et al., 2013). 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
According to the research studies dealing with the cultural dimensions mentioned above, the values of 
societies are rooted in time. Despite the ongoing changes worldwide, these values rarely change. Even if 
they show changes, the differences between the scores of the countries remains the same showing a clear 
stability of scores through time. The future of these dimension shows an increasing tendency into low power 
distance, individualism, ,and indulgence worldwide. No or very small change are perceived about masculinity 
and long term-orientation. While uncertainty avoidance cultural dimension shows a wave like movement, 
increasing and decreasing through time in accordance with other factors such as war and peace, economic 
crises, and stability. Despite the minor changes in the scoring of these dimensions the position of countries 
according to one another remains the same, showing that cultural values are transferred from parents to 
children and from one generation to another (Hofstede et al., 2010; Beugelsdijk et al., 2015). 
The hypothesis deriving from the theoretical background leads us to the following hypothesis: 
Hypothesis 1: Albanian National culture has changed over time according to researchers’ foreseen results, 
showing a cultural value score shift toward lower power distance, higher individualism and indulgence and 
no to small change in masculinity, long-term orientation and uncertainty avoidance. 
Hypothesis 2: The difference of institutions does not make any change in the perception of the six 
dimensions of culture, as they shelter the same national culture. 
3.   Method 
In this research we have used as a measurement tool the Value Survey Module 2013 developed by Hofstede. 
VSM 2013 is a module composed from 24 questions that allows measuring the six cultural dimensions (to 
each dimension corresponds 4 questions), power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty 
avoidance, long term orientation and indulgence versus restrained.  
The survey was carried out between June and August 2019 on a representative sample of 387 participants 
from the two largest private hospitals in Albania, American Hospital, and International Hospital Hygeia. 
Structured, paper based, Likert scale questionnaires are our measuring instruments, whereby we aim to 
reach important conclusions in cultural dimension field of study. The distribution and the collection of these 
questionnaires were done manually. 
400 paper-based questionnaires were delivered to the staff of the two private Hospitals. 387 questionnaires 
were collected back with a very good response percentage of 96.75. The participants in this study were part 
of medical staff, medical middle, and administrative staff of the hospitals. The numbers of respondents 
correspond to the 20% of the actual number of employees by each category within these private hospitals.  
The questionnaire was constructed in two parts, the demographic part, and the cultural dimensions part. 
The demographic specifics related to our research topic, are shown in the following tables. 
Table 1: Frequency table of participants according their workplace 
 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent 
Valid 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 30.7 30.7 30.7 
American Hospital 268 69.3 69.3 100.0 
Total 387 100.0 100.0  

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
We must take in consideration that American Hospital is the biggest private hospital in Albania with 370 
beds, while International Hospital Hygeia is the second biggest private hospital with 220 beds. Given this 
fact the number of participants from these institutions corresponds to their respective size.  
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, test statistics of significance, tests of normality 
Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Mann Whitney U test and Kruscal-Wallis test.  
4.  Research Results 
Based on the results collected from the questionnaires and following the instructions on how to calculate 
the 6 Dimension indexes that Hofstede has given, we present the descriptive analysis of each dimension.  
Findings according to Geert Hofstede’s research results show that Albanian National Culture 6 Dimension 
Score Indexes are as listed below: 
1. Power Distance Index score – 90 / 100 (High level in Power Distance Index) 
2. Individualism Index score– 20/100 (Low in Individualism Index) 
3. Masculinity Index score – 80/100 (High Level in Masculinity) 
4. Uncertainty Avoidance Index score – 70/100 (High Level in Uncertainty Avoidance) 
5. Long-Term Orientation Index score – 61/100 (High Level in Long term Orientation) 
6. Indulgence versus Restrained Index score – 15/100 (Low Level in Indulgence, showing a Restrained 
society). 
 
When we consider the findings of Hofstede about national culture features, we should take in account the 
difference in time and size of the sample of the population when given the questionnaire. However, a 
comparative axis can still be built when we consider the range of the data for every dimension of these 
national values. 
The author of 6-dimension matrix of national values has shown us the path how to reach the result about 
each dimension by using the following calculation formulas for each dimension. 
PDI = 35(m07 – m02) + 25(m20 – m23) + C (pd)  
IDV = 35(m04 – m01) + 35(m09 – m06) + C(ic)  
MAS = 35(m05 – m03) + 35(m08 – m10) + C (mf) 
UAI = 40(m18 - m15) + 25(m21 – m24) + C (ua) 
LTO = 40(m13 – m14) + 25(m19 – m22) + C (ls) 
IVR = 35(m12 – m11) + 40(m17 – m16) + C (ir)  
In the above formulas given from Hofstede to calculate the indexes for each cultural dimension, m is the 
mean score value, each number following the score values are the questions corresponding that measures 
the perceived dimension index and C is a constant value, the nature of which depends on the nature of the 
sample and can be chosen to shift scores from 0 to 100 when needed (Retrieved from 
www.geerthoftede.eu). 
After explaining the formulas used to calculate the dimensions’ indexes, we calculated the indexes as shown 
in the following Table 2. 
Table 2: Descriptive Statistics 
 N Range Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation 
Power Distance Index (PDI) 387 360.00 -205.00 155.00 -20.8915 69.60133 
Individualism Index (IDV) 387 420.00 -210.00 210.00 -17.4548 87.68567 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
 N Range Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation 
Masculinity Index (MAS) 387 420.00 -210.00 210.00 17.1835 88.90715 
Uncertainty Avoidance Index 
(UAI) 
387 390.00 -195.00 195.00 25.0129 60.82816 
Long Term Orientation Index 
(LTO) 
387 390.00 -220.00 170.00 -7.7907 74.06212 
Indulgence versus Restraint 
Index (IVR) 
387 410.00 -265.00 145.00 -35.8140 68.93845 
Valid N (listwise) 387      
 
The above table shows the results of the national culture 6-dimension matrix of the data we have collected. 
Negative and positive mean score values are perceived. 
In this study we are not going to compare the findings with another country, we only aim to show the 
movement of values in time explained by the data collected in the research. 
We test for normality (Table 3): 
Table 3: Tests of Normality 
 Kolmogorov-Smirnov
a
 Shapiro-Wilk 
Statistic df Sig. Statistic df Sig. 
Power Distance Index (PDI) .115 387 .000 .983 387 .000 
Individualism Index (IDV) .186 387 .000 .932 387 .000 
Masculinity Index (MAS) .220 387 .000 .930 387 .000 
Uncertainty Avoidance Index 
(UAI) 
.058 387 .004 .993 387 .083 
Long Term Orientation Index 
(LTO) 
.117 387 .000 .978 387 .000 
Indulgence versus Restraint 
Index (IVR) 
.100 387 .000 .983 387 .000 
a. Lilliefors Significance Correction 
 
As we may see from the KS test and ShapiroWilk test (sig<0.05), 5 dimensions have nonlinear distribution 
and only uncertainty avoidance index has a linear one showing a unanimous perception on the value.  
The nonlinear distribution (Table 3) should push the researchers to look in more detailed way the cause of 
such fluctuations of responses. 
As Hofstede advises, to make it easier to comprehend and compare the values we can add a constant value 
to the mean values in order to have maximum value from 0 to 100 for every dimension. But generally, this 
is a step to take when two or more national cultures are compared between them. In our case we are trying 
to see only the Albania’s performance and its position according to the values expressed by the Hofstede 
survey study. The mean values that we have obtained from the delivered questionnaires show a shift of the 
values toward more negative or positive ones. This is a well expected situation as Hofstede et al., 2010 and 
Beugelsdijk et al., 2013 have explained with their research works that through time and with the economic 
development of the countries the cultural dimensions country scores will be affected, but still they will stay 
in the same position in relation to each other as all the countries’ value shift together. 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
 
Graf 1: Cultural Dimension score. Adapted from Hofstede National Culture Survey and Beugelsdijk et al., 2013 
Taking into consideration the original work of Hofstede (Retrieved on March 2019) and adding the 
replication of the findings developed by Beugelsdijk et al., 2013 (Graf 1), we are going to give answer to our 
hypothesis. 
 In our research sample measurements as shown in Table 2, the negative mean values of Power Distance 
Index equal to -18.84 shows an increase in the perception of power distance dimension. This result is 
different from the researchers’ expectations and prediction, opposing the hypothesis submitted. While 
researchers have derived values that indicate a decrease in value over time of the PDI, in our sample we 
perceive a tendency it shows a 110.89 score. This means that the perception of expecting and accepting of 
inequalities within people of Albania has increased. This result shows that the Albanian environment is 
dominated by autocratic bosses, where individuals tend to hesitate to express their opinions and express 
their selves freely. 
The Individualism Index with a mean equal to -17.76 shows the increase on individualism index 
demonstrating an increase in individualism of the society. The Individualism Index (IDV) mean measured in 
our research show a 37, 45 scores toward individualism. Though still a value that indicates small 
individualism index it shows an increasing tendency toward it. This is perceived also in the everyday life of 
Albanians, where interrelations have become looser than before. Individualism versus Restrained results 
confirms the hypothesis we have submitted. 
The positive mean value result of 15.67 shows that Albania shows a tendency toward femininity. The 
masculinity index measured in our sample shows a total score of 62.55, which positions the country still in 
the masculine side of the scale but with tendency to femininity, a tendency also foreseen from Hofstede et 
al., 2010. This kind of change shows that there is an increasing preference of soft, positive values promoting 
agreements rather than conflicts. 
Another situation is perceived about the Uncertainty Avoidance (UA). The positive mean value equal to 25.41 
brings a decrease of total score of uncertainty Avoidance to 44.99 scores. This shows that people have a 
greater willingness to take risk than before. About this value Hofstede claims that the direction of its shifting 
changes in accordance to up and downs of life, politics, economy etc., so our results comply with the 
foreseen ones and verify the upraised hypothesis. 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
The negativity of the mean equal to -7.72 in Long Term Orientation Index values also shows an increase in 
this dimension. This means that the country has shifted toward Long Term Orientation with a score of 68.79 
scores. This means that Albanians show the tendency to focus more on future results rather than actual 
outcomes. The increase of long-term orientation but with a small value to some extent verifies the 
hypothesis we submitted. Of course, we have to say that researchers predicted a slight to no change for this 
dimension. 
Indulgence versus Restrained Index shows the greatest negative mean value equal to -38.06. We see a 
negative value for Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR) which means that the country (sample) has 
shifted toward Indulgence by 50.81 scores. People have started to enjoy more themselves and do things 
that make them happy. Supporting the hypothesis submitted and the trend foreseen by the researchers of 
the field, the negative value shows an increase in indulgence within the nation. This is a clear indicator that 
Albanian people show an increasing tendency to value more free time and issues that make them happy 
rather than only work. 
In this part we are supposing that the environment plays a role in the national values. With the data collected 
from the questionnaires we are going to measure such a hypotheses: 
H0:  µ AH= µ IHH           where µ represents the vector of 6 variables of national values  
H1:  µ AH≠ µ IHH 
Table 4: Group Statistics 
 Institution where you work N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean 
 
Power Distance Index (PDI) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 -25.50 64.851 5.945 
American Hospital 268 -18.84 71.631 4.376 
Individualism Index (IDV) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 -16.76 99.815 9.150 
American Hospital 268 -17.76 81.928 5.005 
Masculinity Index (MAS) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 20.59 86.505 7.930 
American Hospital 268 15.67 90.071 5.502 
Uncertainty Avoidance Index 
(UAI) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 24.12 66.558 6.101 
American Hospital 268 25.41 58.231 3.557 
Long Term Orientation Index 
(LTO) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 -7.94 74.650 6.843 
American Hospital 268 -7.72 73.940 4.517 
Indulgence versus Restraint 
Index (IVR) 
International Hospital Hygeia 119 -30.76 70.784 6.489 
American Hospital 268 -38.06 68.116 4.161 
 
From the Table 4 we can see differences in these variables so we need to test if these differences are 
occasional or statistically significant. For example IHH has a bigger negative Power Distance Index 
comparing with American Hospital, and also higher Masculinity Index (20.59 vs. 15.67).  
As in the question we posed we are trying to test of these differences showed from the sample are just 
random, or they are significant at a 95% level of confidence. 
Since the variables have not a normal distribution after tested for normality we apply nonparametric tests 
for two independent group samples, such as Mann Whitney U test. 
  

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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
Table 5: Hypothesis test Summary 
 
From the hypothesis test summary we have got the test statistics of significance (Table 6), and according 
to the general rule we retain as true the null hypothesis if probability (sig) >0.05 (allowed error) and reject 
the null hypothesis if sig<0.05. 
Taking in account this rule we retain null hypothesis for every dimension of national values by stating that 
at a 95% confidence interval, we admit that there are no statistically significant differences in the national 
values displayed from the employees of the two organizations. 
5. Conclusion and implications 
The results of our research show that Albanian National culture has changed over time in most of the cases 
according to researchers’ foreseen results. Negative and positive shift movements have been perceived in 
the values of cultural values, influenced by various factors in time.  The Albanian cultural value score, 
obtained from our research work, show a shift toward higher power distance, higher individualism, higher 
indulgence, and a small higher change in long-term orientation. On the other hand, the cultural value score 
shows a decrease in masculinity and uncertainty avoidance dimensions’ score. 
Also, the results show that there exists no significant difference in the perception on the cultural dimensions 
between the two institutions where the research has been developed. 
These results show that Albania embraces of world trends in cultural value shift, and on the other hand 
proves in the most cases, other that of power distance, that these changes match the expectations of field 
researchers (Hofstede et al., 2012; Beugeldijk, 2013). 
The statistical analyses have shown that 5 dimensions of culture have nonlinear distribution (power 
distance, individualism, masculinity, long term orientation and indulgence) and only uncertainty avoidance 

Gjana, I. (2020). Hofstede’s culture values survey in Albania: How the cultural scores have shifted over time? 
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Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management 12(1), 49-60, DOI: 10.32015/JIBM/2020-12-1-7 
index has a linear distribution. These results imply further research regarding the differences of responses 
and the cause of it in details.   
Regarding the results, several implications can be drawn from them. High PDI results measured in the 
private hospitals, much higher than the ones predicted from previous research, show an increase on the 
perceiving of inequalities. This perception in the healthcare sector in Albania might be the cause of many 
migrations of medical staff and medical secondary staff in the past years. This problem implies careful 
reforms that reduce the inequalities in healthcare sector including the gap on salaries. The still low but 
increased levels of IVD shows that the individual interest has started to prevail that of masses. Knowing 
that, institutions can invest more in trainings and programs that highlight the individuality of everyone, at 
the best benefit of companies. The MAS index of Albania remains still high, showing that the cultural values 
of the county nurture aggression and conflict in behaviour. However, the values are softening toward 
femininity pole. The UAI is one of the few research results that have taken clear steps toward the opposite 
pole, taking Albania from a country that is afraid to take risk, to a country that necessarily, as the free market 
economy expects, is ready to take more risks. People are nowadays more ready for facing the situation of 
changing jobs, or positions and the county have much higher entrepreneurship than before. LTO show a very 
small movement toward more long term oriented, making Albanians still people who save and think long 
about the future. Finally, the IVR increasing score values show clearly that it is no more sinful to think about 
being happy and enjoying what you like.  
Our research has its limitations as well. The research has been conducted in the biggest private hospitals in 
Albania. Taking into consideration the uniformity of status and educational level of the sample used, 
differences between scores of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, where a more general population has been 
used, and ours is very expected. In future research, for clearer and comprehensive results, the number and 
type of participant can be multiplied. 
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