Socially responsible behavior of SMEs in Russia: cross-cultural coordinates of G. Hofstede

Abstract

In the course of researching the responsible behavior of companies, it is essential to consider the institutional environment, which is largely influenced by the national culture. This paper is an attempt to explore the responsible behavior and activities of Russian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while paying thorough attention to the specific features of the national culture. The authors used the concept of G. Hofstede as a useful basis to empirically measure responsible behavior. Empirical indicators and measurement scales are proposed to connect the responsible behavior of SMEs in Russia with the five dimensions of culture offered by G. Hofstede. The responsible behavior of Russian SMEs was analyzed based on 61 interviews of owners and managers of Russian SMEs conducted in 2015 and 2017. It was concluded that features of SMEs’ responsible behavior almost completely meet the profile of Russian national culture as defined by G. Hofstede's cross-cultural dimensions. Differences are identified in the dimensions of “power distance” and “femininity/masculinity”.