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What are the Worldprism 9 cultural dimensions?

Worldprism is a model of culture, which helps us identify the cultural traits, tendencies and values of an individual or group. It can also be used to map national culture. It’s a model primarily used to take abstract cultural concepts and look at them from a practical perspective. 

The nine dimensions are grouped into three areas: 

Relating – how we interact with each other 

Regulating – how we interact with processes 

Reasoning – how we interact with problems 

Relating 

1. Task vs. Relationship 


  • Definition: Some individuals prioritize completing objectives efficiently and trust based on competence first (task-focused), while others emphasize building trust and rapport first. (relationship-focused). 
  • Example: A project manager who values deadlines and deliverables may push for quick decisions, whereas a colleague who prioritizes relationships may invest time in understanding their team better before committing to a plan. 

 

2. Explicit vs. Implicit Communication 
  • Definition: Some people communicate directly and clearly, with little subtext (explicit), while others rely on context, tone, and non-verbal cues expecting you to read the un-said messages (implicit). 
  • Example: In a team meeting, one person may say, "This plan won't work because of budget constraints," while another may hint at the issue by saying, "Maybe we should revisit our resources before finalizing." 

 

3. Individual vs. Group Identity 

  • Definition: Some people focus on personal achievement and independence (individual), while others prioritize group cohesion and shared success (group). 
  • Example: A software developer who prefers individual recognition may be motivated by having distinct projects that fit into the wider project with their own targets and rewards;, while another prefers to collaborate with the team towards the team target. 

 

Regulating 

4. Risk-Taking vs. Risk-Avoiding Behavior 

  • Definition: Some individuals embrace uncertainty and rapid change. They look to the future gains (risk-taking), while others prefer stability and well-defined processes, drawing comfort from present successes (risk-avoiding). 
  • Example: An entrepreneur launching a new product quickly despite limited market data is risk-taking, while an operations manager insisting on extensive testing before release is risk-avoiding. 

 

5. Tight vs. Loose Orientation to Time

 
  • Definition: Some people adhere strictly to schedules and deadlines (tight), while others view time as adaptable based on circumstances (loose). 
  • Example: A team leader who draws up a day-by-day schedule detailing every task and process is in contrast to their colleague who builds in plenty of time for the unexpected and who can adjust at short notice. 

6. Shared vs. Concentrated Orientation to Power 

  • Definition: Some groups prefer decentralized decision-making where authority is distributed (shared), while others follow a hierarchical structure where leadership is centralized (concentrated). 
  • Example: A startup where employees openly challenge leadership decisions operates with a shared orientation, whereas a corporation where final decisions rest with senior executives follows a concentrated model. 

 

Reasoning (Problem-Solving & Decision-Making) 


7. Linear vs. Circular Approach to Problem-Solving 

  • Definition: Some people solve problems step by step in a logical sequence (linear), while others consider the broader context and interdependencies (circular). 
  • Example: A consultant analyzing a business issue by breaking it into components and tackling them sequentially contrasts with a strategist who first examines the system as a whole before making adjustments. 

 

8. Facts vs. Thinking Focus 

  • Definition: Some individuals base decisions on concrete data and evidence (facts), while others emphasize underlying principles and abstract reasoning (thinking). 
  • Example: A financial analyst insisting on numerical proof before making investments is fact-focused, whereas a product designer prioritizing conceptual vision over immediate metrics is thinking-focused. 

 

9. Simple vs. Complex Orientation to Explanation 

  • Definition: Some people prefer clear, straightforward explanations with minimal background detail (simple), while others expect in-depth reasoning and context (complex). 
  • Example: A colleague who requests a one-sentence summary of a proposal values simplicity, while another who asks for a full historical background before deciding prefers complexity.