Internal Direction or External Influence

    This dimension concerns the belief system of how much control and influence an individual has over their immediate environment and consequently their own lives. In cultures that are predominately internally driven people believe that they have a high degree of influence on their immediate environment and are largely in control of their own lives. They therefore take responsibility for their own successes and failures and work hard to achieve their personal objectives. In externally directed cultures, people are much more skeptical about the level of their personal influence over the external environment. People in externally directed cultures tend to avoid conflict and they are used to operating within the boundaries of rules and regulations imposed by the management at all times. This could be because in external cultures people are happy for outside influences to direct the events in their lives as there is a deep belief that there is no other way.

Summary

Internal
In control of external events
Have large degree of influence over immediate environment
Personal responsibility for success or failure
English speaking countries
Europe

External
No control over external events
Very little influence over the environment
Work within boundaries set by superiors
Sees success & failure as results of external forces
Asia
Middle East