Specific or Diffuse

    This cultural dimension looks at how the people of particular cultures organize themselves around the work place. In specific cultures there is a clear and definite separation between the private and work lives of employees. In comparison people from diffuse cultures make much less distinction between their social lives and professional lives. This means that people from diffuse cultures socialize with work colleagues outside of working hours much more and have closer relations with their colleagues at the work place too. For example it is usual for colleagues to share gifts and enjoy public celebrations together.
This also means that the social status of people in diffuse cultures is closely linked to their employment, whereas in specific cultures employees with low status jobs can enjoy high status positions of responsibility in organizations outside of the workplace.

Summary

Specific
Separate work and personal lives
Social status not so dependent on job
Europe
USA
UK

Diffuse
Little difference between colleagues and friends
Social status linked to job
Asia
Many countries in Africa