Power-Distance refers to how society at large accepts and expects that power is distributed unequally but equitably. This implies that inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders, though the extent of which varies from society to society.
Individualism as opposed to collectivism is the degree to which society is integrated into groups. In the case of the former, one would find societies where ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. For the latter, societies are integrated into strong and cohesive in-groups, with strong sense of loyalty.
Masculinity and femininity refer to the distribution of roles between the genders in a society. The IBM studies revealed that masculine societies possess a very assertive and competitive characteristics which differ from feminine societies, which tend to be modest and caring. The assertive pole has been called "masculine" and the modest, caring pole "feminine".
Uncertainty avoidance deals with a society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity, and comfort level in unstructured situations. High uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimise the possibility of such situations with strict laws and rules, and safety and security measures. Conversely, uncertainty accepting cultures are more tolerant of opinions that differ from what they are used to.
Taking cognisance of these four cultural dimensions, the following paragraphs highlight the cultures that describe the SAF and how they affect change.