A related issue is the extent to which Malaysian culture is consistent with the development
of the HPWS needed to create the informated work place. Hofstede’s (1997) study on 50
countries found Malaysia to score the highest on his Power Distance Index. This indicates a
very strong emphasis on hierarchy. Such a value seems at odds with HPWS with its emphasis
on a more participative and egalitarian work climate. Indeed, this issue is something that
deserves attention in many Asian countries. Five ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Philippines,
Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand) occupy the top half positions of the 50 country ranking