Of Orrefors and Noritake: or, has Geert Hofstede something to say about web site design?

The purpose of this paper is to look at Geert Hofstede's five dimensions of culture.

Reviews Hofstede's web site and numerous of his writings.

The distinctive sites mentioned are a reflection of Swedish and Japanese dimensions of culture respectively. In a global village, where the web is almost ubiquitous, this kind of understanding is more important than ever.

Considers the value that Hofstede's paradigm, or perhaps another cross‐cultural analytical tool, might have in enhancing understanding of web design and usability.