Uncertainty avoidance reflects the degree at which a society or members of a society, tolerate, cope with or combats unpredictability otherwise known as the unknown. It describes individuals reaction to ambiguity.

What is uncertainty avoidance?

The cultural dimension named "uncertainty avoidance" also emerged from the research as very important. It is "the extent to which a society, organization, or group relies on social norms, rules, and procedures to alleviate the unpredictability of future events" (House et al, 2004, p. 30].

What causes uncertainty avoidance?

Typically, the use of formality in interaction with others, dependence of formalized policies and procedures, apparent resistance of change, and intolerance of untraditional ways are all characteristics of high uncertainty avoidance.