By: Michael Adams and Luke Ylvisaker
Objectives And Outcomes
1. Define culture and recognize the critical role that it plays in the workplace.
2. Understand factors that contribute to various cultures.
3. Analyze and understand the ways in which culture affects workplace communication.
4. Work more productively and respectfully with colleagues from various cultures.
Noticing Culture in the Workplace
Culture plays a big part in our lives at the workplace. By working for a company in America we are opened up to many cultural differences mainly because we are a country that is made up of many different cultures. Now to be an effective member of a company we need to be able to adapt to different cultures. The smoother we can adapt the more efficient we can be in the workplace. And you may think that culture is just a difference in race or nationality but, culture also includes differences in religion and disabilities too.
What's Normal?
The ability to notice and understand a culture sometimes depends on if you can recognize it. Parts of someones culture can be easily visible to us while our own culture can be invisible because we see it as "normal". For example like when we greet someone in the Midwest a lot of us like to use a handshake, we see that as "normal" but it's actually a cultural difference compared to someone from Japan who likes to bow when they are greeting someone. The only way to become culturally aware is to become aware of our own culture first and look at what we think is "normal" through someone else's eyes.
Cultural Blindness
So this whole talk about what we think is "normal" has another effect on us. It can make working at a multi-cultural company very hard. For instance lets say you have a client from Israel that wants to have a teleconference with you. You would probably feel indignant if the client insisted that you have to do it this Sunday. To us we "normally" don't work on Sunday because we consider Sunday and not a part of our regular work days. In Israel in a different culture it is considered a normal work day. This is a time where being culturally aware plays a big role in making sure that the teleconference goes smoothly and being aware will make your work life go easier at other times too. Defining Culture
What is culture? The general definition is that culture is a group of learned beliefs/values that influences our day to day actions. These actions help to make our culture include the tools we use in life, the way we act in different situations, and the way we communicate.
Globalization and Localization
Why should we worry about cultures then? As said before culture plays a big role in how a person will conduct themselves in the workplace and how efficient someone can be. In a global corporation attention has to be made to make your advertisement/product global "friendly". If you try to put an add up with a girl in a bikini front and center it will probably work in the US and Europe. That same ad put up in the Middle East may cause a a very big problem. All because of the culture differences that you weren't aware of between the US and the Middle East. Where localization comes in is a way you would adapt your product for one specific area. For instance that ad you put up in the US and the Middle East,you may be able to "localize" the ad by removing the picture of the girl and replacing it with your company logo. Then you have a global ad that is localized for specific areas.
Cultural Values
So why should we value our cultural awareness? The ability to use your cultural awareness while writing a technical document will be greatly helpful when you write one. If you were writing instructions on how to put a staples box together and you wrote all of the instructions in English, the instructions will probably be messed up when you try to translate them to Spanish. The ability to value other people's culture will make your product receive a better response from the users, increase the efficiency of your meetings, and hopefully show other people in your business that they need to be more culturally aware to bring up their effectiveness in the business.
Analyzing Culture
National cultures
1. Sometimes understanding differences doesn’t eliminate a cultural gap
Languages
1. English is spoken on 5 continents by people who make up 49 percent of the worlds population.
2. Since language is a political hot button, demanding the use of a particular language in the work place can alienate colleagues.
Proxemics
1. The study of the physical distance between people
2. Generally people from North America expect lager intimate and personal space than people from many other countries
Time
1. Different cultures treat time in two different was Monochronic Polychronic
2. Monochronic People
a. Tend to do one thing at a time
b. Take time commitment seriously
c. Concentrate on the specific job
3. Polychronic
a. Tend to do many things at ounce
b. Respond to interruptions
c. Consider time commitments as desirable not absolute
4. Organizational cultures is the shared beliefs and behaviors of people in an organization compromise. One way to describe it would be contrasting practices that characterize activities in the organization
Individuals and their culture
1. Professionals all have different factors that influence the ways in which they participate in,contribute to and react to other cultures
Increase Cultural Awareness
1.There are many ways to make a cross-cultural experience more successful here are a few
a. Be a keen observer
b. Listen carefully to your employees
c. Be patient and flexible
d. Make every effort to meet and engage people of other cultures
23 comments:
Here's a nice little look into culture in the workplace. Successful people will do anything in there power to get one more client, or one more account, etc. Having a general understanding of different cultures makes that a whole lot easier. As an American I see the world through the eyes of America. I shake hands, say things like 'sup, peace' etc, and usually don't have to think twice about how these will be received. Thinking about how they will be received _before_ doing them is what this chapter seems to be emphasizing, that and being generally aware of the fact that not all cultures are like ours. Good job Michael and Luke.
I agree with this context. Understanding the diversity in the workplace is very important. But in society today sometimes people cannot adapt or accept others for who they are because of their culture. Understanding or adapting (like location in the text), is needed to get along with the different cultures in the workplace in order to promote a healthy environmental workplace.
I like how this chapter talks about what is “normal.” There really is no way to describe it but there can be ways you can almost reach it. So many cultures have such a different way of finding “normal” so in the workplace reaching a “normal” for the company can come with many different opinions. But we try to respect each others cultures and use the most respected “norm.” Like the chapter says, when you are making directions for a product, you put them in other languages besides English if you are going to be sending them in other countries in the world. Because you are adjusting to other cultures and showing them you value them too.
This chapter really points out how culturaly diverse we are. we all have had jobs, and have come in contact with numorous cultural diversities that we have had to over come. Learning and understanding other cultures(such as language) will help us at the job being preformed.
Being in a diverse society we all need to be aware of others around us and realize that they might not understand the same 'slang' as your friends do. Being able to adapt to other cultures than are own will create a work environment that not only easier to understand but one where you can learn from other cultures, and maybe put aside your biases, learning why certain cultures interact a certain way. Its always hard to adapt but its something that we all must do in order to be successful in the work place.
Since America is so diverse, learning and understanding different cultures, ideas, and beliefs is important. Even though someone may think differently than you on a particular topic or situation, being open minded is important. Just because you may think of something differently does not neccesarily make your thoughts "right" or superior. By respecting other cultures you will hopefully benefit by receiving respect as well. Understanding cultural differences is important in the workplace, as well as everyday life.
Many of our companies in America have cultural differences in the workplace and sell products or services to a multicultural society. It is very important to understand the differences and gaps between cultures to avoid conflict. Using pictures along with words can help to send a message to more than one language-which may mean picking up more customers than just the english speaking ones. Understanding the differences in how cultures use their time (monochronic & polychronic) can help when communicating jobs or creating work for them. Overall knowing cultural differences helps promote a better working environment.
I think its important to remember that diversity isnt just related to race. It includes things like disabilities, religion, social status, and many more. As you become more understanding of peoples diversities the more you can help them and relate to their issues. This is necassary in todays businesses.
What is conceived as 'normal', and Cultural Blindness can be real problems for some people. Cultural mistakes and slip-ups can happen to people, and they usually don't even realize their problem. Inter-cultural sensitivity is key when designing things that will be seen by a diverse audience.
I liked the way this chapter focused on the workplace and what is "normal". The part of the chapter about understanding different cultures was a good way to the differences that can easily be missed by Americans. Just recently a good friend of mine got a new roommate from India and when I was talking with him for the first time it never crossed my mind if he was understanding the slang I am used to and maybe he had no idea what I was talking about. Little things like that made this chapter stand out for me.
In this day in age, understanding how different cultures may react and communicate with each other is very important. For example, if someone is from another country and has an accent, it may be difficult for them to relay a message correctly or in proper english. We need to take this into consideration and understand that they are trying, but may not be perfect at it. If we were to try and communicate in another language, we would most likely do the same. Also, people with different cultures or that may be of a different race may greet and talk to one another different than others. This chapter seems to do a great job in recognizing these differences and how they can have a large impact on communication.
This Chapter is definently a must have for the USA. everyday our country becomes more deversified and and it is critical for us to have an understanding of our deferences and adapt to these changes. This is not only important for our community but also will help in business
This chapter gives a good insight on different cultures in the workplace. I think a lot of people in the world think that their culture or their way of doing things is the correct or best way. The chapter shows people that the best way to get your point across to other people is to be open to their culture and not think that your own culture's way of doing this is the only way of doing things.
In this day in age, understanding how different cultures may react and communicate with each other is very important. For example, if someone is from another country and has an accent, it may be difficult for them to relay a message correctly or in proper english. We need to take this into consideration and understand that they are trying, but may not be perfect at it. If we were to try and communicate in another language, we would most likely do the same. Also, people with different cultures or that may be of a different race may greet and talk to one another different than others. This chapter seems to do a great job in recognizing these differences and how they can have a large impact on communication.
This chapter shows how important it is to be able to understand and respect how other cultures work compared to ours. Today more and more companies work in multiple countries which requires people to adjust from their normal work style. Being able to make these adjustments is what allows companies and people move ahead.
It is important to emphasize cultural differences in a globalized economy. Like the chapter pointed out, many of our customs can be seen as strange to another country. I liked the example of the ad with the woman in the bikini. It is very true. I also liked the example of Sunday work days. If I went to another country and used the slang I use here I could insult somebody. The same works for businesses. The chapter does a good job explaining the differences in culture and giving examples of what the differences are.
This really opens your eyes a little bit and makes you think about who else out there will be reading whatever you write. You organized all the information well and it flowed well in my opinion. Good job.
This chapter really made me look at how I interact with different people. In the workplace I try to be more professional, but in the classroom sometimes I tend to be too casual, and I may actually offend someone without meaning to. From now on I will try to keep this in mind when talking to others no matter what the setting is.
Living in the U.S. today it is virtually essential to be mindful of other cultures. Our country is a melting pot of many different people and to be close-minded about the way others live their life would be a very ignorant way to live. The text makes a good point that even though you may understand a culture, it will not eliminate a culture gap. I believe that you can never truly eliminate a culture gap until you have experienced that culture first-hand for some time. This would let you actually see through the eyes of another culture, and perhaps let you see your own in a whole new light.
This chapter takes a look at cultural diversity and differences in the work place and in society. The cultural gap in America today is still evident but people are working toward closing those gaps every day. To try to close that gap you need to understand one anothers culture and realize that different cultures have different customs and practices that are considered to be "Normal" to their own culture. Those differences are the barrier to closing the cultural gap.
America is all about diversity and this chapter tell us about the society we live in today. Matter of fact we interact with people from different background every day and we find it difficult and har to understand them. So it is pretty much what this chapter is talking about.
I agree with the context that understanding the cultural diversity of any workplace is very important for the success of the corporate area. The one who is able to adapt with the diversity, is the one who survives in the competitive world. Translating an advertisement into a different language before sending out to non native English speaking country, so that the advertisement works successfully, is a good example of adapting cultural diversity.
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