...Culture is one of the basic things in life. Whether when we are working, dealing with people, spending time with family or even doing our daily routine. Culture is learned since we were born, no matter we as human realized the differences or not. Culture is the full range of learned behaviour patterns that are acquired by people as members of a society like in a family. A culture is a complex, interrelated with anything that consists of the knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs, skills, and habits learned from parents and others in a society. Culture is the basis of transparent material of adaptation for humans. The word culture itself comes from the Latin term pronounce as cultura, which is related to cult or worship. In general, the term refers to the feedback of human interaction. Culture is knowledge that acquired that people use to interpret experience and generate social behaviour. This knowledge forms values, creates attitudes, and influences behaviour. Somehow, culture also has the characteristics of being learned, shared, trans-generational, symbolic, patterned, and adaptive. There are also many dimensions of cultural diversity, which is focus on centralized vs. decentralized decision making, safety vs. risk, individual vs. group rewards, informal vs. formal procedures, high vs. low organizational loyalty, cooperation vs. competition, short-term vs. long-term horizons, and stability vs. innovation area in this assignment. This assignment will...
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...huge issue which has faced many companies in today’s competitive business environment. With the increase in communications and ability to reach other countries being cheaper and easier in the 21st century, many companies have chosen to internationalise and expand on the domestic market in order to generate greater profits and become household names internationally. This essay will look at how American born company Wal-Mart Stores, Inc has grown and seen successes and failures in the international environment. It also will look at reasons behind the failures in relation to culture, using the venture into the world’s third largest retail market, Germany as the main focus for the essay. Firstly, this essay will look at culture and some theories that surround it and also look at different dimensions that make up culture. The definition of culture according to the Oxford Dictionary (1992) is: “the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively or a refined understanding or appreciation of culture”. The theory that has been chosen to outline culture is Geert Hofstede’s five dimensions. The reason Hofstede’s theory has been used as an example in this case is because of the extensive research that he has put into developing his theories, as well as its relevance to the Wal-Mart failure in Germany. Between the years of 1967 and 1973, while Hofstede was working at international company IBM as a psychologist, he did a survey of over 100,000...
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...IDV and LTO (appendix 1: figure 3)7 Is the threat, from the government-sponsored search engines, real or imagined?8 What can Google do to secure dominance in those countries?8 What can Google learn from those experiences to guide its entry strategy for other countries?9 The negotiation process (appendix 2: figure 1)9 Stage One: Preparation9 Stage two: Relationship Building9 Stage Three: Exchange of task-related Information10 Stage Four: Persuasion10 Stage Five: Concession and Agreement10 Sources:11 Websites:11 Appendix 112 Figure 1: Hofstede, USA vs. France12 Figure 2: Hofstede, USA vs. Germany12 Figure 3: Hofstede, USA vs. Japan13 Appendix 2:14 Figure 1: The Negotiation Process14 Introduction In this assignment we will take a closer look at how technology, and Internet in particular, is changing the “rules of game” when it comes to cultural exchange and how it creates a need to protect ones own culture. We will give a brief presentation of Google as a company, explaining how a search engine works and how money is generated. We will review the Google case in light...
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...realizes it needs water to live when it is no longer swimming in the water. Our culture is to us like water to the fish. We live and breathe through our culture." As Trompenaar's quote outlines, culture is a crucial part of someone's life or even indispensable for the life of humans. This is because culture determines a human's basic assumptions, values, norms and belief systems as well as a human's behaviour, language, food, drinking habits and other determinants of one's daily routine. Understanding his or her own culture is a key factor in order to live in his or her society, but understanding other cultures gives the opportunity to look out of the box. It provides someone, for example, with the ability to interact between two cultures. A vital aspect when it comes to make business upon international terms. This paper will focus on the discoveries of Edward T. Hall and will also provide especially european countries as examples. 2. Hall’s dimensions of culture Edward T. Hall, Anthropologist, developed a culture model with three dimensions. Context, the most popular dimension, Time and Space. The following paragraphs will outline and explain the three dimension. Overview of the most popular culture models HALL | HOFSTEDE | TROMPENAARS | HIGH-CONTEXT vsLOW-CONTEXT | POWER DISTANCE | UNIVERSALISM vsPARTICULARISM | | | INDIVIDUALISM vsCOLLECTIVISM | HIGH-TERRITORIALITY vs LOW-TERRITORIALITY | INDIVIDUALISM | NEUTRAL vsEMOTIONAL | | MASCULINITY/FEMININITY...
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...High Vs. Low Context High Context vs. Low Context Cultures There are many distinct differences between high context and low context cultures. While many cultures are noticeably high context or low context they are not that exclusively. Many cultures have certain aspects of the other; this is also true with hearing and deaf cultures. I will explain the differences between the two then how they intertwine. A high context culture is one that contains many close connections and may be difficult to enter into or understand if you are and outsider. In a high context culture acceptable behaviors or rules are not openly laid out because they are known by all of the members. Activities usually revolve around face-to-face interactions. Most people in high context cultures have a very small, distinctive group of people that they surround themselves with. These cultures are similar to your family or a long relationship. A few cultures identified as high context cultures are the Japanese, Arabs, and French. A low context culture is one that is very open, it is very easy to enter into and all the rules and regulations are laid out for everyone to see. Many people in low context cultures have a wide network of contacts. Knowledge is very public in these cultures and relationships usually last a shorter time and are for the purpose of a task. Rules are very important in these cultures. A few cultures identified as low context cultures are Americans, Germans, and Scandinavians. When compared...
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...is Symbolic Interaction? Communication through words and gestures. 6. Who are the founders of Symbolic Interaction? European Founder: Georg Simmel (German Sociologist) American Founder: George H. Mead (Amer. Sociologist) Others – Jane Addams (Amer. Sociologist): Established Hull House W.E.B. Du Bois (Amer. Sociologist): Founded the 2nd Department of Sociology at Atlanta University Harriet Martineau (Brit. Social Observer): Chronicled the lives of women and slave in pre-Civil War America 7. Where was the first Department of Sociology in America founded? University of Chicago. Founded by Albion Small (Amer. Sociologist) 8. What is Functional Analysis? How the puzzle pieces fit together. 9. Who are the founders of Functional Analysis? European Founder: Emile Durkheim (French Sociologist). Coined the term anomie. American Founder: Talcott Parsons (Amer. Sociologist) Others – Robert King Merton (Amer. Sociologist): Wrote about Manifest & Latent Functions. Herbert Spencer: “Survival of the fittest.” Theory of General Evolution. 10. What is Conflict Theory? Haves vs. haves not. 11. Who are the founders of the Conflict Theory? European Founder: Karl Marx (German philosopher). Discussed the Proletariat (working class) & the Bourgeoisie (capitalist class) Others – Max Weber (German Social Scientist): Looked at people in terms of wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth: The sum total of all one’s assets Power: The ability to command others ...
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...community, where understanding how different cultures communicate is extremely important. In order to achieve effective intercultural communication we have to understand how different cultures communicate. Communication styles differ by how power is distributed within an organization. There are essentially two types: hierarchical, and democratic. In a hierarchical structure the most power is held by the highest ranking individual, where as in a democratic structure, power distribution is uniformed among the individuals. The classification of high-context versus low-context cultures based on the amount of information that is implied versus stated directly in a communication message. In high-context cultures, the meanings of the messages are found in the situation and in the relationships of the communicators, or are internalized in the communicator’s beliefs, values, and norms. In low-context cultures, less emphasis is placed on the context. Instead they rely on explicit verbal messages. Understanding these differences is essential to accurately decoding the message. Communication specialists estimate that three-fourths of our communication is nonverbal and takes place through our behavior. Nonverbal cues serve as the markers of ones’ identities. The way people dress, the accent pattern, and the nonverbal way of gesturing, all deliver messages to others. A culture’s perception of time can alter the message being communicated. In a culture that uses linear time, tasks are sequential...
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...to address the cultural differences. I will then discuss my views regarding expatriate and foreign-national managers by stating the reasons why a combination of managers is the most effective way to deal with these challenges. Finally, I will conclude with a brief summary that highlights the key points made throughout the paper. DISCUSSION: Many foreign markets are considered an untapped resource. The potential for growth in these markets is very high; however the potential can not be fulfilled without strong human resource applications, effective organizational structure, and efficient cultural understanding. The company’s corporate culture has to be modified to take cultural differences into consideration. The ability to evolve the organization by enveloping these cultural differences into the corporate culture can severely affect an organization’s success in the global marketplace. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss some organizational...
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...LINCOLN, HAROLD R. KERBO, and ELKE WITT'ENHAGEN* From a series of qualitative interviews with Japanese managers and German managers and workers in thirty-one Japanese-owned companies in the Dusseldorf region of western Germany, this article discusses differences in cultural patterns and organizational styles between the German and Japanese employees and the problems these pose for communication, cooperation, and morale. First, we deal with cultural contrasts: language issues, interpersonal styles (personability and politeness), and norms regarding the taking of responsibility. Second, we examine the impact on cross-nationality relations of established organizational practice: for example, German specialism vs. Japanese generalism; direct and vertical vs. indirect and incremental decision making. We also discuss efforts by these firms to find compromise systems that would meet the needs and interests of both sides. The third focus is the reactions of Japanese companies in North Rhine-Westphalia to German unions, works councils, and codetermination regulations. In the labor view, Japanese firms overall do no better or worse than comparable German firms. Japanese direct investment in Western economies is concentrated in North America and the United Kingdom. In consequence, a rich journalistic and scholarly literature examines the Japanese experience in the Anglo-American countries, the management styles and organization structures of the subsidiaries, and the relations between the...
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...Competition: Trade is increasingly global in scope today. There are several reasons for this. One significant reason is technological—because of improved transportation and communication opportunities today, trade is now more practical. Thus, consumers and businesses now have access to the very best products from many different countries. Increasingly rapid technology lifecycles also increases the competition among countries as to who can produce the newest in technology. In part to accommodate these realities, countries in the last several decades have taken increasing steps to promote global trade through agreements such as the General Treaty on Trade and Tariffs, and trade organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the European Union (EU). Stages in the International Involvement of a Firm. We discussed several stages through which a firm may go as it becomes increasingly involved across borders. A purely domestic firm focuses only on its home market, has no current ambitions of expanding abroad, and does not perceive any significant competitive threat from abroad. Such a firm may eventually get some orders from abroad, which are seen either as an irritation (for small orders, there may be a great deal of effort and cost involved in obtaining relatively modest revenue) or as "icing on the cake." As the firm begins to export more, it enters the export stage, where little effort is made to market the product abroad...
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...Before we begin What are behaviors that society frowns on? What are behaviors that you personally would never do? What are behaviors that professionals have to do? Does this slide look familiar? Deadlines and notifications May 2: Draft of Self-development plan due Submitted electronically through Turnitin.com May 9: PeerMark review of classmate’s paper is due May 16: Final version of self-development plan due May 19: Final exam at 12:15 THURSDAY Morality and Ethics What is a value? Be Honest What kinds of behaviors would let someone know you are honest? Those behaviors are NOT values. They are symptoms or symbols of the values you hold. Which of the following have you done? Heard that one friend lied to another, but didn’t do anything about it Stood by while a friend lied to another friend Lied or withheld information in an email Let friends take advantage of a discount, rebate, or another benefit that you get from work (e.g. free food, free drinks, etc.) Taken a benefit from a friend (e.g. received a free food, etc.) Lied to a customer or client Lied to a co-worker or fellow student Lied to a subordinate Stolen from your workplace Which of these are questionnable, ethically, and why? Heard that one friend lied to another, but didn’t do anything about it Stood by while a friend lied to another friend Lied or withheld information in an email Let friends take advantage of a discount, rebate, or another benefit that you get from work Taken a benefit...
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...Journal of Comparative International Management 2009, Vol. 12, no.2, 73-89 ©2009 Management futures Printed in canada Cross-cultural Communication and Multicultural Team Performance: A German and American Comparison by Steven W. Congden University of Hartford, U.S.A. Alexei V. Matveev College of Staten Island – CUNY, U.S.A David E. Desplaces College of Charleston, U.S.A. This study builds on work by Matveev & Nelson (2004) which investigated the relationship between cross-cultural communication competence and multicultural team performance using American and Russian managers. This study examines the impact of national culture on German and American subjects. While a relationship between cross-cultural communication competence and multicultural team performance was found, it did not differ by overall national culture. Of the four dimensions of cross-cultural communication competence, only Cultural Empathy was found to be significantly different between Germans and Americans. No differences were found for the dimensions of Interpersonal Skills, Team Effectiveness, and Cultural Uncertainty. 1. Introduction Worldwide intercultural cooperation drives corporate growth and development across the globe resulting in a heightened demand for a qualified but diverse workforce. researchers have documented that the successful performance of multicultural teams is a vital and contributing factor to organizational success (Jackson, may, & Whitney, 1995; Snow, Snell, davison, & hambrick...
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...Colombian Food vs. American Food Food is more than what we eat. For many families and cultures, traditional meals are passed down from one generation to another. But families do not just teach a recipe; instead they have their own story of how a dish became such an important part of the family, culture, and country. For example, it is important to know who started cooking it, the secret of how to make it the way grandma did, or that special ingredient that makes the difference. Food is the best way to learn about a country or a region. For instance, Colombian food is very traditional and carries the legacy of many generations, from the first native people to the colonists and the influence they had in our cuisine. Compared to American food that because of the huge movement of immigrants and industrialization has an overabundance of tradition behind their meals....
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...School 6 Uncertainty Avoidance in Shopping 6 Sources 7 Introduction We live in the age of rapid globalization. New technology has shrunk the size of the world. The world has become a small state with a few big cities, few towns and villages. The cities are markets for the products form towns and villages, and vice versa. This shrinking in size has brought people from different cultures and backgrounds to work together under the same umbrella. Wherever you go, even the smallest of the company has people from different cultural backgrounds. This mixing of so many cultures at workplace has come up to be challenge for the modern organizations. The modern managers or leaders find it difficult to make a decision for their team, which comprises of people from different cultural and educational backgrounds. There is always a problem of synchronization within the team, which is faced by a modern leader. Since different statements are perceived differently in different cultures, the problem of miscommunication always persists. For a modern leader it is necessary to have the knowledge of different cultures. This knowledge will not only help him in making better decisions, but will also help him understand his team better and be more productive and efficient at work. Geert Hofstede, while working with IBM, saw this problem of intercultural differences and mismanagement arising due to these...
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...Summary Managing People in a Global Context Book: Managing across cultures by Schneider & Barsoux, second edition Chapter 1: The undertow of culture Converging cultures? Before the impact of culture can be assessed, two convergence myths have to be challenged: 1. The world is getting smaller… • On the surface, we appear to be converging: television, books, movies, internet, eating habits etc. • However, it seems that the pressure for convergence or integration may in fact create an equal, if not stronger pressure for divergence or fragmentation. o E.g. protests against learning English as second language in Switzerland, different neighborhoods in NYC (Chinatown, Little Italy etc.). o Executives across Europe are reading many of the same publications, but still more often they read national magazines and newspapers. Management is management • Management is management, consisting of a set of principles and techniques that can be universally applied. • However, different practices (such as management) are shaped by its cultural origins, and so is management. • Also, different notions of organizations (relationships vs. tasks) and different HRM practices based on motivations of employees (intrinsic vs. extrinsic). • Good management is culturally sensitive management: best fit between people’s motivation and tasks. • Sensitivity towards invasion of foreign companies and their business ideologies and practices. 2. Despite technological & economic forces for integration/convergence...
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