Developing Cultural Flexibility
Developing Cultural Flexibility Portfolio | December 14
2011
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Contents Page Section | Page Number | Q1 - What is the significance of national identity as a source of individuals’ culture? | 2 | Q2 -In what aspects of work and employee relations should international managers be aware of religious sensitivities? | 3-4 | Q3 -What are Hofstede’s culture dimensions? What correlations does Hofstede make among groups of countries and how valid are they for you? | 5 | Q4 - Why do firms’ internationalise’? What are the implications of doing so for their role as employers and how will it affect your role in the future as an employee? | 6-7 | Bibliography | 8 |
Q1 -What is the significance of national identity as a source of individuals’ culture?
I begin with a definition of culture – ‘the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular society’ (Oxford Dictionaries, 2011). In terms of the question I am looking at how significantly ideas, customs and social behaviour of a nation’s identity affects that of the individual’s culture. It’s important to talk about stereotypes, they effect how people perceive the individual and their culture, also it can affect the individual as they may alter their culture to allow them to stand out from their national stereotype e.g. people may stereotype Italians as loud and arrogant but some Italians may change their culture to quiet and well-mannered to make themselves more appealing for jobs abroad. Hofstede wrote that culture is ‘A collective programming of minds’, and to some extent I agree with him, people are proud of where they come from and like to promote their nation through their actions, this can mould their actions to some extent. An example is whilst I have been at university I have lived with a Chinese student, we have both said that we had expectations of each other before we had even talked. He expected me to be obsessed with football and beer, whilst I thought he would be a great cook and clever.
2011
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Contents Page Section | Page Number | Q1 - What is the significance of national identity as a source of individuals’ culture? | 2 | Q2 -In what aspects of work and employee relations should international managers be aware of religious sensitivities? | 3-4 | Q3 -What are Hofstede’s culture dimensions? What correlations does Hofstede make among groups of countries and how valid are they for you? | 5 | Q4 - Why do firms’ internationalise’? What are the implications of doing so for their role as employers and how will it affect your role in the future as an employee? | 6-7 | Bibliography | 8 |
Q1 -What is the significance of national identity as a source of individuals’ culture?
I begin with a definition of culture – ‘the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular society’ (Oxford Dictionaries, 2011). In terms of the question I am looking at how significantly ideas, customs and social behaviour of a nation’s identity affects that of the individual’s culture. It’s important to talk about stereotypes, they effect how people perceive the individual and their culture, also it can affect the individual as they may alter their culture to allow them to stand out from their national stereotype e.g. people may stereotype Italians as loud and arrogant but some Italians may change their culture to quiet and well-mannered to make themselves more appealing for jobs abroad. Hofstede wrote that culture is ‘A collective programming of minds’, and to some extent I agree with him, people are proud of where they come from and like to promote their nation through their actions, this can mould their actions to some extent. An example is whilst I have been at university I have lived with a Chinese student, we have both said that we had expectations of each other before we had even talked. He expected me to be obsessed with football and beer, whilst I thought he would be a great cook and clever.
Bibliography: D. A. BUCHANAN, A. A. (2010). Organizational Behaviour. Essex: Pearson Education Ltd 2010. Kenyon, P. (2000, October 15). Gap and Nike: No Sweat? Retrieved December 13, 2011, from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/970385.stm Loerrach. (2003). The impact of internatioalization on organizational culture a comparative study of international US and German companies, 7-48. M.L.JONES. (2007). Hofstede - Culturally Questionable, 7-8. RICKY W, P. M. (2007). International Business 5th Edition. GRIFFIN. Roache, R. (2010, February 9). Should religion be an excuse for carrying daggers? Retrieved December 13, 2011, from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8506074.stm Unknown. (2011, December 13). Retrieved December 13, 2011, from Oxford Dictionaries: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/culture