Introduction
Culture is the way we live. It is the clothes we wear, the foods we eat, the languages we speak, the stories we tell, and the ways we celebrate. Culture is also about our roots. Where did our ancestors come from? What do we believe? What makes our lives different from the lives of others? Kalman, B. (2009). Nations may share civilisations, but they will always be distinct in their culture, since culture defines what they are. Scruton, R. (2007).
The globalization of markets and production continues to bring together people from different cultures and countries in culturally diverse organizations. In the field of international management, it is important not only to recognize these diversities, but it is also vital to understand the cultural differences for the purpose of connecting with and motivating knowledge workers. Traditionally, these cultural distinctions have been classified into ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ views that widely vary with respect to workplace activities and, more specifically, with respect to knowledge management. With the ‘western’ view being more focused on explicit knowledge and tangible individualistic motivational factors, and the ‘eastern’ view on tacit knowledge and abstract workplace principles; it becomes evident that management of these different cultural perspectives is becoming increasingly complex yet critical in the global workplace. An understanding of these differing views is therefore necessary for effective management in the international sphere, specifically for providing a means for better cross-cultural understanding and successful knowledge transfer.
Management Tasks
Planning- The goals and objectives of a company or department are established, as well as