Chapter 3Cultural

By ; numkwan wongpatum

Topic:What is culture ?The characteristic of culture ?The element of culture ?The level of culture ?What makes cultures change?

What Is Culture?

What Is Culture?The customary ways in which humans live. For example; diet, family forms and processes, social organizations, and religions.

Info taken from: The Four Skills of Cultural Diversity Competence, by Mikel Hogan-Garcia

Ethnic Group or Culture Group

The cultural heritage, or aspects of culture, that a group shares and attempts to hand down from one generation to the next through learning.

Info taken from: The Four Skills of Cultural Diversity Competence, by Mikel Hogan-Garcia

WeavingSilk reeling Dancing

12 Aspects of Culture or Ethnicity1. History-time period and conditions under which

a group migrated or immigrated.2. Social Status Factors – education, occupation,

income3. Social Group Interaction Patterns: Intra-group

(within group relations) and Inter-group (between-group relations)

4. Value Orientation – standards by which members of a culture judge their personal actions and those of others.

5. Language and Communication: Verbal and Nonverbal

6. Family Life Processes – gender roles, family dynamics

Ritual crib bedding

To the uterus dry

Fire ritual

Sift sieve

12 Aspects of Culture or Ethnicity7. Healing Beliefs and Practices – attitudes

and beliefs about health.8. Religion – spiritual beliefs and practices9. Art and Expressive Forms – art, music,

stories, dance, etc.10. Diet/Foods – preferred food eaten by

groups.11. Recreation – activities, sports for leisure,

etc.12. Clothing – types, styles, and extent of

body coverings.

Culture is learned behaviorEach child goes through a process of enculturation when they grow up in a culture.Children learn by observing the behaviors of people in their surroundings, including the recognition of symbols specific to that culture.

Fed food

Undeniable

Examples of cultural symbols

Culture is shared

Culture is an attribute not of individuals per se but of individuals as members of groups.Culture is transmitted by society.Enculturation unifies people by providing us with common experiences.

Fried pork skin

Culture is symbolic

Symbols can either be verbal (linguistic) or nonverbal (object, written symbol).

Culture and Nature: Differences in How we meet the call

Culture defines what people eat, how food is prepared, and when and how food is eaten.Waste elimination is culturally prescribed.Sexual activities are also dictated by culture (with who, how, where, and when).

Culture is all-encompassing and integrated

Culture envelopes each of us, and touches every aspect of our lives.Culture is systematic and integrated (it is not a random phenomenon).Cultures teach us to share certain core values that helps shape the personality of the individuals within a culture.

Cultures are dynamic: rules are made to be broken

Humans are creative animals and always do not strictly follow the dictates of their culture.There is individual interpretation of each aspect of culture that is in part due to family and personal history.Real vs. Ideal culture.

Culture can be both adaptive and maladaptive

Modern technology has provided for the adaptation of humans to every part of the globe, as ancient technologies provided successful to environments on a smaller scale.Short-term vs. long-term adaptive strategies.

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Culture Defined

Culture is an integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of the members of any given society.

The Meaning of Culture:

The Key to Human Diversity

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Characteristics of CultureCulture is learned, shared, and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Culture can be passed from parents to children, by social organizations, special interest groups, the government, schools, and churches.

Culture is multidimensional, consisting of a number of common elements that are interdependent.

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AcculturationAcculturation is the process of adjusting and adapting to a specific culture other than one’s own. It is one of the keys to success in international operations.

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Elements of CultureLanguage (verbaland nonverbal) Religion Values and

Attitudes

Material Elements

Manners andCustoms

AestheticsEducationSocial Institutions

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The Four Roles of LanguageLanguage aids in information gathering and evaluation.

Language provides access to local society.

Language capability is increasingly important in company communications.

Language provides more than the ability to communicate because it extends beyond mechanics to the interpretation of contexts that may influence business operations.

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Nonverbal languageDistinctions must be made in five key topics:

TimeSpace

Material Possessions

Friendship PatternsBusiness

Agreements

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Dominant Religions

ChristianityIslam

Hinduism

BuddhismConfucianism

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Values and AttitudesValue of U.S. Culture Alternate Value Function Affected

The individual can influencethe future

Life follows a preordained course

Planning and scheduling

We must work hard to accomplish our objectives

Hard work is not the pre-requisite for success; wisdom,luck, and time are also required

Motivation and rewardsystem

Commitments should be honored

A commitment may be super-seded by a conflicting request

Negotiating or bargaining

One should effectively useone’s time

Schedules are important but only in relation to other priorities

Long and short range planning

A primary obligation of the employee is to the organization

The individual employee has a primary obligation to the family

Loyalty, commitment, and motivation

The best qualified person shouldbe given the position available

Family issues and friendshipcan determine employment

Employment, promotionsrecruiting, selection

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Manners and CustomsPotential ways in which negotiators may not be prepared:

the understanding of different ways of thinkingattention to the necessity to save faceknowledge and appreciation of the host countryrecognition of the decision-making process and the role of personal relations and personalitiesthe allocation of time for negotiations

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Material ElementsMaterial culture refers to the results of technology and is directly related to how a society organizes its economic activity.

It is manifested in the availability and adequacy of the basic economic, social, financial, and marketing infrastructure for the international business in a market.

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Material Elements Chart

transportation energy

communications

health banks research firms

EconomicInfrastructure

SocialInfrastructure

Financial andMarketing

Infrastructure

Material Culture

education

housing

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AestheticsGood taste is expressed through colors, form, and music.

The meanings of colors and symbols vary from country to country.

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EducationEducation, either formal or informal, plays a major role in the passing on and sharing of culture.

International firms need to understand the varying emphases on particular skills and the overall level of education provided.

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Social InstitutionsSocial stratification is the division of a particular population into classes.

Reference groups provide the values and attitudes that influence behavior. Primary reference groups include the family and coworkers.

Social organization determines the roles of managers and subordinates and how they relate to each other.

Personal Culture – Core Identity

Includes everything an individual finds meaningful, beliefs, values, perceptions, assumptions, and framework about reality.Developed through social interaction with family and others in your environment.

Cultural Competence Skill Areas

Awareness and Acceptance of DifferencesSelf-AwarenessDynamics of DifferenceKnowledge of Client’s CultureAdaptation of Skills

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High- versus Low-Context Cultures

High-context culturecontext is at least as important as what is actually saidwhat is not being said can carry more meaning than what is saidfocuses on group developmentJapan and Saudi Arabia are examples

Low-context culturemost of the information is contained explicitly in wordswhat is said is more important that what is not saidfocuses on individual developmentThe U.S. is an example

Levels of cultureNational: learned behavioral patterns, beliefs, values, and institutions shared by the citizens of a nation.International: cultural traditions that expand beyond cultural boundaries.Subculture: different traditions practiced by groups set within a larger culture. Frequently regionally based.

What makes cultures change?

Diffusion: borrowing of traits between cultures.Acculturation: exchange of cultural features that results from long-term exposure between cultures.Independent invention: Developing to solution to problems by individual cultures. Example: agriculture.

One World Culture? Globalization in the 21st Century

Cultures are increasingly coming in contact as a result of improved trade relations, better communication, and easier travel.Multinational corporations and business “outsourcing” to the Third World are becoming more commonplace.

Q & A

Question chapter 31.Why is it important to understand culture?2. What is culture ?3. What are the characteristic of culture ?4. What are the element of culture ?5. Your life at any the level of culture ?6. What makes cultures change?

1. Geographer2. Political Scientist3. Archaeologist4. Economist5. Historian6. Anthropologist

a. studies the past by examining artifacts and ancient ruins

b. studies the world’s landscapes and climate

c. studies the operations of different forms of governments

d. studies the past by examining primary and secondary sources

e. studies how goods and services are distributed in societies

f. studies culture and how people interact with society

7. MATCH THE FOLLOWING.

Dinner on a stickDink in a bagThy pink tissuesInhalers

Study Group Very Thai