Cultural Values In Work Abroad
Every country has a different set of cultural values district to that country and it’s unique culture. Culture can be defined in many ways but the one that I think sums up culture the best is Merriam-Websters version stating that culture is, “the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations” (Merriam-Websters, 2017). Culture can be determined by countries, parents, religion and governments. Values usually have one straightforward definition, they are the guiding principles that help one make a standard choice on important and not so sufficent decisions in one’s life. They are usually unchanging and …show more content…
From Canada in North America where our workplace is based, to South America, to Europe and Asia. With different types of behaviors and attitudes that are acceptable in public and workplaces differing from what we determine as “Normal and Standard” in Canada. For example when visiting many buildings or houses in Canada, we will usually wear our shoes but in many countries in Asia it is unacceptable and the do expect visitors to take off their shoes. In many places there will be slippers or indoor shoes for them to switch it as to keep the house and other items in the vicinity clean. There are many different values and customs in different countries that should be kept. Following ine’s rules makes the respect known and in general is the right thing to do. Even when working and living abroad following these are must, as the country has allowed you to work and you don’t want to let them down or make them angry and leave with a negative impression of you, not wanting to allow you to come and work in their country …show more content…
The first value dimension of culture is Power Distance. Being defined as “A national culture attribute that describes the extent to which a society accepts that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally” (Pearson, 2013). This can be the extent to which employees accept that power is distributed unequally in the workplace. In workplace in Asia the degree to which employees accept this is very different from Canada. In Japan, the score is a intermediate 54 compared to Canada’s 39. Japanese citizens in general culture are very conscious of their place in society and the workplace. There is an overall feeling that anyone can achieve anything if she/he works hard enough towards it and doesn’t give up. It is known that some foreigners have some difficulty in setting up business because that at times “Foreigners experience Japan as extremely hierarchical because of their business experience of painstakingly slow decision making process: all the decisions must be confirmed by each hierarchical layer and finally by the top management in Tokyo” (Hofstede.G, 2017). This applies in the Japanese workforce, depending on the company and occupation and how hierarchical levels are constructed and maintained. “Japanese are experienced as collectivistic by Western standards and experienced as
Every country has a different set of cultural values district to that country and it’s unique culture. Culture can be defined in many ways but the one that I think sums up culture the best is Merriam-Websters version stating that culture is, “the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations” (Merriam-Websters, 2017). Culture can be determined by countries, parents, religion and governments. Values usually have one straightforward definition, they are the guiding principles that help one make a standard choice on important and not so sufficent decisions in one’s life. They are usually unchanging and …show more content…
From Canada in North America where our workplace is based, to South America, to Europe and Asia. With different types of behaviors and attitudes that are acceptable in public and workplaces differing from what we determine as “Normal and Standard” in Canada. For example when visiting many buildings or houses in Canada, we will usually wear our shoes but in many countries in Asia it is unacceptable and the do expect visitors to take off their shoes. In many places there will be slippers or indoor shoes for them to switch it as to keep the house and other items in the vicinity clean. There are many different values and customs in different countries that should be kept. Following ine’s rules makes the respect known and in general is the right thing to do. Even when working and living abroad following these are must, as the country has allowed you to work and you don’t want to let them down or make them angry and leave with a negative impression of you, not wanting to allow you to come and work in their country …show more content…
The first value dimension of culture is Power Distance. Being defined as “A national culture attribute that describes the extent to which a society accepts that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally” (Pearson, 2013). This can be the extent to which employees accept that power is distributed unequally in the workplace. In workplace in Asia the degree to which employees accept this is very different from Canada. In Japan, the score is a intermediate 54 compared to Canada’s 39. Japanese citizens in general culture are very conscious of their place in society and the workplace. There is an overall feeling that anyone can achieve anything if she/he works hard enough towards it and doesn’t give up. It is known that some foreigners have some difficulty in setting up business because that at times “Foreigners experience Japan as extremely hierarchical because of their business experience of painstakingly slow decision making process: all the decisions must be confirmed by each hierarchical layer and finally by the top management in Tokyo” (Hofstede.G, 2017). This applies in the Japanese workforce, depending on the company and occupation and how hierarchical levels are constructed and maintained. “Japanese are experienced as collectivistic by Western standards and experienced as