Culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution. It is embedded in every conflict situation because conflicts are bound to arise in any human relationships. In other words, negative conflicts will always arise when people are working together. Have you ever had a disagreement with a co-worker? You probably have at one time or another. In their book, Cloke and Goldsmith (2011) states, “Our workplaces and organizations are profoundly shaped by conflicts between workers and supervisors, union and management, competing departments, and stressed coworkers” (Introduction-xvi). Although cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflicts in imperceptible ways. No matter where you work, chances are you are surrounded
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2). It has both negative and positive outcomes. Furthermore, the most important factor that I found to be the leading cause of cultural conflict in the workplace is not accepting someone else’s personal background. Understanding and accepting others race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion is important. Pursuing this further, diversity plays a major role because when accepted the work team will start to think in new ways, meaning it brings new perspectives to the table. Also, openness to new and different ideas expands our comfort zones. Cultures different from our own may seem confusing as it is sometimes misinterpreted. According to Connolly (2010), “It has been asserted by various critical and postmodern theorists over a number of years that the agents of the dominant legal systems of liberal democratic nation states such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are, to some degree, unable to understand the thought and practice of the members of culturally different minority groups inhabiting those states” (p. 1). This is why we need to want to learn from the other rather than …show more content…
The best methods I agreed for being the root causes of conflict between cultural groups at work are poor communication, different values, difference in personalities, competition, and ethnicity. During our second class lecture we agreed that people most likely avoid discussing issues that are difficult by choosing not to communicate. This I found to weigh a lot in the causes of cultural conflicts. Believing that a conflict will simple disappear is an inaccurate assumption because conflicts would only grow into bigger conflicts if not dealt with. Providing information accurately is critical for effective work and team performance. People from different cultures may be different in how they communicate or failure to communicate at all. For example, in my culture, which is West Indian, we do not feel pleased giving bad news. So, from personal experience of working, I dislike breaking not so good news to my coworkers. Next, different values is one of the main causes of cultural conflict in the workplace. The values of employees differ within the workplace. A difference in values is seen when employees have different, yet strong religions. One employee from one religion may possess different work ethics from another employee with a different religion. In additional, a difference is also seen when there is a generational gap. An older employee may have different values from a younger
2). It has both negative and positive outcomes. Furthermore, the most important factor that I found to be the leading cause of cultural conflict in the workplace is not accepting someone else’s personal background. Understanding and accepting others race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion is important. Pursuing this further, diversity plays a major role because when accepted the work team will start to think in new ways, meaning it brings new perspectives to the table. Also, openness to new and different ideas expands our comfort zones. Cultures different from our own may seem confusing as it is sometimes misinterpreted. According to Connolly (2010), “It has been asserted by various critical and postmodern theorists over a number of years that the agents of the dominant legal systems of liberal democratic nation states such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are, to some degree, unable to understand the thought and practice of the members of culturally different minority groups inhabiting those states” (p. 1). This is why we need to want to learn from the other rather than …show more content…
The best methods I agreed for being the root causes of conflict between cultural groups at work are poor communication, different values, difference in personalities, competition, and ethnicity. During our second class lecture we agreed that people most likely avoid discussing issues that are difficult by choosing not to communicate. This I found to weigh a lot in the causes of cultural conflicts. Believing that a conflict will simple disappear is an inaccurate assumption because conflicts would only grow into bigger conflicts if not dealt with. Providing information accurately is critical for effective work and team performance. People from different cultures may be different in how they communicate or failure to communicate at all. For example, in my culture, which is West Indian, we do not feel pleased giving bad news. So, from personal experience of working, I dislike breaking not so good news to my coworkers. Next, different values is one of the main causes of cultural conflict in the workplace. The values of employees differ within the workplace. A difference in values is seen when employees have different, yet strong religions. One employee from one religion may possess different work ethics from another employee with a different religion. In additional, a difference is also seen when there is a generational gap. An older employee may have different values from a younger