Culture is defined to be a frame- work to our lives. People's behavior reflects their own cultural background. Education, social standing, religion, personality, belief structure, past experience, affection shown in the home and a myriad of other factors will affect human behavior or culture.
There are differences in approaches as to what is considered polite and appropriate behavior both on and off the job.
In some cultures like India, "yes" means I hear you, more than I agree. "No problem" means you can rest assured there are problems! Length of pleasantries, greetings before getting down to business, level of tolerance for being around someone speaking a foreign language, politeness measured in terms of etiquette, for example standing up for a woman who approaches a table, yielding a seat on the bus to an older person etc. and manner of expected dress are all examples of possible cultural differences and traditions. Paying
attention to customs and cultural differences can give someone outside that culture
a better chance of assimilation or acceptance. Ignoring these can get an unsuspecting
person into trouble. This article, divided into two sections, highlights the importance
of cross-cultural awareness and engaging in multicultural teams. |
