|
It is not that the world has suddenly become
diverse or is getting affected by cross-cultural
currents. If anything, the world is actually shrinking in terms of communication,
ideology, cultural differences and politico-economic
ideas and in the process getting substantially homogenized. Yet now, more than ever,
people, especially in the corporate world, are feeling
the need for better understanding of
cross-cultural issues and its impact on the
organization.
In any organization, individuals represent different cultural backgrounds depending on
the language they speak at home, the religion they practice or the country they belong to and so
on. Culture has a strong influence on people as it dictates how we perceive, understand
and communicate ideas. This can take a toll on organizational transactions, both internal
and external. Sometimes, situations can be
perceived by two individuals coming from different cultures/countries in a totally different ways.
For example, whereas in most cultures, laughing is perceived to be sign of happiness,
in Japan this is considered to be a sign of
confusion and insecurity. Similarly, in many places in
India, youngsters are told to avoid direct eye
contact while talking to elders as a mark of respect.
In contrast, the same actions, as mentioned above, are indicators of deception or shame
in North America and Europe. Cross-cultural management helps us to interact better,
and understand and deal with people who belong to other cultures. |
