Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

When we do business with other cultures, there is a number of things that we must learn so that we can concentrate on the business at hand and not fearing we will offend others through lack of knowledge.

In an easy way of understanding what culture is we could define it as simply ”the way things are done here.” 

Culture deals with the way different people look at what makes the world what it is. From belief systems, law, language, values, and all that one is raised up in that influences how they view life. 

For example I had a Chinese friend that I did business with that had all sorts of problems with the individuality of my lifestyle. She would be very offended if you didn’t stay close together when you went to an event. From her way of life it should be done as a group, not walking off to look at something else that might be of interest.

I had stumbled onto one of the great cultural differences that is in the world today, amongst most cultures we interact with. It is the difference between predominately self-focused or being group-focused.

This is how it is shown by ethicaledge.com:

Another aspect of culture is the acceptability of differences in power between individuals of a group. Putting the two aspects together creates a matrix that demonstrates the richness of cultural influence:

Self-focus, low power differential. One answers to personal standards and questions existing authority (Anglo-American).

Self focus, high power differential. One answers to personal standards, but follows a sense of duty (French, German, South African). 

Group-focus, low power differential. One considers the group, but rejects authority (Russian, Swedish, Chinese).

Group focus, high power differential. One considers the group and follows a strong sense of duty (Mexican, Subcontinent, Japanese, Saudi Arabian).  

 These various cultural differences can have a great impact on the way things are to be managed. From getting paid and rewarded for performance to dealing with quality issues.

If you’re interacting with some of the various cultures listed above it would be prudent to get a handle on how they view self versus the group.