Culture Differences - Assignment Example

Culture Differences Name: Institution: Date: Executive summary This report discusses the importance of cultural differences to an engineer within a global economy. It explains how as an engineer I will work and relate with other people from different cultural backgrounds. As an engineer cultural awareness is important in settling in the global community and being prepared to work in any part of the world despite cultural diversity. Learning to cope with people from different cultural background is a must for any engineer since in the course of working we are going to meet people from all walks of life. It further discusses the challenges that are associated with working within a global environment with regard to cultural awareness including indigenous communities. The conclusion sums up the importance of cultural diversity to an engineer and its significance to the global community. Introduction Cultural differences are significant in the world today. Cultural diversity and gender sensitivity determine the way people communicate and transact business in the world. Politics of inclusion and being sensitive to gender have dominated labor discussions. As a profession engineering has to appreciate diversity in engineering education and the workplace. Different opinions from different backgrounds are important in dealing with the problems that face the world (Brewer & Venaik, 2012). Cross-cultural communication framework developed by Geert Hofstede provides a wide understanding of different countries’ cultures across the world. One has to understand the cultural background of people in order to communicate effectively. Gestures and other nonverbal communication play an important role in face to face encounters. As an engineer I have to be willing and ready to work with people from all cultural backgrounds and nationalities and appreciate the differences in cultures and way of communication. Engineers have to appreciate their role in the global economy and be ready to work anywhere in the world and help solve problems that facing the society (Nijkamp, Poot & Bakens, 2015). Engineers have to fit in the global economy and champion technological change that leads to sustainable economic development. This paper discusses my role as an engineer in understanding cultural differences and its significance to the global economy. Discussion The nature of engineering in international front requires global engineers who can communicate with people from a variety of backgrounds. Professor Geert Hofstede carried out comprehensive studies on how values within the workplace are influenced by culture. Articles by Hofstede have been published in management and social science journals around the world. Hofstede is regarded as the founder of comparative intercultural research. It is critical to understand cultural difference among nations of the world in order to know how to relate with each individual in the global world. Understanding Hofstede cross-cultural communication will enable me as an engineer to relate with people from different backgrounds and cultures across nations (Hofstede, 2001). In order to deal with national cultural differences calls for knowledge concerning behavior and comprehending the deeper-level assumptions as well as values that further explain how certain behaviors are suitable as compared to others. Hofstede points out generic factors which portray value systems within different national cultures, comprising those of systems and software developers using statistical cluster analysis (Hofstede, 1984). The analysis made use of questionnaires from more than fifty countries. The factors or dimensions identified by Hofstede include individualism/collectivism, power distance, masculinity/femininity, and uncertainty avoidance. Power distance describes the level to which people regard it natural that status, power, and privilege are unequally distributed amongst individuals or the distribution has no impact on their lives (Adeoye &Tomei, 2014). In countries with small power distance superiors and subordinates consider one another as existentially equal hence decentralization is embraced whereas in countries with huge power distance they are subjected to authority of bosses as well as centralization is common. Individualism vs. collectivism describes esteem of people activities and their successes vs. the significance of being a member of a group. Within a culture that is individualistic people only mind themselves as well as their close families and ensure emotional independence from the group. In a culture that appreciates collectivism people make a difference between out-groups and in-groups and look forward to their in-groups to take care of them and individuals’ identity is defined by relationship to others or belonging to a certain group (Hofstede, 2001). The group and the individual have mutual obligation of protection and loyalty is exchanged for this. Masculinity vs. femininity is presented as compromise and quality orientation vs. confrontation and quantity orientation. Within masculine cultures significance is placed on competitiveness, assertiveness and materialism with regard to advancement and earnings, big bonuses and promotions. In masculine cultures the men are expected to be tough and assertive. A feminine culture presents concern for other people, nurturing, quality of life as well as social well-being. Uncertainty avoidance describes the attitude of people towards unknown or ambiguous situations. In many cases innovations involves a lot of uncertainty hence it is weaker in countries with weak uncertainty avoiding cultures (Hofstede, 2001). Engineers have to be innovative and understand where they differ with other engineers from different countries when it comes to innovation. A culture with a strong uncertainty avoiding builds high anxiety levels in people who enjoy working hard and like establishment and adhering to set rules. Implementation of outcomes of innovation requires such an attitude to be successful. Where uncertainty avoidance is high people avoid risks hence they will be unwilling to invest in high risk ventures for the sake of unrealized profits. They trust what they have than what they expect. All the factures are continuum between two extremes and no single national culture is at one or the opposite extreme (Adeoye &Tomei, 2014). There may be individuals who will not confirm to the general model within a given culture. However, as an engineer is important to have knowledge of such differences in order to manage to interpret some individual behaviors influenced by national cultures. Engineers have to work with multidisciplinary teams and with people without engineering orientation. Cultural values play the role of a link between the organization and the engineer (Laroche, 2012). The engineer relates to the entire group while maintaining his unique identity. Values stands for biological, physiological, sociology, psychology social needs for the individual. Values stand for biological, psychological, and social needs of a person. Values play a pivotal role in organizations because people evaluate situations as well as make decision at the workplace using values being the criteria. Hofstede regards values as core to cultural differences among technical managers. The managers who are from different backgrounds and cultures are anticipated to differ in regard to the significance of their personal values (Patil, 2012). These values impact behavior hence personal values will be demonstrated in managerial behavior. Cultural differences have to be identified and reconciled to enhance effective communication in organizations. Engineers like other people possess different cultural values and opinions that have to be reconciled to ensure there is efficiency in communication and division of roles in the global economy. As an engineer I have to come up with a solution development process that assumes a holistic view of human and natural system interactions. An engineer has to apply holistic synthesis and scientific analysis in developing sustainable solutions that closely integrate environmental, social, economic, and cultural systems. I have to understand different cultural orientation in order to work well with managers from various cultural backgrounds. The effort to embrace other culture has to start in during college period and project into the job market (Petrakis, 2014). Strategic goals of organizations are shaped by the corporate culture that encompasses the values of individual employees and managers in that organization. Engineering connects to natural science, human and social sciences. I must have a wide scope in order to serve the society effectively. I need a broadened approach to engineering education in order to fit in the world economy. Engineers and international firms can benefit from a clear understanding of the correlation between an engineer’s values and the corporate culture. In this regard corporate culture refers to values of corporate managers as well as their subordinates. There is a strong corporate culture when the values of employees are in agreement with those of the organization. Culture defines the manner in which people live and behave socially and in organizational settings. Hofstede describes culture as the mind’s collective programming that differentiates members of one category or group from another. Values impact attitudes; attitudes impacts behaviors, and behavior affect culture. Values refer to the beliefs that define a person’s alternatives and preferences between inappropriate and appropriate behavior. The professional engineering culture is a kind of culture that can impact international joint ventures but received little attention as compared to organizational culture (Laroche, 2012). The professional interactions and experiences of engineers serve in the reinforcement of their socialization process as well as communicate a profound understanding in the manner that the engineering occupation has to be conducted. Cultural diversity explains the differences in people. Individuals are nurtured in different societies come and distinct cultural backgrounds. It is significance to relate Culture a variety of extrinsic expressions together intrinsic qualities like habits, emotions, thought processes, dress, manners and way of communicating. When people from different cultural orientation meet, cultural diversity defines the society that is formed (Patil, 2012). The world today has been connected by knowledge despite being founded on global economy. Engineers will work even within the indigenous communities and cultures hence it is important to understand how to communicate with the native people and understand their engineering needs. Social amenities, water, electricity and lighting are essential items that indigenous communities need and it will require the work of an engineer for these things to reach the native communities (Petrakis, 2014). It is crucial for engineers to get the essential training as well as education while in school so that they are effectively prepared to deal with the needs of the global world. Engineers have to take the leading role in the industrial economic revolution. Engineers are in charge of technological development that resulted in the modern society; they have come up with infrastructure; mechanized agriculture; modern transportation systems, as well as technological innovations like computers, mass media and communication systems (Brewer & Venaik, 2012). Engineers have played a part in making the world a global village and they need to participate in enhancing communication and interaction across different backgrounds, traditions and culture. Engineers have to understand the multicultural world. I have to begin by appreciating course mates that are from different cultural backgrounds and seek to understand what makes them different. Engineering have to support diversity, inclusion and fair treatment of everyone in the society. Boundaries geographically have been done away with through emerging technologies, growth of diversity, and embracing a variety of ways that contribute to the cohesion within the society (Nijkamp, Poot & Bakens, 2015). Engineers are employed as consultants and they must be able to communicate with different practitioners in various disciplines in the world. Sustainable economic development can only be achieved with technological change where engineers take the leading role in the global economy. Diversity is a primary component that enhances both educational and research objectives. We have opportunities and accompanying challenges for realizing diversity within the discipline of engineering. In order to widen my knowledge on culture differences and diversity I have to create time and read more on different cultures and how unique they are from each other. I endeavor to work in cosmopolitan cities and organizations that will expose me to people from different backgrounds and cultural orientations. Engineers across the globe have to understand their responsibility to their community and to themselves. Innovations in science have resulted into the current interconnectedness across even the remote part of the world (Laroche, 2012). Cultural differences in the university community have a great role on the educational process. People from various backgrounds travel across national boundary to an education and work where there are opportunities. Engineers offer the bridge between society and science and understanding cross-cultural communication is an added advantage. Consequently engineers have to actively be involved and promote multidisciplinary teams with other professionals like doctors, economists, sociologist, and ecologists in order to effectively deal with challenges of sustainable economic development. Engineers globally will promote public recognition and of needs as well as opportunities in the fast developing world to keep their role the sustainable development (Petrakis, 2014). Challenges in communication can lead to stalling of projects or slow pace in development. Communication challenges as result of cultural differences are a big problem for engineers and they have to overcome them. Conclusion Information technology as well as Knowledge transfer revolution has enhanced cross-cultural communication and the manner in which people relate within the global community. Being aware of differences in culture as well as personal values is very crucial for any engineer since through our profession we interact with people from different disciplines as well as cultural backgrounds. It is an added advantage when an engineer is able to relate with people from different cultural backgrounds and nationalities and possess a global mindset. I must endevour to work and interact with people from different parts of the world and master things that will enhance our communication. The capacity to interact freely in any given society portrays an engineer with a global mindset who is prepared to work in any community including the indigenous communities. As an engineer I will work in diverse cultures including the indigenous people. I have to understand and embrace the uniqueness of their culture and learn to communicate with them. Engineers have to work in multi-disciplinary teams and have to adapt quickly appreciate personal values that are manifested in the beliefs of an individual. Appreciating cultural diversity and learning to cope with other people’ way of life enhances interaction for an engineer. Hofstede’s cross-cultural communication framework applies for various countries in the world. Understanding the framework provides a glimpse into the overall orientation of people from a specific country hence understanding how to communicate with them effectively. Culture differences will impact the life and work of any engineers and awareness of cultural diversity provides a competitive edge in the global economy. References Adeoye, B. &Tomei, L. (2014). Effects of information capitalism and globalization on teaching and learning, Pennsylvania: Information Science Reference. Brewer, P., & Venaik, S. (2012). On the misuse of national culture dimensions, International Marketing Review, 29(6), 673-683. Coelho, D. A. (2011). A study on the relation between manufacturing strategy, company size, country culture and product and process innovation in Europe, International Journal of Business and Globalization, 7(2), 152-165. Hofstede, Geert (1984). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values (2nd ed.). Beverly Hills CA: SAGE Publications. Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's Consequences: comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Laroche, L. (2012). Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions, London: Routledge. Nijkamp, P., Poot, J., & Bakens, J. (2015). The Economics of Cultural Diversity, London: Edward Elgar Publishing. Patil, A. (2012).New Media Communication Skills for Engineers and IT Professionals: Trans-National and Trans-Cultural Demands: Trans-National and Trans-Cultural Demands, New York: IGI Global. Petrakis,P.E. (2014), Culture, Growth and Economic Policy, New York and Heidelberg: Springer. Read More