Existence of Many Cultures and Challenges of Embracing Cultural Diversity - Research Paper Example

Argument Essay Introduction The significance of the common global culture is arguably enormous. Many nations are increasingly becoming interconnected through technologies and trade. In effect, various nations embrace unprecedented cooperation. The economically poor countries benefit hugely from the trading activities with powerful nations. Arguably, the unity among nations requires a mutual understanding in which a common culture promises to achieve the endeavor. Although many challenges can hamper the realization of a common global culture, nations should look beyond the barriers and strive to practice similar customs for the common good. Individual nations require embracing a common culture for mutual understanding. Existence of Many Cultures and Challenges of Embracing Cultural Diversity Many cultures exist across the globe. The individual nations have a tendency to practice unique customs. The complexity of the cultures can be a huge barrier to the quest to realize a common culture. Some cultures with strong ideologies are associated with the global conflicts. In fact, the link of certain cultures with wars has been a major concern by powerful nations such as the United States (Dittmer 78). In this respect, a number of complex relations influence the comprehension of the contemporary culture. The media, interculturalism, and globalization have endeavored to promote the mutual cultural understanding. In this regard, the media has continued to portray the values embraced by different cultures. Similarly, globalization has attempted to bring nations with varying cultures together with the intent of shaping the economic and political agendas. However, the efforts to enhance cultural awareness face tremendous challenges. Communication barriers hamper the comprehension and incorporation of cultures of different nations. Communication barrier is a major drawback to the realization of a common culture. Different cultures have their way of communicating and interpreting of the messages. Notably, the organizations that operate overseas face the challenge of miscommunication. Consequently, the miscommunication tends to jeopardize cohesion, trust, and teams that outsource. Essentially, the cultural barriers amount to communication challenges in both written and verbal forms. In fact, the communication challenges prompt organizations to invest a lot of effort in decoding and encoding messages. The investment aims at increasing the slow interaction between the multinational companies and the locals. The extent of how the employees in virtual teams reveal their intentions through explicit verbal communication is greatly compromised. In essence, the virtual teams in many parts of the world feel confused while waiting for an explanation and clearer responses from their counterparts. Sometimes this is a frustrating experience and lowers the effectiveness of organizations markedly. Cultural bias is another drawback. The cultural biases affect the understanding of customs and value of different nations. Notably, cultural diversity tends to create built-in biases because members from different cultural backgrounds desire the incorporation of their inputs in an organizational setting (Huntington 51). People from different cultures tend to have diversified views on what contributes to excellent performance. In this regard, such members attempt to bring cultural differences to the surface in unproductive ways. Consequently, the disparities might affect the efforts to understand and integrate the cultural values in the decision-making processes and execution of tasks. Sometimes the biases might stem from poor supervision. For instance, when a supervisor from one culture appraises the performance of a subordinate from another culture, it creates tension in the organizations that operate globally. In this way, the people from different cultural backgrounds fail to embrace shared resources and knowledge, open communication, relationship, collaboration, and collective responsibility, which are crucial tenets for success. The failure to embrace the elements that build and strengthen virtual teams jeopardizes team accountability. The members of the virtual team do not take responsibility and be accountable for the duty they execute. Therefore, cultural bias affects the enhancement and mutual understanding of values of people from different nations. However, nations should think beyond the bias and attempt to embrace a common culture. A section of nations perceives that the efforts to homogenize culture can result to detrimental effects. Some cultures fear that engaging in the efforts to realize the globalized culture will result in loss of cultural identity. Nations are devoted to holding on to their cultural values in order to maintain a particular social order. Hence, such countries are not ready to take part in any discussions that call for cultural homogenization to achieve a common goal. The adamant nations do not recognize that many multinational organizations have made the world a global market (Huntington 65). It is a fact that the email, jet airplanes, telephone service, instant capital flows, and computers have resulted in an interdependent world that is ready to understand the values of different cultures. However, the quest to cling on individual cultures jeopardizes the efforts to understand the different cultural values. Notably, the inter-cultural, inter-religious, and inter-ethnic conflicts are huge challenges to the cultural mutual understanding. It is important for the seemingly primitive nations to embrace globalization by recognizing the economies, laws, and social movements that influence cultural homogeneity continue to form at international levels. Importance of Cultural Diversity It is important to understand customs and values, which different people practice in order to avoid cultural conflict. Notably, schools and organizations should value the varied cultures embraced by people of diverse backgrounds. The significance of accommodating each other’s culture in the organization entails maximizing productivity. In this respect, the organizations that do not respect other people’s culture have high chances of registering poor outputs. The accommodation of the students from different cultural backgrounds in schools enhances learning and creating a conducive study environment (Edmundson 10). Nations should emulate the tolerance of the culture, as it is practiced in schools and many organizations. For instance, nations can seek to increase multilateral trade. The heightened trade ties can foster togetherness and reduce cultural barriers. In essence, nations should try as much as possible to come together in the quest of embracing cultural diversity through creating stronger ties. The multinational companies have realized the significance of understanding different cultures. Notably, the companies have recognized that it is crucial to understand the preferences of their consumers in order to offer consumer-centered goods and services while maximizing profits (Keillor 67). It is without doubt that the understanding of consumers’ preferences tends to enhance profitability. In this regard, nations should endeavor to emulate multinational companies by harmonizing the cultural differences. For instance, nations ought to perceive the cultures of the other nations in a positive way in order to foster a spirit of connectedness. Guibeernau argues that the nations should address their domestic cultural intolerance prior to establishing strong international links (1930). For example, individual countries should attempt change and reassess the cultural diversity with a view to making an effective cultural diversity management plan as an integral part of the corporate strategy. The learning institutions have realized the importance of acknowledging cultural diversity and working on the ways to minimize any kind of intolerance. Notably, the institutions recognize that cultural barriers can jeopardize the learning incomes. If one conducts a simple survey in the educational institutions, it will be evident educators utilize different teaching techniques in order to benefit students from diverse cultures. Researchers denote that he language barrier hinders the quest of international students to capture the subject matter and attain high grades (Collins, Czarra, and Smith 10-11). However, the instructors ought to realize the inability of the international students to comprehend fully the language of delivery does not imply they lack critical thinking skills. Such ignorance of the cultural differences in the global arenas can hinder effective communication in the classroom setting. In essence, blatant failure to understand the cultures of different people can affect the intercultural communication and lead to poor students’ performance in the institutions of higher learning. Nations should embrace the cultural tolerance practiced in the learning institutions to promote connectedness for a common good. The Need to Implement a Common Culture An increasing need for nations to implement a common culture exists and promises to have numerous benefits. The globe is becoming increasingly competitive, and thus nations should endeavor to benefit from the global connectedness. It is noteworthy that the overwhelming global trends of globalization and technological advancement call for the implementation of a common culture. The multinational companies have attempted to create a homogeneous culture by manufacturing and selling products to the diverse base of consumers across the world. Similarly, the transfer of funds, raw materials, and technological skills across the international and within domestic border is arguably swift. Likewise, the ideas and values embraced by different cultures circulate at unprecedented speed. Thus, a need exists to implement a common culture to shape the political, social, and economic issues at a global level. Countries such as the United States are in the forefront to advance the efforts of forming a globalized world by assisting nations with poor economic progress. Although some nations might argue that a common culture leads to loss of diversity, it is paramount to recognize that habits and customs are dynamic (Ferguson 5). The culture is swiftly changing due to the global forces such as common markets and expansion of multinational operations. Therefore, it is paramount for the globe to embrace a common culture and enjoy the benefits that come with a globalized world. Conclusion It is important for nations to strive to establish a common culture for a common good. Nations should foster a lot of tolerance in the spirit of cultural homogenizations. The globalization and technological advancement call for the mutual understanding of cultural values embraced by different nations. It is paramount to incorporate such values in political, social, and economic issues of global significance. The rate of connectedness is tremendous, and nations should not cling on their primitive cultures in the contemporary globe. In effect, the nations should embrace the efforts of the multinational companies to manufacture and sell products to many consumers across the globe. A common culture promises to improve the political, social, and economic performance of the individual nations. Therefore, nations should seek to embrace global cultures in order to benefit hugely. There are ways in which the nations can promote togetherness and practice of one culture. Art is a crucial tool that has a huge potential of enhancing cultural awareness and reduce the existing cultural differences that hinder the realization of a common global culture. Nations can use many art mediums such as dance, songs, literature, and film to share ideas and raise the cultural awareness, as well as appreciation. Such a move will be important in enhancing the connectedness and efforts to have a common culture. In essence, the benefits of embracing a common culture are enormous and nations should pursue this quest. Works Cited Collins, Thomas., Czarra, Frederick, and Smith, Andrew. Guidelines for Global and International Studies Education: Challenges, Culture, Connections. Web. 26 Nov 2014 http://www.globaled.org/guidelines/guidelines.pdf Dittmer, Jason. Popular Culture, Geopolitics, and Identity. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010. Print. Edmundson, Andrea. Globalized E-Learning, Cultural Challenges. Hershey: Information Science Publ, 2006. Print. Ferguson, James. “Advanced international relations: The controversial role of culture in international relations.” The department of interpersonal relations SHSS. Melbourne: HarperCollins, 2002. Print. Guibeernau, Montserrat. The Identity of Nations. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Print. Huntington, Samuel. “The clash of civilizations”? In Foreign Affairs. New York: Foreign Affairs, 2013. Print. Keillor, Bruce. Understanding the Global Market: Navigating the International Business Environment. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, 2013. Print. Read More