Towards A Global Business Culture - Concepts, Analysis and Implications - Essay Example

Introduction

What is Globalization?

Questions on how to define globalization have elicited much controversy, as different scholars define globalization differently. Because of its multi-faceted nature, globalization is usually interpreted differently and its repercussions are also wide-spread. The best definition given to globalization is that it refers to the inter-relation between different nations across the world, to ensure cohesion of activities enabled by technology and culturalization. Because of globalization, there are changing trends especially in business transactions and generally, commercial transactions. There is currently an ability to conduct cross-border business and there is greater sharing of services and products on a global scale. There is however a contention that globalization has also complicated how business transactions are carried out. There is need for restructuring of business organizations and also investing in technology to ensure matching up with the competitive nature of business. This paper addresses the main concerns that come with globalization and analyses the manner in which globalization has undermined the sovereignty of states hence weakening the ability of states to operate independently.

Globalization, Culture and Global business culture

According to Parker (2005, p167), globalization can first be traced to the 1940s when the word appeared in the English language. It was until the 1990s, however, that the word caught the public by storm. This is because the term was used to describe the nature of social life on the planet, which was steadily growing to inter-dependency. However, in the recent past, the term has been used to define the post-modern business developments.

The Emergence of Global business culture

There are various forces deemed responsible for the emergence of a global business culture, ranging from the needs that human beings have collectively to the developments in the trade of corporations and individuals. These needs range from the growth of a world trade system with collective business activities, the dire need for improved telecommunications and information technology, the requirement that data be stored and transmitted with more ease, opportunities and facilitation of businesses and traveling among many others (Crawford & Fogarty, 2008, p13). Because of these needs and the development towards their attainment, the world has since been perceived to be a small place. Realistically, countries have become very inter-dependent and there is hardly any chance that a state can survive, at this time and age, alone. Starting with shared commodities and their global acceptance, among other factors, essentials are shared between states to ensure flourishment as a whole world (King, 2004, p 53).

Effects of Globalization on Business

Apart from the things shared across the globe such as drinks, food and even merchandise such as cars, there is evidence showing that the globe is also moving forward with a single worldview. This has been influenced greatly by the large media houses such as the Wall Street Journal, CNN among other informative platforms such as National Geographic. Common messages are being distributed and are heard in many parts of the world, through publications and news corporations. The media outlets though regionalized to depict locality and municipal interests, usually have one central voice, and more particularly message.

An example can be the Wall Street Journal, which has an Asian copy or edition, but voices same messages as the journal circulated in the United States. Just like in news and dispensation of information, entertainment has also acquired a single worldview. A good example is the Star Wars trilogy which has been accepted and is being viewed across the world, including in Africa and Asia. Many video outlets and theaters show these movies and the same have earned a country such as the United States large sums of income. The mere fact that such content can be watched across the globe is an indication that indeed, the world is adopting singleness and a common worldview. In summation of the issue on worldview, however much diversity of opinion and information is still a reality, great change is being witnessed in today’s world. There is a lot being shared by people and unification is becoming more rampant. There is a commonality in what people perceive issues as. These elements are very important in ensuring that a common, global business culture emerges.

Becoming a member of the Global business culture

Smith (1990, p73) opines that there are many emerging factors which promote global interdependence and one-world characteristics, and engaging in this emergence is an issue is necessary. It is true that currently, a global business culture is being embraced by different nations and people. However, meager exposure to current global issues, such as access to information through radio transmissions, televisions and other electronic products does not suffice in trying to show the emergence of a global business culture. More engagement in the global trends and trade has to be met to ensure sufficiency to be regarded as being among those developing a global business culture (Charles, 2011, p89). Membership of multi-national culture demands that specific parties conduct certain specific advancements towards the culture. Among the most important aspects that is necessary to show concern of a state in emerging trends is opening up of its boundaries and easing of immigration regulations. Territorial barriers are to be delineated by states that feel they need to engage in the affairs of the globe, such as culture. The cornerstone of the globalization of culture is based on massive interactions by a given nation with other states of common objectives. There has to be a variety of shared concerns and experiences in way of doing business and trade (Smith, 1990, p189).

Enculturation – Independent Nations Undermined

As research and evidence would show, members of a globalized culture are those that posses characteristics of similar nature with similar states or individuals. The culture consists of people who agree to self-selection. A choice is necessary to attach to other members within the globe who all agree to certain principles and way of doing things. At the center of this argument is the fact that for states to set themselves and agree to global commonality in culture, then experiences are to be shared (Graham, 2010, p17). This experience, most of the time could include the process of enculturation. This leads to the assumption that for a global business culture to grow, then the individuals who are party to the culture are expected, by default, to regard less their national business policies and ways of doing things, and adopt the common traditions of the global community. Some proponents of global business culture have explained enculturation to be an analogy which oversees people interactions with other people, who emanate from a different culture altogether. After sometime, the interactions lead to relationships, which after some time cause attachments to one another (Graham, 2010, p30).

The Impact of Global business culture on nationally controlled business

As had been identified in the preceding paragraphs, the biggest threat to the business culture of a nation is globalization and emergence of global change. As a result, cultures that are enjoyed at state level are facing imminent danger of extinction and are being assaulted by global business cultures (Aruoba, et. al. 2011, p223). The threat is brought up in a three-fold analysis. To begin with, because of the impact of global business culture, nationals are starting to defect from nationalized culture to the larger global business culture which is very influential. Gradually, national cultures are viewed to be defective and engaged in political and economic turmoil (Ali & Kaynak, 2012, p54). In the recent past, members of national cultures contend that abstaining from global cultural practices can be detrimental to the nation, as most of the states rely heavily on export and imports, which is a direct result of global economic culture and inter-dependency. Tensional pressures between members and non-members of the global business culture pose the second threat to national cultural growth. Non-members to global affairs are considered to be naïve and inconsiderate, as member’s view global business culture as being very beneficial. The third reality facing national culture is that it is overwhelmed by global change. As a result, states and individuals who are not part of global business culture are deemed irrelevant. Currently, concentration on creating regional blocks such as the European Union, the African Union, and East African Community is making national cultures be obsolete. These decreasing national cultures are likened to the concern about the diminishing rate of ecological systems across the globe.

Post-Industrial Business Growth: A Global Perspective

According to the analysis provided above, it can easily be concluded that cultural imperialism is brewing on the part of business transactions, and the nation-based cultural enhancement is greatly affected. Sovereignty is slowly becoming intolerable. As it is, the world is ready to engage in a new world order that focuses on economic superiority, militarization of blocks created from states, multinational characteristics, and technological development to ensure that connectivity across the globe is conducive for business. The current status around the world does not give adequate changes to smaller investors, and business groups. Global change is happening at the fastest rate possible. Skilled labour, puffed budgets, advancement in technological development and creation of multi-national companies are examples of changes that continue to support need for a global business culture (Rensmann & Markovits, 2010, p112).

Implications of Global business culture

Considering the radical change towards globalizing culture, there are certain implications which come to play. Changing culture mostly leads to changing organizational structures for conducting. A number of theories surround the issue of influences caused by global business culture. One of the theories is that cultures accepted globally have to be effective enough to ensure they are adopted in organizations, especially trans-national companies which have to adopt global organization cultures for employees transcending from all over the world. Because of the nature of business and international relations, personal attributes are influential on the organization’s performance, and hence need to be considered, even in the wake of globally accepted cultures (Stevens & Bird, 2015, p29).

Conclusion

According to the availed analysis, it can be inferred that indeed the world is adopting global business culture, and this is done at the expense of nationally accepted business norms, which risk extinction. The concept of a global business culture is real and inevitably developing. This paper’s findings are also geared towards advocating for business model changes because of the benefits is accrues upon its subscribers. Among the noticeable advantages of global business culture adoption is the fact that it eases business, ensures people remain connected, and creates a common goal of posterity for the globe. Though global business culture is lucrative, it has certain disadvantages, which include; members of the global business culture enjoy greater benefits compared to non-members, there is erosion of national culture which is a strong aspect when it comes to matters related to state heritage and growth, and also the risk of losing sovereignty among states as they continue to open their boundaries for regional engagement and interaction. Global business culture is a reality that continues to prove existence in this and future centuries.References

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