International-Business-Dr-R-Chandran-E-book

Work Habits and Practices
254
International Business- Dr. R. Chandran
Another dimension for examining a group’s culture is its attitude towards
work. In some countries, the culture is oriented towards work, and holidays
are minimum. An example is China, except for ten continuous days holiday
during the Chinese New Year. A work ethic in which all members are
excepted to engage in a desirable and worthwhile activity in the same
culture For some cultures, the worthiness of the activity is narrowly
measured in terms of income produce and the worth of he individual is
assessed in terms of job status. In Japan, the culture lies in family which is
transferred to the organization that employs the person and the quality of
ones performance is expressed in work group participation, communication
and consensus.
Global Culture – A Rationale
Today, there is an increasing need for an uniform culture across different
countries, however it is not entirely possible. The main reason for this is the
close bond with traditions and beliefs, which has been carried over
generations. Time and space have largely divided the world into diverse
forms and patterns, and cultural differences an evident even within a
country. India itself is a land of varied cultures and beliefs. So is Canada,
which is divided between English speaking and French speaking cultures.
Even though cultures vary, our need to interact remains and it is essential to
adapt to a new country and its culture. This is especially important in the
exchange of commerce and persons doing business across the world have
constantly felt a need for this. Many corporates fail because they did not take
cultural differences into account. An American cannot sell port to a Muslim.
This shows that there is a strong need to understand diverse cultures, for
business to succeed.
CULTURE AND BUSINES ACROSS THE GLOBE
United States of America
The fourth largest nation in the world, the USA has been considered a
melting pot of diverse cultures. An overview of the dominant culture of the
USA reveals the following traits:
1. Highly achievement-oriented.
2. Highly organized and institutionalized.
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