How Culture and Environment Affect Organizational Management
Submitted by: Submitted by jammyriggs
Views: 259
Words: 1936
Pages: 8
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 12/03/2013 12:11 PM
How Culture and Environment Affect Organizational Management
Jonathan Riggs
Trident University International
Management and Organizational Behavior - MGT 501
Marva Dixon
January 20, 2013
How Culture and Environment Affect Organizational Management
A unique culture exists in every country. Regional areas within a country can also possess it’s own cultural environment as can cities and even neighborhoods. Organizations also contain an inimitable culture unto themselves. Although it may be quite challenging, in order to thrive in the multinational business environment one must recognize the specific cultural environment involved in a situation and be aware of the behaviors associated with that culture, so that people are not unnecessarily offended. Being unaware of the cultural situation can lead in missteps that result in missed opportunities, lost revenues, and even losing one’s job (Burman, 2010).
In the case of Linda Myers, a fictional character who accepts a human resources position in a South Korean company, the situation is one where insufficient preparation and lack of culture assimilation cause a conflicting workplace environment and ends with termination of employment. This paper will define the cultural awareness problem, explain the problem using Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture ("Hofstede’s Dimensions," n.d.), and propose a possible solution that may have corrected Myers’ cultural awareness problems before she lost her position.
The Problem.
Myers failed to properly prepare for her experience in South Korea. Even though she did perform some research and was familiar with other Asian cultures, her preparations were still insufficient for a well-rounded understanding of the cultural environment in which she would find herself immersed. Ultimately, the main part of the problem was that Myers’ expectations were much different than that of her employers and they were unable to communicate those expectations effectively. Myers expected...
