Differences in Culture Flashcards
What is culture?
a complex phenomenon that includes knowledge, beliefs, art, moral, laws, customs, and other capabilities acquired by people as a member of society.
Values and norms are
the central components of a culture. Values are abstract ideals about what a society believes to be good, right, and desirable. Norms are social rules and guidelines that prescribe appropriate behavior in particular situations.
Values and norms are influenced by
political forces, economic philosophy, social structures, religion, language, and education. And, the value systems and norms of a country can affect the costs of doing business in that country.
What does the social structure of a society refer to?
its basic social organizations. Two main dimensions along which social structures differ are the individual group dimension and the stratification dimension (entire group).
Virtually all societies are stratified into different classes. Class-conscious and less class-conscious
Class-conscious societies are characterized by low social mobility and a high degree of stratification. Less class-conscious societies are characterized by high social mobility and a low degree of stratification.
How can we define religion?
a system of shared beliefs and rituals that is concerned with the realm of the sacred. The value systems have different implications for business practice.
How can we define ethical systems?
a set of moral principles, or values, that are used to guide and shape behavior. The value systems have different implications for business practice.
What role does language and education play in culture and business?
Language is one defining characteristic of a culture. Spoken and unspoken
Formal education is the medium through which individuals learn knowledge and skills, and become socialized into the values and norms of a society. Important role in the determination of national competitive advantage.
Engines of cultural change are?
Economic progress and globalization. Nor constant, evolves.
One danger confronting a company that goes abroad is?
being ill-informed. To develop cross-cultural literacy, companies operating globally should consider employing host-country nationals, build a cadre of cosmopolitan executive, and guard against the dangers of ethnocentric behavior.
