Intercultural management Flashcards
objectives
Develop intellectual understanding and behavioral skills depending on people from different cultures in work settings:
Develop awareness of the pervasive and hidden influence of culture on work behavior in particular, but also organizational design and organizational change.
Help you effectively deal with the types of situations and issues one often is confronted with when working internationally.
To define communication
To make a difference between the verbal and non verbal communication
To know the different styles of communication
To understand the verbal communication and non verbal communication across different cultures
definitions of culture
set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.
Culture for Durkheim
‘’Culture has many relationships to society which include:
- Logical: Power over individuals belongs to certain cultural categories, and beliefs such as in God. - Functional :Certain rites and myths create and build up social order by having more people create strong beliefs. The greater the number of people who believe strongly in these myths more will the social order be strengthened. - Historical :Culture had its origins in society, and from those experiences came evolution into things such as classification systems. ‘’ - David Émile Durkheim
Moroccan culture
Morocco has been called “home” by many different people throughout the centuries. In addition to the indigenous Amazigh (Berbers), the country has hosted a variety of cultures coming from the East (Phoenicians and Arabs), the South (Sub-Saharan Africans), and the North (Romans and Spanish Andalusians – both Muslim and Jewish) throughout history.
As a conservative and religious country, clothing is something you have to be mindful of when visiting Morocco. Especially in rural areas, you should always attempt to cover body parts considered “private”. For women, this can mean covering the arms (or at least the shoulders) and the knees up. For men, it requires covering up the shoulders and above the knee.
In cosmopolitan cities, such asMarrakech, Rabat and Casablanca, the dress code is more relaxed and common to see women wear short-sleeve tops and knee-length skirts and men often wearsleeveless t-shirts.
Moroccans are a very welcoming and tolerant people towards different cultures, ideas and ways of life.
Models of culture
Onion Model
Iceberg Model
Barrel Model
Onion Model
The core stands for the values of a certain culture, which is not moving a lot. It mostly remains the same. Even if something seems to be outdated, it still can subconsciously play a role in the present. That includes individuals as well as groups.
The first layer is rituals. Those rituals are changing slowly. (ex: marriage, religion..)
The second layer are the heroes. Which means all people who play a role-model in that society. Heroes can be real or fictives. They tend to represent many of the culture’s values and beliefs.
The outer layers represent cultural artefacts or symbols such as flags, architecture or traditional clothing.
All three layers can be trained and learned through practices except for the core: the inner cultural values.
Onion Model: Ex of rituals
Wedding rituals
Couscous on fridays
Mint tea for guests
Special meals during Ramadan
Onion Model: Ex of heros
- King Hassan II
- Gad Elmaleh (Comedian/Actor)
- Fatema Mernissi (Feminist writer and sociologist)
- Tariq ibn Ziyad (commander who led the Muslim conquest ofVisigothicHispania)
Onion Model: Ex of symbols
Flag : The red background on the Moroccan flag represents hardiness, bravery, strength and valour, while the green represents love, joy, wisdom, peace and hope. It also represents thecolor of Islamand the pentagram the seal of Solomon. The 5 branches also represents the pillars of Islam.
Zelig : It is a mosaic tilework. This form ofIslamic art is one of the main characteristics ofMoroccan architecture.
Fatma’s khamsa : Believed to provide defense against theevil eye.
Moroccan tea : One of the most popular symbols of Morocco around the world.
Onion Model: Ex of values
Moroccan values are: Importance of family Religion Hospitality The hshouma concept..
Iceberg approach
The Iceberg Model is a metaphor of an actual iceberg : we can only observe 10% of the actual iceberg, and the rest is hidden beneath the surface of the water.
These characteristics can be divided into three levels, the first being Surface, which includes all the easily observable characteristics of a culture like Behaviors.
The second level in the Iceberg Model is hidden underneath these surface characteristics. Interpretations take more time for an outsider to understand.
Deep below the “water line” are a culture’s Core values. These are primarily learned ideas. In many cases, different cultural groups share similar core values (such as “honesty”, or “respect”, or “family”), but these are often interpreted differently in different situations and incorporated in unique ways into our daily lives.
Examples of Behaviours
What is observable in Morocco like : Architecture Food Music Clothes
Examples of Interpretations
Beliefs : Moroccans have a lot of beliefs such as the ‘’ein’’, the ‘hschuma’’ ect..
Family : Family is the most important thing for the majority of moroccans.
Gender role : Nowadays, women speak up for their rights, but the society is still ‘’masculine’’.
Core values : Hospitality, respect of the elder..
Barrell approach
This model explains how and why people see culture the way they do. It also explains why culture changes. For example, the economic base changes because of war, peace. The superstructure changes because of new technologies etc..)
It subdiveses to 3 levels : Infrastructure (the economic base), Social structure (social organisation) and superstructure (the ideology.)
Infrastucture in Morocco
The economy of Moroccois considered a relativelyliberal economy governed by thelaw of supply and demand. Since 1993,Moroccohas followed a policy ofprivatizationof certain economic sectors which used to be in the hands of thegovernment.Morocco has become a major player inAfricaneconomic affairs,and is the5th largest African economyby GDP (PPP). The World Economic Forum placed Morocco as the 1st most competitive economy in North Africa, in its African Competitiveness Report 2014-2015.
Theservices sectoraccounts for just over half ofGDP; industry — made up of mining, construction and manufacturing — is an additional quarter. The sectors that recorded the highest growth are thetourism, telecoms, and textile sectors. Morocco, however, still depends to an inordinate degree on agriculture.
Social structure in Morocco
There is still a gap between the rich and the poor.
We can also observe gender inequalities in Morocco.
superstructure
The hshouma concept is still a big deal in Morocco.
The hospitality of moroccans is known worldwide.
There is still a notion of respect between people, especially with elders.
Levels of culture
International Culture
National Culture
Subculture
International Culture
International culture is culture that extends beyond national borders. It’s not confined to a country, a people group, or even a continent! With this definition in mind, it’s not surprising to know that international culture is sometimes also referred to as universal.
Marriage is an excellent example of international culture because it’s practiced by people groups all over the world. Whether they say ‘I do’ in English, French, or Swahili, people all over the globe enter into the union of marriage. Yes, the outfit the bride wears may differ depending on her country, and the ceremony may look very different depending on the couple’s religion, but the basic premise remains the same.
National Culture
National culture represents the beliefs and practices shared by the citizens of the same nation. It’s what makes an American an American and an Italian an Italian.
Subculture
Subculture is often defined as the beliefs and attitudes that separate groups within the same broad culture. As a layer of culture, subculture is often made up of differences in religion, socioeconomic status, and even race. As Americans, we are very familiar with subcultures. One needs to only spend a day in New York City to experience the subcultures of places like Little Italy, Greenwich Village, and Chinatown. Yes, many of the people you see there will share the national culture.
Cultural diversity
- high culture
- popular culture
- sub culture
- counter culture
High culture
Sociologists use the termhigh cultureto describe the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes that exist in the highest class segments of a society. People often associate high culture with intellectualism, political power, and prestige. In America, high culture also tends to be associated with wealth. Events considered high culture can be expensive and formal—attending a ballet, seeing a play, or listening to a live symphony performance.
