Cultural Elements Worksheet Two

Allison Eastman

GMGT/510

December 12, 2012

Paul Whitacre

University of Phoenix Material

Cultural Elements Worksheet

Elements of culture / Your perceptions / What the experts say / Thoughts on the similarities and differences
Economic environment / In 2012 the economic environment for America is not doing well. The economy is still recovering from the collapse. The economic environment would affect my companies’ management in several ways. The first way the economic environment affects the company is through the budget of the company. Because the economy is bad this affects the budget for the company so departments would be affected. Another way economic environment can affect the management is on who they decide to keep on staff. In hard times management is often forced to downsize because of budget constraints. / According toEconomy(2012), The United States has the world's biggest, most diverse, and most technically advanced economy. The United States. economy continues to struggle and unemployment is high. The experts also said the following in regard to school budgets. The last few years of economic gloom in the United States, have been particularly trying. The State University of New York(and other schools) is dependent on the state budget and the state's financial health with about one-third of Buffalo State's operating budget coming from state sources. Such budgets have been cut to the point that academic programs must consider eliminating elective courses and the adjunct faculty who teach them(“Serving Students in the Current Economic Environment,”2010). / My perceptions and what the experts say are similar. We both say that the economy is still doing badly. The state of the economy affects the company in all aspects but finances are affected the most.
Business norms and work ethics / In America the normal outfit to work depends on the kind of job that a person has. In America teachers are expected to dress nicely and professionally. The dress code would also affect management because they would also be expected to conform to the rules as any other employee.
I think that most teachers in America would get paid for overtime work that was done in the office. As a manager it would be hard to reward a person who works outside. In America hard working people are seen as the “go getters”. I feel that these people are more likely to be noticed and praised by management. / According toPersonal Appearance(2012), Dressing “down” is a movement in the workplace; still, suits for men, and pantsuits, dresses, or skirts for women are typical attire in offices. Formal clothing is worn for certain social occasions. Appearance is important to the individual American.
The experts had the following to say about American work ethics. Foreign migrants have always performed hard labor in U.S. agriculture, no matter what the national unemployment rate. So when Americans complain aboutthe lack of jobstoday they are drawing a line somewhere. For many people of the unemployed, it makes more senseto collect unemployment or disability or other benefitsthan it does to take a temporary job that they cannot or will not do, for whatever reason (2011). / The experts and my views on business norms are similar. We both said that appearance in the work environment is very important. I did not mention “dressing down” in the workplace, but I also think that it is common in American businesses, especially on Fridays.
The expert’s views and mine on work ethics were quite different. I addressed hardworking people and overtime as business ethics. The experts spoke of how American people ethics have lowered because they are complaining when there is work to do, but it is work that they do not want to do.
Religion and philosophy / I feel that religion would be a main factor if the school our company merged with was private. There are many religious private schools in America. I also think that religion may come up when science is involved because of several issues like evolution and the big bang. Management may have to take a firm stance on how science is taught.
Each school has different philosophies. Management would have to make sure that each schools philosophies are accepted and cohered to by employees. In this instance management may want to consider one main philosophy to follow. / According to the experts, religion in the workplace can bring up one of the most difficult issues employers have to face. Fixing these issues requires understanding the law and balancing the business's needs with an employee's desire to practice his or her religion. The initial point for any discussion of religion in the workplace is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition to prohibiting discrimination by private and public employers on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion and national origin, Title VII states that an employer must provide "reasonable accommodation" of an employee's religious beliefs and practices. Under Title VII, an employer cannot refuse to reasonably accommodate an employee's religious observances, unless accommodation would constitute an "undue hardship" for the business. (Steinburger, 2007,).
The experts also said the following about faith in American schools. Parents now routinely pay to send their children to religious or other alternative schools, or teach their children at home, because they do not feel public schools reflect their values, or they want to immerse their children in an atmosphere that reflects their faith.
According to the experts, Business ethics is simply the extension of moral philosophy into the practical questions it poses in the business world. Applying moral philosophy to business ethics is no simple task, especially in the global marketplace where notions of right and wrong mean different things for different cultures (Lewis, 2012). / My views and the expert’s views on religion are similar. I did not disscus about Title VII, but managers would need to know this law and be able to implement it correctly. Our views are similar on how parents want their children to be taught.
The expert’s views and mine on philosophy are also similar. I said that each company may have different philosophies and the experts said that different philosophies can mean different things in different cultures. The management in this case would have to agree on a common philosophy.
History
Political and legal systems / The political environment and legal systems can affect how much funding a school gets. It can also affect what kind of testing standards a school needs to adhere to for the students to pass a grade. Management would need to make sure they are on top of any state and federal changes to education. Management would also have to make sure they can implement these new changes easily and effectively. / One of the major legal systems that affect schools and their management is Title I. According to the experts, Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, is the largest federal education funding source for kindergarten through grade 12. In fiscal year 2010, Congress appropriated $14.5 billion for Title I grants to school districts to improve educational programs in schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families (Scott, 2011). / My views and the expert’s views on political and legal systems are similar. I did not mention Title I, but Title I affects schools funding; this is where our views combine. It would be important for management to understand and implement Title I.
Geography and natural resources
Political environment
Communication style / Americans have a very strong communication style. For example they like to have firm hand shakes, and constant eye contact with the people they are talking to. Americans are also very emotional when they speak; they show a lot of emotion with their faces, hands and even their body. In this scenario management may have to remind people that not all cultures use such a strong communication method. / According to Greetings(2012), Both men and women usually smile and shake hands when greeting. The American handshake is usually firm. Experts also say that when talking, Americans generally stand about 2 feet (0.6 meters) away from each other. However, they may spontaneously touch one another on the arm or shoulder to show surprise, sympathy, or caring during a conversation. Members of the opposite sex often hold hands or show romantic affection in public (Gestures,2012). / The experts did not say it Americans have a strong communication style. I think that their views and mine about how Americans communicate are similar. The experts did not discuss how American communications styles may not work well in other cultures but I mentioned it.
Family structure and hierarchy
Basic ethics and values
Arts, entertainment, sports, etc.
Holidays and traditions / I feel that major holidays like the following are important to Americans: July 4th, Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), Christmas and New Years. I think that many places of business have to decorate the office for these holiday traditions. The management may want to include other religious holidays in December like Hanukah and Kwanza so other people do not feel left out or shunned. / The experts say that various ethnic and religious groups in America celebrate days with special meaning to them even though these are not national holidays. For example, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter, Jews observe their high holy days in September, Muslims celebrate Ramadan, and African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. There are many other religious and ethnic celebrations in the United States ("American Holidays",2012). / The experts did not discuss about decorations for the holidays like I did, but they did mention other religious celebrations. Due to this I would like to say that our views are similar. As a manager it would be hard to please everyone because each person has different religious views, but it would be important to recognize them so people do not feel discriminated against.

References

American Holidays.(2012).Retrieved from http://http://www.usa.gov/citizens/holidays.shtml

Economy.(2012).Retrieved from http://online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=169&cn=United_States_of_America&sname=Economy&snid=19

Gestures.(2012).Retrieved from http://online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=169&cn=United_States_of_America&sname=Gestures&snid=9

Greetings.(2012).Retrieved from http://http://online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=169&cn=United_States_of_America&sname=Greetings&snid=8

Lewis, J(2012). How to Apply Moral Philosophy to Business Ethics.Huston Chronicle. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/apply-moral-philosophy-business-ethics-33340.html

Personal Appearance.(2012).Retrieved from http://http://online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=169&cn=United_States_of_America&sname=Personal_Appearance&snid=7

Religion.(2012).Retrieved from http://online.culturegrams.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/secure/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=6&wmn=North_America&cid=169&cn=United_States_of_America&sname=Religion&snid=5

Serving Students in the Current Economic Environment.(2010, July/August).EDUCAUSE Review, 45(4), 1. Retrievedfromhttp://www.educause.edu/ero/article/serving-students-current-economic-environment

Scoot, G.A., & US Government Accountability, O. (2011). Disadvantaged Students: School Districts Have Used Title I Funds Primarily to Support Instruction. Report to Congressional Committees. GAO-11-595. US Government Accountability Office.

Steinburger, J. (2007, September19). Religion and the Workplace.Entrepreneur. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/184334

(2011, October9). What Happened to the American Work Ethic?.The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/09/what-happened-to-the-american-work-ethic-2

Wisniewski, M. (2011, June9). Religion, and controversy, always part of U.S. education.Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/09/us-usa-religion-schools-idUSTRE75829R20110609