Effects of Culture on the Various Aspects of Life - Research Paper Example

Culture Institution: Name: Date of Submission: Abstract The purpose of this short research proposal paper is to provide a detailed report following a research into culture. The paper opens with an introduction and definition of culture as a term, as well as a literature review on previous research findings on the subject matter. The paper then explores the information gathered and makes conclusions of the research findings. The elements and characteristics of culture are then discussed. The research focuses on establishing the effects of culture on the various aspects of life. The areas covered include causes and effects of culture on personal traits, social and overall human development (Hofstede, 2001). Table of Contents Abstract 2 Culture 4 Introduction 4 How cultural differences affect social skill development 5 Scope of the research report 5 Objectives of the report 5 Research methodology 5 Discussion and Recommendation of Research Findings 6 Conclusion 8 References: 8 Culture Introduction Culture is defined as the intricate and wide set of relationships, ideals, attitudes and conducts that unite a particular community intentionally or unintentionally. Everyone is born into particular cultures with existing ideals and opportunities. Culture gives room for change and development or degradation; it is dynamic and can be shaped accordingly by the occupants over periods of time. A micro-culture refers to a culture a localized level and may display some features varying from the broader culture (Gentilini & Arnone, 2013). Every society has a specific shape, purpose, and its own values. The societies express their distinctions in arts, institutions, and their content and modes of learning. The society is a constituent of persons with common values and directions. The society’s development is a dynamic debate and improvement with the benefits of practice, contact, and new findings, imparting themselves on the land. Individual minds make and remake the already existing society. After new observations are made, testing, comparisons and conclusions are made (Schech & Haggis, 2000). The aspects of a culture include the established meaning and facts, which its occupants are used to, and the newly discovered observations, which are presented and tested (Hofstede, 2001). The meaning of culture is sometimes confused with that of society. The two are different in that, whereas cultures are composite of acquired conduct patterns and perceptions, the society on the other hand refers to groups of interrelating organisms. Members of a society often perceive that they have distinct traditions and behaviors as compared to other societies. Although societies and cultures do not imply to the same thing, the two are inseparable since culture is developed and passed on to other members of the society. Both cultures and societies are not formulated by lone individuals. Cultures continually evolve with the more the individuals interact. Cultural patterns including politics and languages are only aids to the interaction of persons (Martin, 2001). Culture is described as the summation of what a group of persons reason, how they conduct themselves, and the results of their interaction passed down from generation to generation. It is what binds people together but also divides them into various communities. In our era, discerning both our likeness and our differences in culture is paramount for peaceful and healthy co-existence. It is through such understanding of cultural diversity that children will be prepared to co-exist in a decreasing global community (Hofstede, 2001). How cultural differences affect social skill development A child’s amount of social skills can be contributed to by the type of culture that the child is raised in. The specific culture offers guidelines to be followed during a child’s growth, the paramount one being the structure of the child’s education and schooling. Appropriate social behaviors are taught during these schooling and education. The outside surroundings compete with the innate born, biological inclinations of a child with influences from their relatives. The research findings from the children’s school depicted potential relationship between cultural background and a child’s development of social skills. The teachers in the school answered questions concerning the levels of social skills of the students; the results were then compared to the cultural backgrounds of the students (Martin, 2001). Scope of the research report This research report focuses on various participant having varied levels of academic qualification, drawn from different parts of the world. A sample of 10 participants was used to answer a total of 12 questions in a questionnaire aiming at achieving the stated research objectives (Martin, 2001). Objectives of the report The key objective of this report is to: Establishing the effects of culture on the various aspects of life. Determine the advantages of culture to the society. Determine the best ways of learning about different culture in this technological developed environment. Determine how organization can encourage employee involvement in learning cultural diversity. Determine the actions needed for employees to be positively involved in cultural practices (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov, 2010). Research methodology The culture research report comprised of establishing the effects of culture on the various aspects of life. Subsequently, the research report is modeled to attain the goals established by the researcher that are intended to answer the research questions. Quantitative information was collected by use of a questionnaire. On the other hand, single interviews and set groups interviews was undertaken to get qualitative information (Shove, 2004). The research method used to find answers to the questions concerning establishing the effects of culture on the various aspects of life are interviews, which is a social research method (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov, 2010). Interviews involved a direct asking of questions to company employees and top managers from various departments in the institution. It involved 10 employees of a company who came from different backgrounds and had been raised in varying cultures (Hofstede, 2001). These questions were structured and analyzed well before the beginning to do this research report. In the case of establishing the effects of culture on the various aspects of life, interviewing was the best since responses of employees were easily identified through the use of formulated survey questions and conclusion drawn. In this social research, researcher employed clearly designed rules for interviewing, recording, and categorization of responses (Shove, 2004). The social research method allowed responses to be obtained directly. This method allowed the researcher to get direct answers about the effects of culture on the various aspects of life and recorded how the employee as well as the top management reacts to different cultures. In this social research method, researcher used well-structured questions to gather responses made during research process. The interviews were flexible, since it recorded responses in terms of individualized view and record diverse cultural attitudes and reactions over a long or short period. Compared to other methods of research, interviews provided clear and reliable information regarding the events under research. The research method had high precision concerning their timing, frequency, and period. The method being a primary source of data provided an accurate data (Gentilini & Arnone, 2013). Discussion and Recommendation of Research Findings Q1 Culture is what makes a society, what are the advantages of Culture? Table 1: Advantages of culture table Total Number of Outcomes Culture enables institution deliver sustainable performance with clarity and speed Leverages on culture builds best practices Culture gives organizations competitive advantage Culture priorities performance 34 13 9 7 5 Percentage (100 %) 38.23% 26.47% 20.59% 14.71% In determining the advantages of culture, 38.24% of the outcomes showed that respondents accepted that the key benefit of culture is that culture enables institutions to deliver sustainable performance with clarity and speed, 26.47% of the outcomes showed that respondent pointed out that culture when leveraged in the organization builds the best practices, 20.59% of the participants noted that culture gives organizations competitive advantage and finally 14.71% believe that it is beneficial because it prioritizes performance. According to the above finding it is concluded that a good culture in an organization is the key benefiting factor since it enables institutions to deliver sustainable performance with clarity and speed. Q2 according to technology development, how would you like to learn more about Culture? (Rank) Table 2: Culture learning table Number of Outcomes Have a class discussions Have a cultural interaction forum Read about culture Sharing of cultural experiences with below staff members Academic conferences with Cultural experts 300 58 58 53 70 61 Percentage (100%) 19.33% 19.33% 17.67% 23.33 20.33% In determining the best ways of learning about culture in this technological developed environment, 23.33% of the total outcomes showed that respondents believed that one can learn about culture by sharing cultural experiences amongst the staff members of the organization, 20.33% of the outcomes showed that respondents agreed on having academic conferences with the cultural experts, 19.33% of the total outcomes showed that respondents both agreed on having class discussions and a cultural interaction forum while 17.67% of the outcomes showed that respondents believed in reading about culture. From the above findings it is evident that from the above way of learning about the culture, sharing cultural experience ranks first, followed by having academic conferences with the cultural experts, followed by both having class discussions and having a cultural interaction forum and finally learning about culture by reading about it. Q3. How could organization management allow the employees to become more involved in learning about culture? Table 3: Cultural Involvement Table Number of Respondents Create a website Give a presentation Provide a discussion Platform Weekly Classes 10 4 3 1 2 Participant 100% 45% 25% 10% 20% In determining the best ways of allowing employees’ involvement in cultural learning by management, 45.00% of the respondents believed in creating the website, 25.00% believed in giving presentations, 20.00% believed in weekly classes and finally 10.00% believed in providing a discussion platform to allow student get more involved in learning about the culture. According to the above findings on the determination of way of allowing employees’ involvement in cultural learning by organization management, it is evident that majority of the respondents agreed on creation of a website as a main tool that will increase student involvement in learning about the culture. Q4. What do you think Management can do to encourage employees to become more involved in cultural activities? Table 4: Employee Encouragement Table Number of Outcomes Build a Cultural Centre Professional class participation Cultural work exercises Cultural Social Networks 28 7 9 7 5 Participant 100% 25% 32.14% 25% 17.86% In determining how management can encourage employee’ involvement in culture, 32.14 % of the outcome showed that respondents choose professional class participation as a way of encouraging employees, 25% of the outcome pointed out that respondents both agreed on building a cultural centre and promotion of cultural work exercises and finally 17.86% of the outcome points out that using cultural social networks as a way of encouraging students’ involvement in cultural activities (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov, 2010). According to findings five above, it is clear that use of professional class participation is the major way of encouraging employees’ involvement in cultural practices while use of cultural social networks is the least way of motivating or encouraging employees (Gentilini & Arnone, 2013). Conclusion It is highly recommended that a larger sample size should be use in the future research since a sample size of 10 respondents is a small size in concluding about Culture in the organization (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov, 2010). References: Gentilini, F. & Arnone, A., 2013, “Afghan Lessons: Culture, Diplomacy, and Counterinsurgency Brookings-SSPA Series on Public Administration”, Brookings Institution Press with the Italian National School of Public Administration (SSPA); Hofstede, G., 2001, “Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations”, New York; NY: SAGE Publications Hofstede, G., Hofstede, J. & Minkov, M., 2010, “Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind”, New York; NY: Springer Martin, J., 2001, “Organizational Culture: Mapping the Terrain; Foundations for Organizational Science”, New York; NY: SAGE Publications, Inc. Schech, S. & Haggis, J., 2000, “Culture and Development: A Critical Introduction”. Cambridge; CA: Wiley-Blackwell; Shove, E. 2004, “Comfort, Cleanliness and Convenience: The Social Organization of Normality New Technologies/New Cultures”, New York; NY: Bloomsbury Academic Read More