2.1 Culture defined
The word 'culture' is derived from the Latin cultus, meaning cult or worship. The word culture in our society has many connotations: artistic, elitist and biological to name but a few. In the context of international business, culture may be defined (Czinkota et al. 2005, p. 37) as learned patterns of behaviour or guidelines for behaviour which are:
.primarily passed on from parents to their children but also by social organisations, special interest groups, the government, schools, and churches. Common ways of thinking and behaving that are developed are then reinforced through social pressure.
This learning and adjusting is called acculturation . Another definition of culture is that it is a learned, shared, compelling, interrelated set of symbols the meaning of which provides a set of orientations for members of a society ( Griffin and Pustay 2005).
The latter definition contains five important elements:
- culture is learned behaviour
- culture is shared: the group transcends the individual and thus defines membership of the society
- culture is compelling: individuals are not aware that their behaviour is determined by culture
- culture is interrelated: each facet of culture may not be understood in isolation, meaning that the culture must be studied as a complete entity
- culture provides orientation: groups react in the same way to a given stimulus, so that understanding culture can help to determine how individuals might react in various situations
Individuals may be influenced by cultures other than the societal culture defined above, and the societal culture may be subjected to the influence of national laws, the type of government in power, the state of the economy, and even technology. We will call this composite entity the societal or national culture. Other cultures which affect individual behaviour are:
- corporate or organisational culture : the set of values, guiding beliefs, work systems and practices, understandings, rules and codes of conduct and ways of thinking shared by members of an organisation, and taught to new members as correct (Nankervis et al. 2005); and
- professional culture : the set of values, beliefs, understandings and ways of thinking shared by members of a profession (for example, accountants, engineers, managers).
Turn now to your textbook for more views on culture. On completion of the reading ensure you have a clear understanding of values, norms and the ways that people behave.
In your text
Hill 2005, Chapter 3, pp. 89-93.
Activity 2.1
Pause for a little introspection.
- What do you know about the cultures to which you belong?
Start with your 'professional' culture as an employee or employer, or the culture of being a student. What values (a belief plus a judgement of goodness) do you share with fellow students or colleagues?
- Now for the organisational culture:
Consider the Australian Maritime College in which you are studying. What norms (agreed forms of behaviour) are followed within the institution? For example, is there a propensity to contact fellow students? What is the student/lecturer communication framework?
- Now for the societal or national culture:
How many elements can you identify from your own behaviour and that of others?
You may wish to review your effort when you have completed this chapter.
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