Cultural Awareness - an HR Perspective

The use of cultural awareness training has increased rapidly in the majority of global companies over the last decade.

My experience working in global companies in which effective cross-cultural functioning was critical, involved the devotion of considerable time and energies to ensuring that cultural training needs were identified and accommodated as necessary.

This commitment to bridging cultural gaps represents a perceptible shift in attitudes amongst British company global thinking. This is a shift from the prevalent subconscious (and sometimes not so subconscious) driver, which existed in previous years. Thinking typically held that the way in which the West did business was the norm to which to strive and that non-western citizens should assimilate into our own particular mode of cultural thinking as opposed to vice versa.

Little effort was truly made to understand the cultural differences between countries. This thinking was gradually moulded and changed by the realities of the failure of such thinking including ineffective team functioning, lack of productivity and general dissatisfaction amongst cross culturally functioning staff. It also become apparent that the financial costs of failed cross-cultural initiatives could be readily assessed and had a tangible impact on the financial bottom line.

It is also interesting to note that the view that cultural awareness is unnecessary within other western groups has also changed.

Commonality of language can sometimes be an impediment as opposed to an advantage as it disguises the differences of thinking and approach, which may underlie whole strands of business practice. When dealing with countries with obvious differences in respect to language, religion, values and behaviours etc., then individuals more readily accept the need to understand the motivations of the other party. When multicultural differences arise between western groups however, conflict within approach is often attributed to the ineptness / stubbornness of the other party. When such attitudes become ingrained within teams, then self fulfilling prophecy may kick in and poor relationships become the norm affecting productivity and hence financial gain.

Recent experiences of running cultural awareness sessions for a UK team dealing on a regular basis with the US proved invaluable to overcoming a number of issues which had become entrenched into the operating behaviours of the teams. The sessions heightened awareness within the team of operating differences and helped to generate an understanding of why these differences existed within the groups. It also presented the teams with an opportunity to understand the potential frustrations that their US colleagues may have had with their UK peers in respect to their own personal approach to managing meetings, negotiations, making decisions, resolving issues etc.

Involvement in awareness programmes across a range of diverse issues is proving invaluable in resolving numerous poor performances in international business and in enhancing day to day HR practices; for example:

Expatriate assignments, management, training and benefits

Production of international relocation guides and related support materials

International company and office relocations

International recruitment

Corporate mergers and acquisitions

Training and development

Policy development

Clearly from an HR, and hence a business perspective, cultural awareness has been critical to the success of global companies with the progression of strong acceptance within businesses for the need to enhance cultural awareness through diverse cultural interventions.

About The Author

N.A. Johnson is an HR & cross cultural awareness consultant for http://www.kwintessential.co.uk

Permission is granted to reproduce this article as long as 'About the Author' and links are included. A courtesy e-mail would also be appreciated.

---

Motivating For Higher Performance

Employee motivation is probably the most important single manageable factor... Read More

Finding Common Ground Through Consensus Decision-Making

It's clear to me that a workplace is a better... Read More

The Permissive Environment is the Suspect

The permissive and participatory conduct which most employees take for... Read More

Relationship Building - 5 Tips and 5 Questions

And is isn't hard - it's more about focusing on... Read More

Time-Wasting Problems - One Question to Move You Forward

In any organisation, progress is frequently impaired by the time... Read More

Business Innovation ? Tacit Knowledge

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Protect Your Organizations Proprietary Information

The other day one of our overseas clients called in... Read More

Diversity in the Workplace

As you look around your office, is everyone just like... Read More

Beyond Management Coaching: When Things Are Getting Out of Control

Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do... Read More

Contract Management Software: the Solution to the Problem of Coordination

Charles Petrie, from Stanford, released a short article entitled "The... Read More

Follow Up: It Makes A Difference

A while back the headlight switch on our minivan quit... Read More

Directed Introspection

One of the greatest obstacles to progress can often be... Read More

Getting Information From Prospects

You're at a networking function and you've made that all-important... Read More

Make Them GLAD Youre Their Boss

Criticism has the power to do good when there is... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Adapting Human Resource Functions

This article relates to the human resource functions competency, commonly... Read More

Top Ten Tips for Outstanding Customer Service

Remember the 80:20 rule? You may not get everything perfectly... Read More

Supervisor-Employee Relations: Tips For Managers

Supervisor-employee relations are a critical part of a work place... Read More

Saying One Thing, Doing Another...

This week I was asked to speak at an internal... Read More

The Significance of the Mundane

This article begins with a tip of the hat to... Read More

One Crazy Cookie

In order to survive, you have to be happier than... Read More

Argue Your Way To Business Success

"Jack" (not his real name) is a vice president of... Read More

Problems with Group Decision Making

DECISION BY AUTHORITY RULE: Many groups start out with-or quickly... Read More

Employee Retention: Five Leadership Fundamentals

Are your management practices on the right track? Retaining your... Read More

Computer Consulting Profit Secrets

Do you own or manage a computer consulting company? Are... Read More

Preparing a Budget

Ok, you say, I know I need a budget, but... Read More

Quick Tips On Bringing Out The Best In People

Want to bring out the best in people?Edward W. Smith,... Read More

Hidden Consultants Within Your Organization

You've all heard the old joke about a consultant being... Read More

Why Saying Well Done Works

Encouraged by the recognition, Sarah Lewsiton went home from work... Read More

Are Your Meetings Smart?

Soon after I finished a brief seminar on how to... Read More

10 Fundamentals for Effective Meeting

Here are ten fundamental concepts that characterize an effective meeting.Definition:... Read More

7 Strategies for Sustained Innovation

The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's... Read More

The Ivory Tower Syndrome

"His cardinal mistake is that he isolates himself, and allows... Read More

Employees Commit Corporate Fraud

Imagine the following scenario; Ten years ago you decided to... Read More