Understanding Cultural Differences in the Workplace
Understanding Cultural Differences in the Work Place
Spring Session B
Professor Davis
5/6/2012
Chamberlain College Of Nursing
The importance of understanding cultural, ethnic and gender differences by managers and professionals in a business setting is essential to make the work environment comfortable. In every culture there are basic standards of thinking, and acting and these cultural differences strongly influence workplace values and communication. What may be considered acceptable and natural in the workplace for one person may be unacceptable for another person. People from diverse cultures bring new ways of thinking, creativity and language skills needed to survive in today’s work force. In many work environments there are a diverse group of people who make up the departments in the school setting, hospitals and corporate America.
As a manager you would need to have sensitivity, understanding and be open minded to the persons you manage. All should be given the same opportunities based on their educational background and job experience, regardless of gender or ethnicity. In our threaded discussion regarding the head of the department and our Jamaican friend, he was not given a chance although he was qualified for the position. But because of prejudice views and the head of the department being closed minded our Jamaican friend wasn’t given a chance to prove his skills.
Most employers in today’s society have a staff that is multicultural; have different ethnic backgrounds and gender differences. Managers are placed in a position that allows them to bridge the gap between their employees. For example, I work in a Health Care Center that is Christian based that employs approximately 300 or more people. Once a month we all come together for a morning of worship, prayer and reflection. I work with Asian, Hispanic, African, African American, White and Indian. In this time no one sees culture or ethnicity. There are blacks,
Spring Session B
Professor Davis
5/6/2012
Chamberlain College Of Nursing
The importance of understanding cultural, ethnic and gender differences by managers and professionals in a business setting is essential to make the work environment comfortable. In every culture there are basic standards of thinking, and acting and these cultural differences strongly influence workplace values and communication. What may be considered acceptable and natural in the workplace for one person may be unacceptable for another person. People from diverse cultures bring new ways of thinking, creativity and language skills needed to survive in today’s work force. In many work environments there are a diverse group of people who make up the departments in the school setting, hospitals and corporate America.
As a manager you would need to have sensitivity, understanding and be open minded to the persons you manage. All should be given the same opportunities based on their educational background and job experience, regardless of gender or ethnicity. In our threaded discussion regarding the head of the department and our Jamaican friend, he was not given a chance although he was qualified for the position. But because of prejudice views and the head of the department being closed minded our Jamaican friend wasn’t given a chance to prove his skills.
Most employers in today’s society have a staff that is multicultural; have different ethnic backgrounds and gender differences. Managers are placed in a position that allows them to bridge the gap between their employees. For example, I work in a Health Care Center that is Christian based that employs approximately 300 or more people. Once a month we all come together for a morning of worship, prayer and reflection. I work with Asian, Hispanic, African, African American, White and Indian. In this time no one sees culture or ethnicity. There are blacks,
References: Bell, P. (2007), Diversity in the Organizations, According to Title VII, p. 269 Bell, P. (2007). Diversity in the Organizations, the Challenge Lecture, According to week one reading.