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ThoughtReflection Week 4


Start Date

24 February 2009

Reflection

Reflection
In the fourth weeks session I was introduced to the implications of some of the cultural differences that had been discussed previously. I found the content of this lecture simple and straightforward, mostly common sense pointing out things I already do or use as a part of common sense. This was then talked about in relation to business, which was again straightforward.

We were then given a Cultural briefing on the Swedes. I was particularity interested by this because I had heard before about the cultural behaviour of the Swedes. After the lecture I reflected on the experiences I had when I had met Swedish people, and although this was normally is quite lively environments I could relate to some of the points raised. I could especially identify with the fact the Swedish people can appreciate silence and do not always feel the need to make small talk.

In the second part of the seminar we did the ‘Thirdian’ activity. This involved splitting into teams and doing a short task to demonstrate how cultural barriers can affect business. Due to the nature of this challenge I found I had to approach it with an open mind. I found myself, when talking to the ‘Thridians’ at first trying overly hard to fully adapt to their culture and then by the end abandoning their practices because of their vast contrast to my own.

The task did show me that the knowledge of their cultural rules before meeting was vital. Although this example used extremes to highlight the point, I could see the aim of it and I felt that I learnt a value lesson. This was to not underestimate the importance of culture and its possible negative effects on business. It defiantly changed my view on cultural training; something which when was first mentioned in a previous session came across to me as relatively insignificant.

Plan

In future instead of trying to fully adapt to a cultures practices and behaviour I need to find a happy medium between this and my own so that I can more comfortably embrace this.

 
MATTHEW EDWARD DYSON created this on 25 March 2009.
This was last edited on 25 March 2009.
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