As American society becomes increasingly diverse, the ability to communicate
with members of other cultures becomes a business necessity. Diversity has many
dimensions: nationality, physical ability, language, and ethnicity are a few.
Diversity manifests itself in a great variety of norms and cultural values,
such as high or low context, individualism versus collectivism, power distance,
and degree of uncertainty avoidance. Communicators who succeed in a diverse workplace must educate themselves about
different cultures and co-cultures. Viewing diversity as an opportunity instead
of a problem is an important attitude. Treating people from different cultural
backgrounds with respect is essential. Finally, being willing to acknowledge
and discuss cultural differences can help communicators understand and appreciate
one another. Every organization has a distinct culture--a relatively stable picture of the
organization's personality shared by its members. Cultures are usually shaped
in the organization's early days, often by its earliest leaders. Everyday customs
and rituals both reflect the culture and continue to shape it. When evaluating
an organization, a prospective employee ought to make sure that the culture
is comfortable and positive. Good salary and working conditions are not enough
to guarantee job satisfaction if the company's personality doesn't suit the
employee. Firsthand observation and informal contact with current employees
are good ways to analyze an organization's culture. |
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education