Problems Working in Multicultural Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problems Working in Multicultural Teams - Essay Example I think to arrive at a realistic grasping of the problems faced by me in a multicultural team I need to analyze my cultural affiliations in the light of the cultural dimensions propounded by Geert Hofstede. Cultural dimensions pertain to the aspect of my native Chinese culture that could be measured and gauged in the light of the other cultures (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov 2010). Professor Geert Hofstede conducted a detailed analysis regarding how the values in multicultural teams are influenced by the cultural values of the members constituting the teams. Analysing the Chinese cultural dimensions will immensely help in analyzing and tracing solutions to the problems faced by me in a group comprising of members who were Chinese, Indians and Thais. The four salient cultural dimensions propounded by Hofstede are individualism-collectivism, masculine-feminine, power distance and uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede 2003). Power Distance pertains to the attitude of the people in a society tow ards the power disparities existing in that culture (Hofstede 2002). It determines the extent to which the less powerful members in a society respond to the power inequalities present in that society (Hofstede 2002). China has Power Distance count of 80 which is quiet high (Geert Hofstede 2012). This means that Chinese people are comfortable with the unequal distribution of power in their society and are comfortable with the fact that people tend to differ in the power that they have at their disposal. In the Chinese organizations and institutions the hierarchy is arranged in terms of subordinate and superiors and there seldom are any remedies against the abuse of power resorted to by the superiors. Individualism pertains to the extent of... This essay stresses that culture is something that is learned and acquired and it consists of a set of shared interpretations that are learned, and these interpretations include within their ambit the concepts like values, norms and beliefs which have an immense influence on large groups of individuals and people. Diversity happens to be a concept that is broader than the concept of culture. Diversity is not merely confined to a person’s ethnic affiliations, nation of origin or colour. Diversity is primarily about attributes that inculcate differences in groups and these differences may include physical characteristics, economic status, attitudes, traits etc. This paper makes a conclusion that in case the members in the team turn out to be receptive of the recommendations and suggestions made in this paper, it will not only enhance their cultural literacy but will also enable them to reap the benefits accrued by working in multicultural teams. This will truly make them a global citizen and will allow them to work in diverse nations and cultures. The good thing is that cultural literacy and interpersonal skills are something that can be learned and acquired. So if the team members take care to adopt and practice the above mentioned recommendations and tips, they are poised to experience and appreciative gain in their cultural literacy and the ability to operate in multicultural teams.