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Understanding
and effectively interacting within the cultural groups to which we
belong is like walking through a minefield. Being culturally savvy
means much more than just understanding the culture of other groups
or countries. It means understanding who you are and your own
cultural dynamic.
Consider
the following "cultures", and the impact on your life:
-
Where
you were born
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Your
nationality & heritage
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How
you were raised & your family life
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The
schools you attended
-
Your
religious preferences
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Your
profession
-
Your
company and its corporate culture
-
Your
gender
For
example, consider what it means to say you are an American. A
recent search in Yahoo for "American Culture" pulled up 56
categories! America, once considered a global melting pot, is
now viewed as a salad bowl
filled with a large variety of ingredients.
The new
cultural paradigm - Many countries throughout the world are embracing
the Internet as an efficient and cost-effective method of communication,
a new way of accessing markets and consumers, and an unlimited source of
information.
This
"high tech - low touch" way of communicating has already had a
great impact on the way in which people interact and will undoubtedly
lead to new challenges in managing cultural differences.
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