Assignment Culture Analysis Paper
You have been appointed the leader of a team project. The team is made up of people from various countries as listed below. Identify which aspect of the cultural dimensions best represent the culture of each person. (Note: there are five dimensions: power/distance; individual/collectivism; uncertainty/avoidance; career/life; and Confucian dynamism ). As the leader of this team you need to know some of the norms for the cultures from which the individuals come. Understanding how the cultural dimensions apply to each culture will help you work well with each individual. As a conscientious manager/team leader you should research this before you start the team project.
Note: create a chart or table (see below)
|
|
Power/ Distance
|
Individual/ Collective
|
Uncertainty Avoidance
|
Career/Life
|
Confucian Dynamism
|
|
American (30) USA
|
Low
|
Indiidual
|
Low
|
Career
|
Low
|
|
Etc
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 year old (USA) [ is the example above; he is not part of the team]
Power/Distance - low
Individual/Collective - individual
Uncertainty Avoidance -low
Career/Life - career
Confucian Dynamism - low
Here is your team:
• 21 year old female (Egyptian)
• 51 year old female (Chinese-Singapore)
• 27 year old male (S. Korean)
• 32 year old male (Iranian)
• 30 year old female (Indian)
• 33 year old (Irish)
• 25 year old male (Japanese)
• 28 year old female (Mexican)
• 33 year old male (French)
• 40 year old female (Russian)
Once you have completed the above chart for this exam select the culture of ONE of these individuals and do the following:
Prepare a research paper that addresses the cultures represented by the person above. The paper should be approximately five-six pages of text. Make sure you check your previous papers and do not make the same errors in this paper.
The student may not select her/his own culture. It must be an analysis of a culture other than one's own. The paper must be original to this course. This paper must include the application of theories and concepts addressed in the course. The paper should provide a comprehensive analysis of the nuances of the culture. Anyone reading the paper should be able to use it as a blueprint of what the culture is like and how to function smoothly in that culture.
Using the information gleaned from the above analysis of the culture. Discuss the chosen culture applying the Dimensions of Difference as they apply to your chosen culture. Based upon the information about the culture that the "Dimensions" provide, give specific examples of how the manager/team leader should behave with the chosen person from the list above.
• What would be the most appropriate managerial/leadership style to utilize in this culture and why? Provide specific examples of behaviors in the culture that lend themselves to the style you choose.
• What techniques for motivating this employee would be most appropriate and why? Give examples.
• What stereotypes might one have of this culture (as a person from the USA) that would hurt ones effectiveness, and what stereotypes would help ones effectiveness?
• If there are specific words, gestures, or ideas that one would be wise to not use or address in that culture, include this information.
• Is the culture a low or high context culture and what does that mean for you the team leader?
• Make sure that you use the theories presented in this class to make your points.
• Do Not write a history of the country. This is not the assignment; That comes in the Final. You must analyze from the perspective of "leading a person from that culture."
• Outside resources will be necessary in order to create a complete picture of the chosen culture. A minimum of three sources, is expected.
• NOTE: Please write in third person. Do not use I, Me, Mine, We, You, Your. This is a formal paper. Using first person in academic papers is not appropriate.
In other words, your assignment is to analyze another culture through the framework of multicultural considerations. The quality of the writing and the depth of the content are expected to reflect graduate level work. Pay attention to your previous papers. Do not make the same mistakes in the writing or formatting that you have previously.
Be certain the paper has a well constructed brief introduction that contains a clear statement of purpose. Note, however, that in APA format the heading "Introduction" is not written. What follows the title is assumed to be the introduction. Ensure that the body of the paper accomplishes the stated purpose and approach, and that the summary analysis and conclusions are based upon a clear chain of logic. Correct APA formatting is expected in the preparation of the manuscript, citations and reference list.