The second chapter “Understanding culture: Through the looking glass” presents a comprehensive discussion on the topic of cultural knowledge and its role in management. The author calls for understanding the fact that cultures are not losing their relevance in communications but instead demands a heightened awareness of their existence (Lane & Maznevski, 2019). In management, human relations are essential in every part of governing processes, yet they can be sabotaged by improperly perceived attitudes toward one’s traditions and values.
It is highly detrimental to make assumptions based on people’s cultural backgrounds. However, cultures do define societies to the degree that specific accommodations have to be made, such as the partners’ values and visions of cooperation (Lane & Maznevski, 2019). Upholding boundaries that are expected in a foreign community allows managers to show their respect for others’ identities. In a global business market, people must avoid causing discomfort that can disrupt potential deals by making people lock on disrespectful actions (Lane & Maznevski, 2019). In turn, seeking common experience can promote cooperation through positive emotions and a predisposing atmosphere.
Each culture is unique and requires a delicate approach to assessing its aspects that can be later used as assumptions. Social features in a particular geographical area consist of patterns that can be divided into categories and may correlate with their neighboring regions, thus requiring one to study these aspects beforehand (Lane & Maznevski, 2019). While these classifications are essential to learning, it is also vital to realize that they only serve as a foundation for in-depth studies. The strongest patterns lie in people’s relations to others, their environment, activities, and time (Lane & Maznevski, 2019). For a genuinely productive partnership, respecting all four aspects is paramount, as each individual’s perception of this matter is influenced by their culture.
Reference
Lane, H. W., & Maznevski, M. L. (2019). International management behavior: Global and sustainable leadership (8th ed.). Cambridge University Press.