Cultural Anthropology

Cultural miscalculation is altering the meaning of a global business’s cultural dimension such that its original meaning is lost when interpreted in another language. To avoid cultural miscalculations, international companies need to have a concise understanding of the effects of culture on global businesses. Worldwide, companies continue to suffer losses due to cultural miscalculation. For Example, “Sit Where you Like” is a cultural dimension used in many companies and businesses. This slogan has made Chinese delegates terminate contracts with American diplomats in several instances. According to Chinese culture, hierarchy is observed, while in American culture, equality is emphasized and hierarchy is not culturally stressed. When Chinese officials are delegated using this dimension, they feel humiliated and disrespected.

Cultural miscalculation continues to face many global businesses. Organizational management should adopt concrete measures to counter the challenges of cultural miscalculations. Firstly, managers should inculcate cultural diversity in the management of their businesses. Managers should develop intercultural communications to deliver intended messages clearly to employees of different cultural orientations to avoid cultural slips (Dalluay & Jalagat, 2016). Additionally, managers should enact strategies and plans to ensure cultural diversity is upheld to ensure a harmonious relationship.

Organizations seeking to achieve a competitive market globally should adopt globalization and technology to reduce cultural miscalculations. Globalization has enabled the organization to uphold cultural diversity by recognizing all cultural practices across all frontiers (Patel, 2017). Through this, businesses become responsible for practices and decisions which may impact other communities’ cultures. Consequently, technology has reduced cultural miscalculations by intensifying links and modes of interactions across cultures (Patel, 2017). This increased interaction has allowed people to be conversant with other people cultures and avoid cultural dimensions which affect them.

References

Dalluay, V., & Jalagat, R. (2016). Cross-Cultural Management of Culturally Diverse Workforce: A Challenge Facing Managers in the Global Workplace. Research Gate, 663-668. Retrieved 8 April 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310455811_Cross-Cultural_Management_of_Culturally_Diverse_Workforce_A_Challenge_Facing_Managers_in_the_Global_Workplace.

Patel, P. (2017). Impact of Information Technology on Global Business Strategies: Globalisation Effect. International Journal Of Trend In Scientific Research And Development, Volume-1(Issue-5), 893-898. https://doi.org/10.31142/ijtsrd2390