Page 131 - DMGT548_GLOBAL_HRM

Global HRM

Notes
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Caselet Example of Cultural Assimilator

ituation: Sharon, a schoolteacher in Athens, was amazed at the questions that were
asked of her by Greeks whom she considered to be only casual acquaintances. When
Sshe entered or left her apartment, people would ask her where she was going or
where she had been. If she stopped to talk, she was asked questions like, “How much do
you make a month?’ or ‘Where did you get that dress you are wearing?’ She thought that
the Greeks were very rude.
Question

Why did the Greeks ask Sharon such questions?
Options
1. The casual acquaintances were acting like friends do in Greece, although Sharon did
not realise it.
2. The Greeks asked Sharon those questions in order to determine whether she
belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. The Greeks were unhappy about the way she lived and they were trying to get
Sharon to change her habits.
4. In Greece, such questions are perfectly proper when asked of women, but improper
when asked of men.
Solution: The casual acquaintances were acting like friends do in Greece, although Sharon
did not realise it. It is not improper for in-group members to ask these questions of one
another in Greece. Its their beliefs and attitude due to cultural differences in Greece and
America. Furthermore, these questions reflect the fact that friendships tend to be more
intimate in Greece than in America. As a result, friends are generally free to ask questions,
which would seem too personal in America. This is basically the cultural diversity and the
behavioural changes that have made Sharon feel very rude. But for Greeks, this is a
gesture for more friendliness and openness. Americans being very reserve does not share
such details with each other but in Greece, people tend to become friends and become
open, so they can share such issues with their friends.
If you have chosen any other option, then you will be explained why that option or
interpretation is not right.

Notes: Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by
a different cultural group. It includes the introduction of forms of dress or personal
adornment, music and art, religion, language or behaviour. These elements are typically
imported into the existing culture and lack the subtleties of their original cultural context.
Because of this, cultural appropriation is sometimes viewed negatively, and has been
called “cultural theft.”

Source: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Expatriate-Training-And-Support-833959.html

7.2.7 Mendenhall and Oddou’s Model

Mendenhall and Oddou (1986) enrich Tung’s contingency framework by presenting one which
groups the cross cultural training (CCT) methods into high, medium and low levels of rigor and
suggests the desired duration of CCT.

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