ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction This assignment is a discussion on the topic of managing cultural diversity. It pays special attention to the strategies which can be used by managers to manage a culturally diverse workforce either in a business or a multinational corporation for the benefit of the organisations, especially within the service sector. The discussion also looks at the theories which are relevant to the management of a culturally diverse workforce. The discussion begins with a general overview of the concepts of globalisation, culture and cultural diversity. It then proceeds to highlight theories relevant to the management of a culturally diverse workforce and the strategies which can be used by managers in the management of the workforce. Lastly is a conclusion which sums up the main points of the discussion. The study of organisations is made possible by the use of organisational theoretical models or approaches. These theoretical models are mainly used to explain organisations in terms of structure and culture. Organisational culture refers to shared beliefs, values, norms and practices which characterize an organisation. Organisational structure refers to how the organisation is structured, how power and authority to make decisions are distributed along the structure of the organisation and who takes what directives or instructions from whom and when (Robbins, 1996). Discussion The Concept of Globalisation Globalisation can be defined as the minimisation of the differences between the people of the world and the maximisation of their similarities through interactions, cooperation and communication. During the pre-world war period, the world was characterised by minimal interaction, communication, cross-boulder movements and language homogeneity. However, after the world war, this situation changed. The changes were mainly triggered by the desire for nations of the world to unite in various spheres of development mainly the economy, education, employment, the environment and governance (Go and Pine, 1995). The main driving forces for globalisation was however the advancement in information and communication technology, improved transport systems, liberalised trade as well as liberalised immigration policies which have with time transformed the world into a global village. Globalisation has made it possible for any person to work, study, marry and stay in any part of the world irrespective of his or her culture which entails things like religion, race, colour, social status, nationality, believes, sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation (Go and Pine, 1995). A good example to illustrate this argument is the United States which is known as home and destiny of almost all cultures of the world. Despite the various cultural backgrounds of many United States citizens, it remains to be a leading super power of the world in virtually all aspects including science and technology, education, governance, economic stability, military capacity to name but a few. The case of United States best illustrates that globalisation has got prospects of making a country or an organisation
In the shipping business, the concept of crewing a ship with a culturally diverse crew is nothing uncommon. Working with diverse workers in commercial vessels, on the other hand, might easily lead to misconceptions or misunderstanding difficulties. As a reason, before boarding ships, freight forwarders and operators must give cross-cultural training to all crew members. Given the problems of multinational staff hiring, the business must be well-prepared to deal with staffing variety while also being aware of the hidden hazards of mixed personnel. The diversity of people whose ethnicity includes variances in not just language but also religion and culture is a significant difficulty to conquer when dealing with lengthy onboarding durations. According to Corrigan et al. (2019), “the critical role of understanding Human Factors and the importance of Safety Culture in the maritime sector is becoming much more topical” (p. 252). This work was written with the aim of studying the problem of cultural differences in the maritime industry. Shipping has become a multicultural, multinational, and technical business in the last 20 years. Previously, there were many crewmembers who all spoke the same languages and hailed from the same culture; presently, there are fewer crewmembers and a heavy workload. Nevertheless, technological advancements have led to fewer crewmembers. Improved technology results in fewer crewmembers, resulting in fewer funds spent and more revenue produced (Corrigan et al. 2019). Generally, fewer crew members have increased maritime accidents ranging from 75% to 95% of the rise in marine accidents, the majority of which were caused by human error (Daniels, 2017). Many safety rules are not observed or enforced, resulting in unsafe, insecure, and inefficient transportation. Intercultural communication, weariness, and training are all elements that contribute to human mistakes. Cultural complexities aboard ships have received increased attention due to an increasing number of maritime mishaps linked to insufficient interaction and misreading of various actions on multicultural and multilingual ships. According to Oltedal and Håvold (2018), “the focus on safety culture took off when the term Safety Culture was used in the International Atomic energy Agency’s (IAeA) initial report following the Chernobyl disaster, resulting in the IAeA publishing a guide to safety culture in 1991” (p. 53). Poor
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is an essential element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The most important physiological promoter of ACTH release is a corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) (Wein, Kavoussi, Novick, Partin, & Peters, 2012). The most significant variable in regulating the activity of the HPA axis is stress (Wein et al., 2012). Backström and Winberg (2013) note that the major source of stress in humans is presented by social interactions. Thus, the authors emphasize the relation between ACTH release and stress levels in the organism. The normal operating of the HPA axis is necessary for any human’s health. Disorders in the regulation of glucocorticoid are connected with psychological and physiological conditions such as hypertension, post-traumatic disorder, diabetes, or depression (Arnett, Muglia, Laryea, & Muglia, 2015). Therefore, understanding the way in which HPA output is connected with the reaction to environmental stressors will enable the professionals to find the approaches to regulating the problem (Arnett et al., 2015). Hsu et al. (2012) investigate the behavioral patterns of response to stress. In their research, Hsu et al. (2012) investigate provide evidence of how a single nucleotide polymorphism in the CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) gene demonstrates behavioral and neuroendocrine stress vulnerability. The authors conclude that CRHR1 single nucleotide polymorphism rs110402 can eliminate neural responses to emotional stimuli and thus provide a potential vulnerability mechanism for the development of major depressive disorders (Hsu et al., 2012). The rationale for Regulation of ACTH Since ACTH is a common response to stress, regulation of ACTH is connected with the treatment of stress disorders (Dunlop, Mansson, & Gerardi, 2012). Dunlop et al. (2012) suggest the following treatment methods of ACTH release: oxytocin, neurosteroids, dopamine, glutamate, neurokinin/Substance P, endocannabinoids, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. These medications are aimed at intensifying memory of fear elimination, interrupting reconsolidation and diminishing fear memories, and promoting engagement in psychotherapy by eliminating fear and developing acceptance of experience (Dunlop et al., 2012). Melmed (2017) suggests several ways of regulation of the HPA axis. Cytokines A better understanding of the evolvement and regulation of the HPA axis comes with the knowledge that the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays a crucial role in these processes (Melmed, 2017). LIF provokes the transcription of proopiomelanocortin neurons. Cytokines can stimulate the release of ACTH by stimulation of hypothalamic secretion (Melmed, 2017). Oxytocin Low-dose perfusion of oxytocin reduces the levels of cortisol and ACTH, Oxytocin works through paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis and connects to arginine vasopressin (A
In the era of global competition, the role of managers who are sent abroad for temporary assignments has become increasingly important especially for multinational companies (MNC). With more and more companies assuming office in foreign countries, US managers are expected to fly down to a new office in a different country (Holstein, 2004). As more and more organizations adopt a glocalization strategy, it has become ever more important to adopt proper strategy to adjust the managerial conduct in the foreign country. In the new country, the managers are expected to act differently, think differently, and most importantly adjust to a completely different culture (Song, 2002). The primary role of an expatriate manager can be conceived as that of a catalyst who secures the continuity of the MNC’s organizational structure and philosophy in the local unit while ensuring the fit between MNC practices and local demands. The extent to which an expatriate accomplishes this mission depends not only on the expatriate manager’s competencies, but also on the way in which expatriation is handled by the MNC. Given the increasing trend of globalization, it has become necessity to adopt strategies to implement a glocalization human resource strategy. In order to understand this, a thorough understanding of the problems with American expatriate managers and local managers is necessary. American expatriate mangers had a very high rate of return in the early phases of globalization during the 1980s (Menedelhall & Oddou, 1985). In the initial stages, the problem that expatriate managers faced to adjust to the host culture’s social and business environment was costly in terms of management performance, productivity in the overseas operations, client relations, and operational efficiency (Menedelhall & Oddou, 1985). Further, American expatriate managers are costlier than their local counterparts’ in-terms of their salary (Song, 2002). For companies operating in foreign lands, sending American managers to manage operations, especially to the exotic Asian locations, is exceedingly difficult. Aculturization becomes a major hindrance to these organizations. So what strategy should these companies adopt? Should they transfer their culture to the foreign office or they should adopt their culture? Both the options have been tested and it has been found that hiring local managers is more profitable for the company. Further, the reluctance of the American managers to go to foreign land creates resistance to the process of globalization. First, it is necessary to know why expatriate managers were transferred. Research has shown that there are three reasons why international transfer of managers occurs (Edstro¨m & Galbraith, 1977). The first is to fill positions , which mainly concerns the transfer of technical knowledge to developing countries, w
Recent trends in education are more focused on developing various intelligences of students rather than on dedicating more time to physical education and sports. In fact, a one-dimensional direction at educating students is not the best solution to professional development and intellectual growth of students. What is more important is that current educational policies restrict children’s creativity. There is also as evident misconception concerning the importance of sporting activities in educational system that is premised on stereotypical vision of future careers. Sport and education are often regarded as different spheres of children’s development. However, these two branches are closely connected because they complement children’s comprehensive intellectual and physical development. There is a false assumption that talented students are those who excel in intellectually driven disciplines, such as mathematics, biology, or physics. However, sporting activities, including dances, football, and gymnastic directly relate to physical education that is also premised on a number of theories, strategies, and models. So, physical excellence should not be disregarded in the light of students’ difficulties in scientific field. In fact, children will not play football equally well because of different levels of skills and talents. This kind of sport is based on specialized knowledge about athletics, physical training, game rules, and strategies. Underestimating physical education will not contribute to normal intellectual development of a child. There should be a balance between body and mind, which is heavily discussed in various philosophical movements. As a proof, Sir Ken Robinson discusses
Industrialization in the United States has brought about a significant change in the lives of individuals and the public. The separation between classes became even more obvious and there have been numerous individuals who proposed reasons for this outcome. Andrew Carnegie and Henry George were both very influential in America but had opposing views regarding industrialization and wealth. Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland and moved to the United States with his parents in 1948. In 1850, he started working at the Telegraph and this became the key point in his later success. The work enabled him to make connections with influential businessmen and get to know the industry (Edge 25). From the earliest days at work he has proven to be extremely hard working and skillful. He would be able to differentiate different sounds of the telegraph which gave him the ability to work faster and more efficiently. He has also shown to have great organizational skills. His imagination filled him with ideas that proved to be very useful later in life. His first business act was in 1855, when he invested 500 dollars into “Adams Express”. This was made possible by his employer Edgar Thompson who was a great supporter of Andrew Carnegie (Edge 58). It was clearly the first step towards business life and generally, this can be seen as a stepping stone for any individual. At this young age, a person does not have great opportunities to become a large business man and there is no way of stealing or getting money in any other illegal way. What made this possible were his hard work, determination and connections. It could be said that he happened to be in the right place at the right time. He could not have planned to get involved with the telegraph, just as he had no way of knowing that this would greatly help him in life, and that he would make friends with Edgar Thomas who had such an influence on his later development in business. While his capital was growing through the investment, he has been continuing work and proving to be a very able worker. This gave way to his movement through to the higher positions and was the result of his success. During the Civil War he had many opportunities to get involved with the business in steel and again, his connections have proven to be very useful. But he was not only involved in business, he was also a wise man and very much interested in sciences and education in general. His early involvement in the business life of influential people allowed him to get to know the ways of the industry and trade and this was his strong point. When he became the owner of the steel industry, his capital was growing very quickly. But even though he was very wealthy, the money did not corrupt him and did not ruin his good-hearted nature. His major belief was that wealth was evil if it was idolized and used for personal goals. His motto was to use the money made to better
The artists from the In Plain Sight project are united by the goal of raising public awareness about causes such as immigrant detention and the US culture of incarceration. Therefore, most of these artists’ works explore themes of trauma, suffering, solitude, injustice, experiences of immigrants in America and the way they are treated here. Thus, all these artists express some kind of protest in their art. Many works interpret present-day cultural and political events, as well as the treatment of immigrants as unreasonable and cruel acts of forced detention. Paintings, performances, films, sky typing, articles, and many other forms of art are used to present the immigrants’ perspective on these events. It can also be noticed that many artists who are members of the minority nations in the USA also participate in the project and depict individuals of the same nationality in their art. This demonstrates the artists’ close connection to their cultural heritage and compassion for their countrymen. Community-oriented art is their main weapon in the fight against immigrant detention. All these works contain messages that communicate the victims’ stories and promote a call for action. It can be suggested that the main goal of these artists’ works is to remind people about the immigrant detention issues and the suffering of people who had to face it. Art makes the experiences real for people who may have been ignorant of these experiences. Separated families and children taken away from their parents are scenes that cannot leave anyone indifferent. The art that incorporates a purpose, as well as such deep meanings and intentions to raise public awareness about the issue is arguably the most valuable and important type of art.
As a human being grows through the stages of childhood and young adulthood, he or she develops identities. These identities define the position of the individual in the society. Social status, personal identity, and gender identity are some of the forms of identity that are developed within the growth period at the beginning of human life. Hutchison discusses gender identity at length in the book, “Dimensions of Human Behavior”, and defines the process of developing gender identity. Distinctive gender identity develops at adolescence when sexual differentiation takes place. A child identifies with a certain gender and is conscious of other people of similar gender. An individual at this stage categorizes other people according to their gender. Depending on culture, gender identification may heavily rely on the roles of the respective genders. While all cultures identify people as men or women, some cultures put considerable emphasis on the role of respective genders. This influences an individual’s perspective on the issue of gender. However, all cultures have some distinct definition of roles of different genders (Hutchison 238). Currently there is a gradual shift of understanding of gender roles in modern societies. The distinct and rigid definition of gender role is slowly becoming more malleable and open to change. This does not mean that the biological definition of gender is changing, but the roles that define gender are continuously changing in a more complex society (Hutchison 174). Due to the pressure of obligations in the modern society, there is a tendency for individuals to deviate from the roles that culture defines so strictly. People adopt new methodologies of keeping in line with culture, and at the same time dealing with compelling obligations. This makes gender identity through roles of an individual a difficult task. Since some societies put less emphasis on roles as a way of identifying a certain gender, individuals from these communities experience a culture shock when they interact with other societies that have distinct gender roles (Hutchison 154). The complexity of gender identity emerges where there is a growing realization that biological differentiation may not distinctly define gender in an individual. An individual with an ill-defined biological gender orientation will have some difficulty in identifying the proper role that he or she should assume. Self-esteem of an individual may be affected by the relationship between his or her personal attributes and gender (Hutchison 237). Several other theories describe identity development. It is difficult to establish the theory that is most appropriate for development of the identity of an individual. The theories depend on the culture and beliefs of the particular society in which the individual lives. The afro centric theory defines collective groups rather than personal identities (Hutchison 194). In this theory, an individual has a single identity, which is assumed by people of the same gender, and with similar roles as the individual in the society. This approach contrasts
Stereotypes play a significant role in contemporary society and particularly in propaganda. Stereotyping is a rigid traditional conception or an idea of an individual or people, endeared by a number of people. Stereotyping can be fundamental or complicated classifications that people attribute to individuals or masses steeped in their appearances, attitudinal patterns, and beliefs. They are pervasive. Although our world is undergoing refinement in many respects, yet is hard to eliminate all traces of stereotyping and thus liberate us from its claws and clutches. Stereotypes have survived from the dawn of human civilization down to this day. They have traveled by the vehicles of religion, politics, and media. Stereotyping is embedded in almost all human beliefs whether it is humor, explanation of others, and other articulations. One may think that it is possible to surmount the array of such thinking, but the persistent propagating suggests that task is huge and even impossible. Propaganda is a persuasive force, which can be deferential for everyone. It brings in its wake transformations in attitudes and beliefs. Media is a great tool for impacting the opinion of the viewers who feel compelled to mold their value patterns after media information is processed in their minds. A huge quantity of stereotypes aired through media infuses the same effects. The media has the habit of misrepresenting stereotypes; they are, however, listened to by people and they seem to be amiable. TV shows like that of Simpson are littered with stereotypes even if the duration of the program is just half an hour. The show attracts a large number of audiences, as it is broadcast in prime time. Characters, for instance, Apu are poured with much discrimination and in turn, stereotyping. In this show, he is marginalized as a person hailing from Indian origin. He has a strange accent, which is easily noticeable as it is common with none. This is stereotyping -plain and simple. Youngsters imbibe it as something very funny and they replicate this humor in real-life situations. Viewers of this program the numbers of which are very large readily tend to believe in the facts pr