Religion may be defined as a system of shared beliefs and rituals that are concerned with the realm of the sacred. Ethical systems refer to a set of moral principles, or values, that are used to guide and shape behavior. The world's major religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Although not a religion, Confucianism has an impact upon behavior that is as profound as that of many religions. The value systems of different religious and ethical systems have different implications for business practice.
Language is one defining characteristic of a culture.
It has both a spoken and an unspoken dimension. In countries with more than one spoken language, we tend to find more than one culture. Formal education is the medium through which individuals learn skills and are socialized into the values and norms of a society. Education plays an important role in the determination of national competitive advantage. Geert Hofstede studied how culture relates to values in the workplace.