Question

Essay #1

Think about a cross-cultural situation you have been involved with in your workplace where you were involved with people from another country culture. Using the Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck Values Orientation Dimensions define and describe (briefly) these values orientations.

Also cover how a values orientation plays a part of recognizing differences? What problems have been caused or might be caused by the differences in your own values orientation? What benefits could be potentially gained? Please highlight a real-life example.

Answer 1

EXPLANATION:

Last year I went to Costa Rica for work to install window coverings at a resort. When we do work for this particular company they always provide us with some help in whatever location we are working. In Costa Rica we had two local men helping us. These men were hardworking and very respectful individuals. My perception of the local individuals was that they were good people and I had a perception of world harmony after getting to know them over the two weeks we worked together. I felt like they extended their relationships with others laterally and made us “outsiders” feel welcome. Their primary type of activity was doing and they seemed to live in the present and not worry too much about the future. I don’t feel as if we invaded their space but I also felt like they enjoyed their privacy so my perception of their space is mixed.

The values orientation plays a part in recognizing differences because it allows us to see how we perceive things differently from others. The space dimension would be the dimension where I would imagine problems to occur often. Some people prefer their own space and are very private or don’t like to be touched. If someone is working in a culturally rich environment and it’s not understood that certain individuals like their personal space I believe that would cause problems many different workplace settings.

There are many benefits that could be gained from understanding each other’s values orientation dimensions in the workplace. Understanding how others perceive each dimension would allow us to better work together while being sensitive to everyone’s different orientation.