Cultural Behaviour in the Workplace Research Paper

Cultural Behaviour in the Workplace - Research Paper Example According to Condon & Yousef (1975), people skills and intercultural communication competence contribute to successful cross-cultural business interactions. Culture determines the nature of the business interaction of individuals. Cross-cultural business interactions happen between different countries with distinct political, economic, and cultural backgrounds. For economic development, different countries and international companies collaborate to contribute positively to the global economy. However, cultural intolerance is a major cause of conflicts and misunderstandings experienced in the world today (Ayoko 2007). It is difficult for people of different cultures to understand each other since they are cultured to do things in a specific manner. Sebenius (2002) notes that this problem faces most companies engaged in cross-border business. Therefore, there is the need for all companies to adopt an international global perspective of conducting business.   This study based on the a ssumption that culture is important in determining business interactions in the workplace. Basing on the challenges experienced by employees, this study will answer the question; how does culture influence business interactions of Americans, Chinese, and Russians. This will also develop propositions for addressing challenges that arise in a multicultural workplace. The study findings will offer guidance on how to ensure effective business communication with Russians, Chinese, and Americans. The study setting is the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. This United Arab Emirates Company serves a major purpose of organizing economic life and ensuring the prosperity of trade in the region. This includes making proposals for economic projects, engagement in legislation dealing with industrial and economic affairs, and launching opportunities for investment (SharjsaCityGuide n.d). The nature of this company allows for interactions with companies from different parts of the world, in or der to work jointly on projects or negotiate on business deals. During such cross-cultural communication, cultural differences lead to considerable challenges. The participants in this study are employees of this company, who have experience working with foreign delegates, specifically, Russian, American, and Chinese. These will share their experiences and major challenges in their dealings with the foreign delegates. Methodology This study aims at gathering information concerning the experiences of the employees of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry in dealing with delegates of Russian, American, and Chinese origins. The experiences of participants reflect their attitudes toward the foreign delegates, therefore, this study explores subjective data. Therefore, in order to achieve the aims of this study, a qualitative approach will be employed, as this is concerned with subjectivity understanding.