GROUP (ORAL)

PRESENTATION

DEFINATIONS OF CULTURE

• CULTURE:

• Is a way of life

• According to Kroeber, A.L., & Kluckhohn, C. (1952) “culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may, on the one hand, be considered as products of action, and on the other as conditioning elements of further action”.

• CULTURE: According to Hofstede, G. (1984). National cultures andcorporate cultures. In L.A. Samovar & R.E. Porter (Eds.), CommunicationBetween Cultures. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. "Culture is the collectiveprogramming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one categoryof people from another." (p. 51).

• Culture-“Can refer to a shared, commonly held body of general beliefs and

values that define what is right for one group” (Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck;

Lane and Distefano, 1998)

• This definitions implies that by having culture we will have a sense of belonging which promote special relations and unity of the community. It will be identified by sharing of religions, customs, beliefs and cultural norms as well as maintaining of individual behavior. Thus, makes it easier to understand other people’s perceptions and values, also explore their cultural differences when dealing with them especially in this arena of globalization.

COMPONENTS OF CULTURE

CULTURE

LANGUAGE RELIGIONVALUES AND ATTITUDES

EDUCATION

LAW AND POLITICS

RELIGIONSOCIAL

ORGANIZATION

ASTHETICS

COUNTRIES INVOLVED

NETHERLANDS JAMAICA ITALY IRELAND

FRANCE CUBA BELGIUM

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD AND CULTURE

“YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT”

According to this statement above food has a significant relationship with the culture of a particular culture. Due to the fact that people may eat the necessary foods because they were colonized by a particular country or because they are agriculturalist hence this may tell a lot about what they consider as their meal.

Food is an crucial element of each and everyone’s survival, and there has no any element that can fuel up the human body that could substitute it, rich knowledge about food has been symbolized in culture.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD AND CULTURE

• CHOOSEN MEAL: STEAK FRITES

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BELGIUM’S FOOD AND CULTURE

• Belgium has different ethnic groups and 75% of the population are Roman Catholics. Belgium’s traditional staple food is bread and potatoes. The most eaten meals in Belgium include chicken, beef, or pork, and Seafood is very famous in Belgium’s northern part of the country.

• Wine in Belgium is imported in large quantities while beer is the nation drink of Belgium. In the northern cities of Belgium famous dishes include mussels with fries and waterzzoi a broth of vegetables and meat or fish. French fries are had with stakes and minced meat that is raw throughout of Belgium.

• Traditionally cooking is done with butter rather than oil and also there is a high consumption of dairy products. Immigration has guaranteed that a diversity of traditional restaurants and it is gradually changing the eating behavior of the Belgians in culturally mixed areas of Belgium. During special occasions like Christmas large families meals with the grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins are prepared.

• There are many other occasions in Belgium for long meals at private and public celebrations, such as funerals, weddings, and the days devoted to city and parish saints. Pastries are associated with the civil and religious occasions. Sweet bread in the form of the child Jesus is eaten during Christmas people of Belgium eat sweet bread in the form of the child Jesus during Christmas, then children are told that eggs are dropped.

CHOSEN MEALIrish Stew consisting of Lamb, potatoes, carrots, onions, pasley

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRELAND’S FOOD AND CULTURE

• Irish cuisine refers to a method of cooking originating from Ireland and developed by the Irish people. This cuisine has evolved over centuries of political and social change and may differ today on how it was prepared in the earlier years. The cuisine is influenced by the crops grown and animals reared in its temperate climate.

• Since the introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century it has heavily influenced Ireland’s cuisine thereafter and, as a result it’s often closely associated with Ireland meals. Representative Irish dishes include Irish Stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, coddle and colcannon.

• Typically their day involves four meals including: breakfast, dinner , tea(which is very common in Britain) , and supper (a

light meal before early evening). Roasts and stews, of lamb, beef, chicken, ham, pork, and turkey, are the centerpieces of traditional meals. Fish, including salmon, and seafood, especially prawns, are also popular meals in Ireland.

• There are few ceremonial food customs. Large family gatherings often sit down to a main meal of roast chicken and ham, and turkey becoming the preferred dish for Christmas (followed by Christmas cake or plum pudding). Drinking behavior in pubs is ordered informally, in what is perceived by some to be a ritualistic manner of buying drinks in rounds.

CHOOSEN DISH: Arroz con pollo (rice with chicken)

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CUBAN’S FOOD AND CULTURE

• Most of Cuban meals is influenced by the colonization of Spain on Cuba and it brought about change and adaptation in the Cuban land. During colonization the Spaniards brought Africans to Cuba as slaves and this brought about culinary.

• As a results, both Spanish and Africans cultures formed the foundation of Cuban cuisine. Cuba itself is an island this also greatly influenced as they make use of the seafood. Cuba is the tropical climate which and tropical climate produces fruits and root

vegetables that are used in Cuban dishes and meals.

• During colonial times, Cuba was crucial port for trade during colonial times so this resulted in many Spaniards who settled there bringing their culinary traditions along with them. In time, Spanish and African cultures joined together to create several popular dishes, including Arroz con pollo (rice with chicken).

CHOOSEN MEAL:HACHEE(wedge and chicken stew)

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NETHERLANDS FOOD AND CULTURE

• The Netherlands people are agriculturalist they cultivate land and keep domesticated animals for their milk and meat. As agriculturalist their meals contain mostly vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and cheese hence agriculture has affected their food.

• They eat 3 meals a day breakfast consisting of sandwiches with cheese, peanut butter, or chocolate sprinkles, lunch consists of sandwiches, often

with cold cuts and perhaps a small salad on the side and dinner which is served between 5 and 7 PM it consists of two or three course meal that often begins with soup.

• The main dish usually contains a mixture of potatoes with vegetables and meat, fish, or poultry and is followed by dessert.

CHOOSEN DISH: Spaghetti Bolognese launch meal

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ITALIAN FOOD AND CULTURE

• Italians are very people who value food not as just stuff to eat and fill a rumbling stomach but as way of establishing, connecting and maintaining relationships among friends and family. It brings the sense of togetherness. They believe in sharing and they usually offer everyone who visits their Italian home food and drink.

• Their breakfast consists of butter, strong coffee, hard roll and juice or fruit. Their launch meal consists of Pasta which is mostly in all Italian dishes and is usually dished along with soup, meat or fish and bread. In the past launch meal was considered the family meal but due to modern changes, the custom of siesta, it’s no longer practical so dinner is

used as a family meal and it’s mostly consisted of leftovers.

• The launch and dinner meal is accompanied by bottle of wine.Italians have special foods for various ceremonial occasions. During New Year’s Eve there is the Feast of the Seven Fishes, there is also a special Saint Joseph’s bread, Easter bread is served with hard-boiled eggs and Saint Lucy’s “eyes” are served at her feast. Wine is usually served all the meals during these events.

CHOOSEN DISH: JAMACAIN CHICKEN CURRY

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAMAICAN FOOD AND CULTURE

• The dish of Jamaican curry chicken was cooked and served with white rice. Curry its a dish that originate from southern and southern west countries of Asia. The curry powder is made up of mixture of herbs or spices, with chilies either hot or wet. This combination was developed by Indian merchant who were mainly from British colonial government and returning army.

• Curry is given to the dishes that have either poultry, meat, fish or mixture of vegetables. It can be prepared wet as wet or dry. Wet curry is made up of sauces or yogurt or coconut milk gravy. Dry carries are prepared with a small volume of liquid that will evaporate so that ingredients mixed with

combination of spices, could remain behind. . Introduced into Jamaican The Jamaicans who were largely the slaves from Africa, added their local spices into this curry to fit the local cuisine. Thus, Jamaican carry powder was made.

CHOOSEN DISH: GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FRANCE FOOD AND CULTURE

• French cuisine is based on what they grow locally, they make dishes from fresh ingredients that they grow locally therefore the dishes differ from region to region. The French have three meals breakfast, lunch and dinner. The French staple food is bread and cheese. But I chose garlic mashed potatoes.

• Mashed potatoes can be attached to other dishes or can be used as an ingredient. It is prepared using ingredients such as potatoes, butter, vegetables oil, milk or cream to improve texture. Seasoning include bacon bits, garlic, cheese and herbs can be used to add the favor. This is dish is normally dished on daily basis because it is dished with other meals of the day and because it can be used as an ingredients.

COMPARISON AMONG COUNTRIES

USING GEERT HOFSTEDE FRAMEWORK

• According to Andy Tamas (2007),”Hofstede's "dimensions of culture" were derived mainly from his extensive organizational anthropology research in the late 1970s and early 1980s – the scores are general comparisons of values in the countries and regions he studied and can vary greatly within each country. Although Hofstede's work is somewhat dated and has rightly been criticized on a number of grounds the dimensions are useful in understanding that members of various societies are likely to behave in different ways in a given situation”.

COUNTRY POWER DISTANCE

INDIVIDUALISM UNCERTAINITYAVOIDANCE

MASCULINITY LONG TERM ORIENTATION

BELGIUM 65 75 95 54 ..

ITALY 50 76 75 70 ..

FRANCE 68 71 86 43 ..

CUBA 68 46 95 30 44

NETHERLANDS 38 80 53 14 44

IRELAND 28 70 35 68 ..

JAMAICA 54 46 92 95 ..

Hofstede's Dimension of Culture Scales

POWER DISTANCE

According to Hofstede Power distance is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. Those people that stay in countries that score below 50% or of low they appreciate each other’s differences and even in organizations every employee has a right to their opinion and is given the chance to be heard. The manager/leader maybe the final decision maker but he/she expects input from workers in order to achieve maximum effort from them. Power is decentralized and communication is direct and participative.

INDIVIDUALISM

• The degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. Usually European countries are believed to be individualistic or they score more than 50 in the Hofstede's Dimension of Culture Scales as they is high preference of social networks in which individuals should take care of themselves and their families. Employer and employee relationship is based on contract while promotion and hiring is basically based on excellence and performance.

MASCULINITY

A high score on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner/best in field while low score in masculinity means that the society looks up to the values of caring for each other and quality of life is mark of success. Those countries that rank below 50 shows low masculinity because we can notice that at the work places managers are supportive and they allow participative communication. They also involve employees in decision making through the use of democratic styles of leadership. They like long discussion so that they reach an agreement in re-solving conflicts in the work place.

UNCERTAINITYAVOIDANCE

Countries exhibiting high uncertainty avoidance maintain rigid codes of belief and behavior and are intolerant of unusual behavior and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional need for rules time is money, people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an important element in individual motivation.

COMPARISON OF LEADERSHIP STYLES

COUNTRY LEADERSHIP STYLE NEGOTIATION STYLE

CUBA democratic Prefer to be calm in negotiations

IRELAND democratic More impressed by results than

promises

BELGIUM autocratic Skilled but sympathetic negotiators

ITALY autocratic Prepared for lengthy negotiations

FRANCE autocratic Persistent formality in negotiations

JAMAICA democratic Prefer minimal small talk before getting

down to business

NEATHERLANDS democratic Use facts to support arguments

Implications in our findings for working within

multicultural teams

• Working in a multicultural team can be. Hampered by having some communication obstacles. The communication of western culture is usually clear and precise. The listener is able to understand the message without with further clarification. It’s a different situation when it comes to the non-western culture who will likely to give an ambiguous question with too much details. For example, a western culture individual may understand another western culture individual without any further clarification regarding the question. Whilst, it may take an individual from western culture a bit long to get the message from a non-western culture individual. As a result this may negatively affect the team relationship as it may cause deal and minimal progress at work.

Implications in our findings for working within

multicultural teams

• Another implication, is an individual may have a problem with being accustomed or understanding the accent and fluency of a person from a different culture. For, a Latin American, may phrase English differently from someone with who comes from china where Chinese is official language. Hence, a Chinese may not be familiar or fluent in English and correct accent. As such, this may demotivate the participation of one into the group as this may frustration could take place where by a particular in one may have an point but a challenge with presenting it.

CONCLUSION

• In conclusion, we have realized that different countries differ in many cultural ways such as food, leadership style and negotiation styles. Through our multicultural team we have realized we all have to different ways of doing the same things and accept each other’s beliefs, culture. Having multicultural teams could help the organization in solving lots of problems since every member of the organization brings in the unique experience to the organization.

REFERENCES

• Accessed 13-11-14. http://www.jamaicans.com/cooking/chicken/currychi.shtml

• Accessed 13-11-14 ,http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/soci1101/221the_components_of_culture_symbols_language_values_and_norms.html

• Kroeber, A.L., & Kluckhohn, C. (1952). Culture: A critical review of concepts and definitions. Harvard University Peabody Museum of American Archeology and Ethnology

• Accessed : http://www.geerthofstede.eu/research-vsm

• Hofstede, G. (1984). National cultures and corporate cultures. In L.A. Samovar

• http://www.cubaculturaltravel.com/religion.html Accessed by 13-10-14

• Alpers, Svetlana. The Art Of Describing:Dutch Art in the Seventeeh Century,1993

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Italy Accessed 14:11:14

• http://www.livescience.com/44376-italian-culture.html Accessed 08:10:14

• Parson, T. (1949). Essays in Sociological Theory