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Cultural Awareness in the UK Workplace. 2010. INTERNATIONALISATION TASK GROUP. Learning Objectives. By the end of this workshop you will: Understand the importance of work culture in an organisation Recognise the importance of effective communication, particularly in team working
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Cultural Awareness in the UK Workplace 2010 INTERNATIONALISATION TASK GROUP
Learning Objectives By the end of this workshop you will: • Understand the importance of work culture in an organisation • Recognise the importance of effective communication, particularly in team working • Identify ways to develop your team work proficiency
Why is cultural awareness necessary? • “Understand the differences; act on the commonalities” Andrew Masondo, African National Congress • Multicultural teams are common in business • Different communication styles • Different approaches to task completion and decision making
UK culture • Language • ‘English’ or ‘British’ • ‘Britishness’ • Privacy and protocol
UK business culture • Greetings • Communication style • Building relationships • Business meetings • Anti-discrimination employment laws: Sex Discrimination Act; Equal Pay Act; Age Discrimination Act, etc • Time = a precious resource • Task focussed • Humour, sarcasm and irony!
Cultural dimensions • Individuals vs groups • Attitudes to hierarchy & status • Display of emotions • Rules & risk • Work/life balance • Attitudes to time
How to work in a multicultural team • Build your cultural knowledge • Treat people as individuals • Implement your cultural knowledge • Withhold assumptions • Avoid blame • Listen actively • Relay your knowledge
(Early and Mosakowski, 2004): “Although some aspects of cultural intelligence are innate, anyone reasonably alert, motivated, and poised can attain an acceptable level of cultural intelligence.”
Extra resources • https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Preparation-and-Arrival/Facing-culture-shock?q=cultural+difference&ExactMatch=#layer-3201 - understanding culture shock • http://blog.communicaid.com/ • http://www.culture-at-work.com/