Question: Diverging Ideologies

When it comes to what Canadians and Americans say is important, there is a continental divide, one that is growing ever wider, every day. Although Canada has become more integrated economically with its largest trading partner, it appears that Canadians and Americans have diverging ideologies. Canadians and Americans have distinct points of views on a variety of issues, such as the Kyoto Accord, the decriminalization of marijuana, and same sex marriage. L'École nationale de cirque, a circus school founded in Montreal over 20 years ago, is symbolic of the ideological differences between Canada and the United States. The school encourages risk-taking and boundary-breaking and is completely different from anything found south of the border.

The unique circus arts taught at the school speak to the new Canadian image: bilingual, multinational, governmentfunded, postmodern, multicultural, and avant-garde. Pollster Michael Adams states that although most polls show that Canadians believe they are gradually becoming more and more like Americans, his research shows the opposite: Canadians are questioning and turning away from traditional hierarchies and old authorities and are actually becoming more like Europeans. So where are the gaps on values, perspectives, and world view between the two countries? In Canada, the belief in the father's supremacy is in decline, whereas in the United States it is growing. What is the significance of this finding? It has implications for how Canadians and Americans perceive the role of women in society, who should be boss in the workplace, and who should be the leader of the country.

Religion is another area in which Canadians and Americans show differences. Americans are becoming more religious than Canadians, with weekly church attendance in the United States at 50 percent. In contrast, weekly church attendance in Canada is at 20 percent. Adams points out other distinctions, including the view of urban life. Canadians are comfortable with ethnicity and diversity, settling in cities where they can find a sense of community in both the downtown and the suburbs. Americans, driven by racial issues in downtown cores, are moving to the suburbs and beyond. Another difference, according to Adams, is that Canadians believe government can provide solutions- national daycare, Old Age Security, revitalized cities-whereas Americans want less government intervention in their lives. Michael Byers, political scientist at the University of British Columbia, says Canadians are becoming more socially tolerant. The Canadian political spectrum, Byers states, is also further to the left as a whole than the American system. According to Michael Adams, the American ideal of rugged individualism and emphasis on moral values, terrorism, and economy excludes the social agenda. In contrast, Canadian values are more tailored to compromise, accommodation, and shared responsibility. In terms of values and beliefs, it appears that Canadians and Americans are, more often than not, on different paths.

1. Are Canadian values becoming more similar or dissimilar to American values? Explain.

2. Suppose a large Canadian telecommunications firm merges with a large American telecommunications firm. To what extent might the differences in values between these Canadian and American employees affect how they interact and work together?

3. Imagine that a Canadian company is producing computer products and shipping them across the border to the United States and overseas to Europe. Should management be concerned about the impact of Canadian values on customer relations? What should customer service representatives keep in mind when dealing with American and European customers?

Changing Attitudes

Can you change unfavourable employee attitudes? Sometimes! It depends on who you are, the strength of the employee's attitude, the magnitude of the change, and the technique you choose to try to change the attitude. People are most likely to respond to changes suggested by someone who is liked, credible, and convincing. If people like you, they are more apt to identify and adopt your message. Credibility implies trust, expertise, and objectivity. So you are more likely to change someone's attitude if that person views you as believable, knowledgeable about what you're saying, and unbiased in your presentation. Finally, successful attitude change is enhanced when you present your arguments clearly and persuasively.

It's easier to change a person's attitude if he or she is not strongly committed to it. Conversely, the stronger the belief in the attitude, the harder it is to change it. Also, attitudes that have been expressed publicly are more difficult to change because doing so requires admitting having made a mistake. It's also easier to change attitudes when the change required is not very significant. To get a person to accept a new attitude that varies greatly from his or her current position requires more effort. It may also threaten other deeply held attitudes. All attitude-change techniques are not equally effective across situations. Oral persuasion techniques are most effective when you use a positive, tactful tone; present strong evidence to support your position; tailor your argument to the listener; use logic; and support your evidence by appealing to the person's fears, frustrations, and other emotions. But people are more likely to embrace change when they can experience it. The use of training sessions where employees share and personalize experiences, and practise new behaviours, can be powerful stimulants for change. Consistent with self-perception theory, changes in behaviour can lead to changes in attitudes.

Assessing Skills

After you've read this chapter, take the following SelfAssessments on your enclosed CD-ROM.