Talk one

While deployed to Kuwait in 2006, I had a chance to observed many cultures. Every culture was unique in their own way, but there were two cultures that really stood out to me the most. I observed the Chinese and Georgians on a daily basis as part of my job duty in Kuwait. I noticed that the Chinese and Georgians have a significant difference between each culture. The Chinese was seen as more loyal and shy with meeting other soldiers, whereas the Georgians was more untrustworthy and outgoing with their surroundings. I believe that the dining etiquette between the two cultures is what stood out to me the most. The Chinese would introduce themselves to everyone at the dinner table before they ate their meal. The elder soldiers would eat their meal first. The Chinese would also concentrate on their meal and with the people that are sitting at the table. The Georgians would shake hands with everyone before sitting down to eat.

They will also try to kiss the person they are greeting on their cheek. The Georgians are more sociable and loud at the dinner table. Using the Geert Hofstede comparison tool, I compared China to Georgia. Georgia out ranks China with the power distance. This rating defines the individuals in a society not being equal. I also see that China outranks Georgia in long term orientation. "This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future" (Hofstede, 2016). I like the open system vs closed system as a relative merit. Hofstede relates that an organization can only be assessable if they allow themselves.

I believe that a developing economy will cause ethics and social responsibility to become more distant across cultures. I look at large countries like China and see that technology is causing the economy to change. Politics and other factors are the main reason why there are so many cultural differences. Using the Saint Leo core value of integrity, we can make sure that we are honest and trustworthy when dealing with different cultures in the market.

Talk two

Growing up in large cities and then moving to rural southern Georgia I have even seen a huge cultural difference in people. Hofstede describes the main difference between America and different countries which I find to be interesting. The most significant is in the U.S. we idealize individuality while in other counties such as Malaysia which he points out is more grouped together based off norms (Hofstede p. 42).

If we were to develop a global economy I think it would bring people together. It would set not only a standard for what to value economically but it would trickle down to every day cultural values. For instance the commodity of coffee, most drink it to get going in the morning or a pick me up in the afternoon due to hard working jobs in the cooperate market. This would put more emphasis on hard working being a trait that is valued across the world.

Cengage Learning (2015).: Organizational Behavior. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.