Foundations of Culture: Cultural Values and Preferences

Name: Foundations of Culture: Cultural Values and Preferences
Author: Mercedes Naficy D'Angelo

Discover how culture affects how people work

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Course: On-Demand

Cultural anthropologists developed a variety of cultural values orientations, which help explain national culture. This method provides a way to understand the differences in core values across cultures by measuring value differences. This can then be applied to work and leadership styles. One of these dimensions is relationship versus task oriented cultures. This work style value means that on one extreme, relationship oriented people prefer to focus first on personal relationships in their work groups to build trust and to feel comfortable working with their colleagues. On the other end of the dimension, task oriented people prefer to get to the business or the task at hand. Different countries fall on different points along this continuum. The United States is stronger on the task orientation. Typically meetings start on time and end on time. Employees might often eat lunch at their desk, or if they go to the cafeteria, they will eat quickly and return to work. In India, meetings may start late and workers will take their full hour of lunch break and eat together with their colleagues. Work is equally important to them, but putting time into their relationships is just as important. In fact, people from relationship oriented cultures believe that investing time into building a relationship pays off later by allowing closer collaboration and greater productivity. Here is where India and the United States fall on the relationship versus task cultural continuum. In our example of the call center, Beth is an American with a strong task orientation. During a crisis, her preference for getting the task done is at its strongest. She believes that working with another American will enable her to solve her problem quickly and efficiently. She may even have some unconscious bias at play that convinces her that she should ask for a manager. Bill, the American manager, is also a task oriented. It's not part of his job to enter data for her. His job is to give her the best advice that he can. On the other hand, Maria is a Puerto Rican American, and much more relationship oriented than the average American. She gives Manpreet a more detailed explanation of her dilemma because culturally, that is how she interacts with people. Her distress triggers empathy with Manpreet, who being from India is also relationship oriented. He sees his job not only as giving advice on solving the problem, but also as doing anything within his capabilities to make the customer happy. He offers to enter the data himself, even if that is outside of his role and responsibilities. Where are you on the relationship versus task orientation continuum? It is fair to say the people on opposite ends of the continuum can find themselves feeling frustrated or offended when working with people who are different from them. This is why understanding differences in values can help us see that people are not trying to frustrate or upset us, but are trying to do the best they can.

Beginner Provider : Mercedes Naficy D'Angelo 4 Lessons · 6m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

Depending on the country, culture can dictate how workers cooperate with their peers and how power is distributed within a company. Mercedes Naficy D'Angelo details these orientations, as part of developing one's cultural competency. You will learn about values orientations, and determine how your own culture fits on their respective spectrums. You will also be advised on how to continue your own learning of other cultures.

What You'll Learn

Understand cultural values orientations and where different countries fall on their spectrums
Examine the relationship versus task values orientation and its focus and impact
Examine the hierarchy versus equality values orientation and its focus and impact
Determine how your own culture fits on these values orientation spectrums
Plan how to continue your own education into other cultures as part of developing cultural competency

Key Takeaways

Depending on the country, culture can dictate how workers cooperate with their peers and how power is distributed within a company.
Understanding cultural values orientations is part of developing one's cultural competency.
The course covers two values orientations: relationship versus task, and hierarchy versus equality.
Learners determine how their own culture fits on the respective values orientation spectrums.
The course advises learners on how to continue their own learning of other cultures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

The course covers cultural values orientations, including the relationship versus task orientation and the hierarchy versus equality orientation, and how different countries place on their respective spectrums. It also advises on how to continue your own learning of other cultures.

Who teaches this course?

Mercedes Naficy D'Angelo details these cultural values orientations as part of developing one's cultural competency.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course develops skills in cultural responsiveness, cultural competency, cultural diversity, cultural influences, culture transformation, and cultural psychology.

Will I learn about my own culture in this course?

Yes. You will determine how your own culture fits on the values orientations' respective spectrums.

What lessons are included in this course?

The lessons are Focus and Impact: Relationship Versus Task Values Orientation; Focus and Impact: Hierarchy versus Equality Values Orientation; What Next?; and Test Your Knowledge.

Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM®)

Professional Development Credits (PDCs): 0.25

Certification Program Categories:

Leadership & NavigationBusiness AcumenConsultationGlobal MindsetEthical PracticeRelationship ManagementAnalytical AptitudeCommunicationDiversity, Equity & Inclusion

KnowledgeCity is approved by SHRM as a Recertification General Provider to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP professional development credits (PDCs). By taking the courses approved by SHRM, KnowledgeCity can award SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for HR knowledge and competency programs related to the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (the SHRM BASK™).