Essay --

Culture can be defined as The collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one human group from another (Hofstede, 1991)Culture brings square differences in the way of fashioning, communicating, addressing relationships and so, it can positively or negatively affect the work environment.The following theories are used to identify and describe the cultural compose of a country1.Low and uplifted context kitchen-gardenings (Hall, 1977)According to the anthropologist Edward T.Hall (1977), there are two types of national culture low context culture and high context culture. Each of them has a specific communication that will have an impact on the way people interact within an organization.Low-context culture FranceLow-context culture refers to a direct style of communication based on explicit messages. As words carry most of the information, content and verbal explanations are rightfully important. Indeed, the interpretation relies on what is said or written, regardless of the context. For example, in the French work environment, agreements are written and usually well detailed, work is expected before friendship and credibility is earned due to performance/ efficient management of time. The impact that this may have on an organization is the reinforcement of individualism, the increase of rivalry and pressure, the development of a feeling of loneliness which can sometimes lead to suicides.High-context culture ColombiaHigh-context culture refers to a more indirect style of communication. The messages interpretation is characterized by contextual clues such as nature of relationship, time, and situation. The verbal part of a message contained less information than the written part still what is left uns... ...curity and minimise risks whereas a low uncertainty avoidance society hasnt.Both France (86) and Colombia (80) have high uncertainty avoidance, in other words it inwardness that they try to find mechanisms and rules to avoid am biguity. In consequences, lack of expertise / planning or change in policies would lead to stressful situations. Short vs. long name orientation (LTO) The extent of which a culture focus on time. In a long term oriented society, firms and people give importance on planning on years and decades to achieve long term success and delayed gratification of their material, social and emotional needs whereas in a in brief term society they dont. With a score of 39, France seems to have a short term orientation quick results by quarter and hard work on a short term period have great importance. Colombian orientation is still undefined for the moment.