OLEAD 410: Leadership in a Global Context

Cultural Leadership blog

Africa: Riches in Turmoil

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Africa is one the world’s most abundant continents in natural resources. Africa accounts for approximately 30% of the earth’s mineral resources. The continent is home to 54 countries and one non-self-governing territory. Africa is the oldest populated continent and the second largest and most populated continent in the world, with an estimated 1.1 billion people (Boyes, 2013).

What makes Africa a great continent, is their rich traditions and culture. Africa believes in the Ubuntu philosophy, which is the “humanistic philosophy of living life that encourages dignity and respect for all people” (PSU, n.d.). Sadly, modern Africa has since deviated from the Ubuntu philosophy due to conflicts and civil wars that have been going for decades. Countries have been divided and the people have been brutalized, corrupted, terrorized, and starved. Most of the continent today is plagued with disease and malnutrition. Each country’s economic turmoil has left little to no hope for a better outcome.

Africa although rich in history and natural resources, has lived most of its history in conflict. Even with the amounts of resources, both natural and human they are underdeveloped. Rebuilding and leading these countries can be potentially challenging but hopefully with the right amount of democracy and stability they can re-focus their efforts towards success, reduce famine and human health issues and provided better circumstances for its people (PSU, n. d.)

References

Boyes, S. (2013). Getting to Know Africa: 50 Interesting Facts. National Geographic. Retrieved form http://voices.nationalgeographic.org/2013/10/31/getting-to-know-africa-50-facts/

Penn State, 2017, OLEAD 410, Lesson 14, Challenges of Communication in a Global Context. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1847401/modules/items/22619487

Global Communication

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Communication as basic of a process as it may seem can get rather tricky when communication with people of of various cultures. First, there are multiple forms of communication such a verbal and non-verbal which can differ significantly from one culture to another. Non-verbal communication includes body language, gestures, and eye contact.

During my time in the Middle East I got to experience a drastic difference into what I was used to. In the Middle East it is not customary for a women to speak to a man unless spoken to first, additionally, when shaking hands a women will extend her hand first if desired as it is uncommon for women to conduct business or initiate conversation with the opposite sex.

My first experience was at a fish market in Kuwait city. I had the pleasure of witnessing the local fishermen bring in their catch and the locals surround the piles of fish on the ground and barter.  It was a fascinating experience, however,  I could not take part in it. I had to give my translator my budget and watch him from a distance barter for my fish.

“Social norms define rules or standards for evaluating what behavior is considered socially acceptable” (Moran, Abramson & Moran, p. 42). Not having the freedom to conduct business for myself was a bit frustrating. Additionally, not being in control of the situation and knowing the language enough to understand the whole bartering process made me unsure if I was truly getting a good deal, but I had to respect the customs and variables in their communication process and enjoy the experience as it was.

References

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences   (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge

 

 

 

Diversity

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Diversity has many definitions. Since there is no boundary in defining diversity, we can assume that diversity is anything that varies from person to person. According to Moran, Harris & Moran, diversity can encompass, “race, gender, age, physical ability, physical appearance, nationality, cultural heritage, personal background, functional experience, position in the organization, mental and physical challenges, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, military experience, educational background, style differences, economic status, thinking patterns, political backgrounds, city/state/region or residence, IQ level, smoking preference, weight, marital status, nontraditional job, religion, white collar, language, blue collar, and height” (As cited in Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p . 157) (PSU, 2017).

Diversity has allowed for a wide range of people to interact and learn from each other. Since no one person is a like, we are constantly learning from our environments and the diversity that surrounds us. One of the most diverse organizations I’ve encountered in the military. Every year thousands of men and women from all over the U.S. and U.S. territories join the military. Additionally, citizens from the Philippines, Latin America, and other countries join the U.S. Military as well. Before other cultures were accepted in the military women were banned from serving in the military in positions other than nurses. In 1917, Loretta Walsh became the first woman allowed to serve in the United States armed forces during WWI, which marked the first time that the military introduced diversity in regards to gender among the workforce. (Parker, 2011).

This unification of people from all over the world is what makes the military as a whole a very diverse organization. In addition to the military accepting a variety of cultures, in recent years, the military has repealed their policy on the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy, opening the doors for gay and lesbian service members, thus creating an increasingly diverse force. Even more recently, the military has lifted the ban on transgender service members, allowing for their rights to serve and their gender identity. Even though, these changes come after the discharges of some it’s military members, it’s a step in the right direction as our society and world continues to change. Diversification takes a great deal of acceptance and tolerance from others, as some people may have had limited exposure to people from the list of differences, therefore remaining open to others is very important in achieving our diversity.

Research has demonstrated that as a length of time increases when diverse group members work together, the negative effects of surface-level diversity (i.e., age, sex, and ethnicity) decrease. In other words as you get to know your teammates, you relate to them more as they are, and less as they might appear to be as stereotypes” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014, p. 177).

Regardless of how big or small the step is towards change, it’s important to the personal and professional development of individuals to make them happen. The creation of a more diverse military in all facets of diversity has been a continued positive leap forward into a more diverse society and country and has allowed others to stand next to each other in harm’s way as equals protecting each other and our nation.

References

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences   (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge

Parker, K. (2011). Sailors Honor Life and Legacy of First Female CPO. Navy Times. Retrieved from http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=59573

PSU (2017). OLEAD 410. Lesson 03. Diversity. Defining Diversity. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1847401/modules/items/22619395

Culture

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Living in a diverse city exposes you to many languages and cultures. One of the greatest things about the diversity in my city is experiencing all the great food. You can go almost anywhere in the city and find a locally owned and operated family restaurant from almost all over the world. When visiting the restaurants its wise to understand that there are cultural differences and customs when dining, therefore a quick study on their particular customs may come in handy and help avoid any uncomfortable situations.

Luckily in this day in age, we can rely on the Internet for a quick reference on etiquette when dining with particular cultures. In my city we have a Nepalese restaurant where you can sit on a Nepali dining table however, you have to follow their customs and ask for permission to sit in the room, remove your shoes, sit crossed-legged, and avoid pointing the bottoms of your feet in the direction of others. In addition to asking permission, upon entering the hostess or host will greet you with a Namskar or Namaste, which should be politely returned. Eating from your right hand only is also a custom.

One faux pas that Americans often commit is taking photos of their food when dining, particularly in foreign restaurants. This is something that should be avoided in most places since it can be considered rude. “Intentions are important but, like culture, perceptions count” (Moran et al., 2014, p. 29). If we dine at a restaurant aware of their customs, we are less likely to offend others, and making at least an effort to understand the culture can make a significant difference into how you are welcomed in restaurants as well.

If we can understand that the U.S. in home to many cultures and learn to be accepting and respectful we can gain a lot of good from sharing these amazing experiences. “If you want to enlarge your managerial frames, you must be curious about how the rest of the world thinks – and you must have humility” (Moran et al., 2014, p. 31). Experiences no matter how small can give you a better insight into the cultural differences of others that can become valuable tools both personally and professionally.

References

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences   (9th ed.). Oxford: Routledge

 

 

Yvonne’s Introduction

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Yvonne; I am currently an Executive Assistant for a Navy aviation command.

I am from and currently living in San Diego. I am currently working on graduating this fall with my BS in OLEAD and AS in Business, I really like my current position even though there’s not much upward mobility, I like what I do and the flexibility I have to go to school and balance family life. My long term goals include going to grad school, and ultimately finding a career that is both rewarding and comfortable in balancing family.

I am not currently in a leadership position; I have however held a leadership position during my time in the navy. I was the administrative supervisor for an aviation command. I don’t have a favorite leadership quote, however, a previous boss once told me to always listen to others ideas because everyone has something valuable to offer. That has stuck with me for many years, I feel that as a student, particularly an online student, we learn a lot from communicating with each other and sharing ideas, working as a team is one of my favorite things to do.

Something interesting about me is that I am currently 5 months pregnant attempting to graduate this year. I have a 7 year old daughter and a handful of pets (2 dogs, 1 cat, and a couple chameleons). I have no unusual hobbies or many hobbies for that matter; my free time is all spent with my daughter and my pets.

I’m looking forward to working and learning from you all this semester.

 

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