Page 36 - Harnessing the Strengths

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CULTURE CLASHES

he ultimate test of a model is in applying it to those
situations that seem to be irresolvable. Often this
Tis the case in situations of tremendous diversity,
making culture clashes one of the larger challenges facing
management.
Fear of the unknown is completely natural. Each per-
son is at the center of his or her own world and sees things
from a unique perspective. He or she determines what is
normal. When another person does something unexpected,
this leads to discomfort because you do not understand the
other person’s logic, you feel shut out, or you feel 100 per-
cent confi dent that your way of doing things is the best.
Value judgments are almost automatic when dealing with
culture differences. Fear of a foreign culture arises from the
idea that the unknown value systems deny those that you
believe in and value. This puts everything that is precious
to you in danger. Fear can lead to distrust, negativity, and
the tendency to fi ght, tooth and nail, for your own opinions.
This tendency is unproductive and can even be extremely
destructive.

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