Culture is a complex concept which influences virtually every aspect of our lives – both consciously and subconsciously.  On the more visible level, our culture impacts the way we greet each other, the traditions we celebrate and the food we eat.  Aspects of culture which are less apparent include our beliefs, values and world views which influence the visible parts of culture (see entry on The Iceberg Model of Culture).

There have been many attempts to define culture.  The most common definition describes culture as a system of values and beliefs which we share with others, all of which gives us a sense of belonging or identity. Culture is comprised of elements such as history, religion, language, traditions, values, beliefs and customs. It is instilled early on in life but is constantly evolving.  It defines who we are and how we should behave and must be understood before effective communication can occur.

Researchers and writers from different fields have developed various approaches to explain the concept of culture.  The following definitions will shed light on some aspects of culture.

“A collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the member of one human group from another”
G.H. Hofstede

“Culture is how things are done around here.”
John Mole

“Culture is a rich complex of meanings, beliefs, practices, symbols, norms and values prevalent among people in a society”
Shalom Schwartz

“Culture is a dynamic process of solving human problems and dilemmas in areas of human relationships, time, and nature.”
Fons Trompenaars

Understanding the underlying norms and values of culture is essential if you are doing business with other countries.  Cross-cultural training programmes such as Developing Global Competence and Effective Global Leadership will help you understand how the complexity of your own culture and that of your international business counterparts can impact global negotiations, decision-making and business interactions when working across cultures.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2009