We’ve all heard a lot about Twitter. What is it for? Twitter takes a simple approach to social networking by allowing its users to summarize what they’re doing into 140 characters (called “tweets”) and broadcasting in real-time to their network of “followers,” which may consist of friends, family, business associates or complete strangers (read more about Twitter on Wikipedia).

Twitter is a cultural phenomenon that is highly related to Gen Y and subsequent generations who have been raised in a virtual environment where being connected to the internet is almost akin to having a roof over your head and food to eat. As a successful brand, Twitter has effectively created its own culture, as its users are now part of a larger group that uses it as a means of communication and interaction.

The formation of a truly global culture that is constantly pushed and pulled in different directions is influenced by the evolving technology that we use and encounter on a daily basis. As we are aware of what people are doing, feeling and saying in distant locations, we are able to see disparate points of view. Thus, Twitter is forging an awareness of the world in a hyperactive way that may influence our global mindset.

Do you use Twitter? What is your reaction to the tool as a means of communication?

-Sean

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A Japanese stop sign, does the country need immigrants?

The New York Times writes that the Japanese government has taken another approach to its relationship with its small, Latin American immigrant community. By offering these immigrants, mainly from Brazil, several thousand dollars to fly home, they’re attempting to prevent a further rise in the nation’s unemployment statistics. This offer is made on the condition that they can never apply for a Japanese work visa (known as the Nikkei visa, which is for people of Japanese descent) in the future, which dismays many, both in the government and in the immigrant population.

What’s even more interesting is that a post in February on the CultureWizard blog noted how Japan was desperate to retain its foreign workers due to the aging Japanese population. This new policy seems counter intuitive, but clearly comes out of the chaos a deep recession causes. Is this response to unemployment influenced by Japanese culture? Japan is notoriously “immigrant-averse,” so could the overarching dedication to the “group” be dictating this decision to target non-members?

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In the March/April Diversity Executive magazine, one article delves into the meaning of diversity, as an HR concept, for people outside the US. The meaning of the word diversity and its use in colloquial English is usually taken for granted, says the writer, so it needs to be explained in context. For example, its meaning in ethnically homogeneous Japan is much different than in a melting pot like the US.

What concepts does diversity represent? Culture, language, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and overall behavior are a few key ideas that can be captured in the idea, but for many cultures these topics can be considered taboo or too explicit to mention in conversation. This is where models for handling diversity must reflect the local, cultural context, which is one of the central points of the article and of the intercultural field.

How would you implement a model for Diversity in a conservative country like Saudi Arabia? What does diversity mean to someone from Saudi Arabia?
What does diversity mean to you?

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Disney operates amusement parks in Hong Kong and Tokyo,
with one planned for Shanghai in 2014

Disney is entering the English-language instruction industry, according to the Wall Street Journal. The entertainment giant already has a flagship school in Shanghai and plans to move to other major Chinese cities in the coming years.

While Disney explicitly claims their only goal is to teach English, and that in no way is this new venture seen as a marketing opportunity, it’s hard to separate Disney from its icons and its branding. Additionally, Disney represents US culture in many ways, so there is some undeniable strategy attached to exposing Chinese students and their parents to such aspects of culture, both new and old. Teaching English the Disney way, with Mickey Mouse and Ariel the Little Mermaid, among other fictional characters, will impact generations of students’ perception of the language, which has important implications for their relationship with other English speakers and English-speaking countries. One effect that seems obvious to me is the orientation Disney takes towards the individual in its storytelling, which runs counter to China’s group-oriented culture. The Disney “…classroom and homework exercises introduce the kind of Disney books, TV shows and movies that China’s government otherwise tightly restricts.” This alone will impart a level of influence that isn’t normally seen by most Chinese, so this new business, if successful, could have a lasting and significant effect.

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Career Innovation, an organization that helps employers “increase business agility and gain recognition as inspiring places to work,” conducted an extensive study on the preparedness of organizations to address the increasing cultural disparity their employees experience at the workplace and how culture affects communication.

45 organizations were interviewed late last year and 91% said they expect internal cultural heterogeneity to expand, if not explode in size, in the coming years. Other primary cultural aspects that most affect the participants include communication styles (e.g. direct or indirect), language and accent barriers and the establishment of trust. How many people and organizations acknowledge culture? How many acknowledge culture and try to understand it by taking another step and addressing it in a systematic, thoughtful way?

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The New York Times writes that Bahrain is one of the few Arab countries that embraces its Jewish minority, albeit only 36 reside in the microstate, a small island nation off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa recognizes value in his country’s mixed population and supports diverse religious practice where Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jews and Muslims coexist. His government recently appointed a Jewish woman as ambassador to the US, the first Jewish ambassador to represent an Arab country abroad.

Many political figures criticize Bahrain’s efforts to acknowledge its small Jewish community, as they believe it’s an effort to appease the US, one of the country’s allies. Bahrain is also the freest economy in the Middle East, according to the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal, which is based on measurements of, for example, business and financial freedom, property rights and governmental corruption. Could this be attributed to the nation’s positive attitude towards cultural difference?

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An article on Live Mint, a financial news website by the Hindustan Times, covers Indian bargaining practices, warning foreigners to be prepared.

“Indians have a long tradition as buyers and sellers with foreign countries,” which “has led Indians engaged in business to have a ‘trader’ mentality, which has both positive and negative connotations. Positively, this makes them highly entrepreneurial, always looking for opportunities to do business. Perhaps negatively, especially from the supplier’s perspective, this makes them inordinately price sensitive in their purchasing. In other words, Indians are tough negotiators and love bargaining. Any foreigner desiring to sell to an Indian firm should be prepared for this.”

The procurement process is lengthy when compared to countries in Europe and North America. Hierarchy and power distance influence this. A “fair price” is sought by Indian companies, rather than the lowest price, since information on price is well known throughout the realms of business in India. Many aspects of negotiation may frustrate non-Indians, as indirect communication is the norm. India is a high context culture where tone of voice, body language, eye contact and facial expression can be more important than the spoken word.

It is truly important to know this information before doing business in India!

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Bathing suits only allowed at the beach?

The Economist reports on new “codes of public conduct” that are being drafted in the Emirates to more strictly enforce rules governing dress, drinking, dancing and public displays of affection (e.g. hand-holding and kissing), all visual manifestations of culture. The writer points out that the Emirates are still extremely liberal in comparison to other Islamic countries in the region.

The visually perceived aspects of culture are also some of the most guarded. In attempting to maintain the way culture looks, the state often steps in as its arbiter. While cities like Dubai embrace diversity, given its massive expat population, these new codes will remind you of where you are, and “that improper behaviour that flouts local customs may lead to fines, prosecution or deportation.”

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When First Lady Michelle Obama extended her arm across Queen Elizabeth’s back, the media in the UK screamed. Personal space and privacy are important measures that govern behavior in the UK. When in the presence of royalty in the UK, behavior is governed by a separate, distinct set of rules that don’t apply elsewhere. Michelle’s action would not have been newsworthy if it had happened in the US with a woman of a different stature. The most interesting aspect of this is that Queen Elizabeth bent a rule that she’s accustomed to enforcing. Why? The Queen reacted quite personally, given that culture wouldn’t allow her to respond the way she did: reciprocating the gesture and patting the First Lady on the back. Any thoughts?

Click here to read one British journalist’s account of the incident on MSNBC’s World Blog.

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