International Culture Essay

Introduction
This is a short summary explains how differences in culture across and within countries can affect international business through several themes.
Culture definition
Scholars have never been able to agree on a simple definition of culture. Geert Hofstede defined culture as ‘the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another. … Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values; and values are among the building blocks of culture’. Values are abstract ideas about what a group believes to be good, right, and desirable. They provide the context within which a society’s norms are established and justified, and form the bedrock of a culture. Norms are the social rules and guidelines

In American society, the high degree of social mobility and the extreme emphasis on individualism limit the impact of class background on business operations. In a country such as Great Britain, however, the relative lack of class mobility and the differences between classes have resulted in the emergence of class consciousness which is a condition where people tend to perceive themselves in terms of their class background, and this shapes their relationships with others. In cultures where there is a great deal of consciousness of the class of others, the way individuals from different classes work together (i.e. management and labor) may be very prescribed and

The ethical practices of individuals within a culture are often closely intertwined with their religion.
Christianity
Christianity is the largest religion and is common throughout Europe, the Americas and other countries settled by Europeans. Economic implications of Christianity: The Protestant work ethic: At the turn of the century Weber suggested that it was the Protestant work ethic (focus on hard work, wealth creation, and frugality) that was the driving force of capitalism.
Islam
Islam extends the underlying roots of Christianity to an all-embracing way of life that governs one 's being. In the West, Islamic fundamentalism is associated in the media with militants, terrorists, and violent upheavals. However, the vast majority of Muslims point out that Islam teaches peace, justice, and tolerance. Fundamentalists have gained political power in many Muslim countries, and have tried to make Islamic law the law of the land.
• Economic implications of Islam
In Islam, people do not own property, but only act as stewards for God and thus must take care of that with which they have been entrusted. While Islam is supportive of business, the way business is practiced is prescribed.