The Impact Of Cultural Differences In Brazil

Introduction

This paper will highlight the most prominent cultural differences between Brazil and the United States and what could be the impact of these differences on business activities with each other?

Culture is phenomenon that pervades every corner of the earth and society. The term has differing definitions, which specifically or loosely denote the same thing. For this exercise; culture is a mixture of mutually supportive beliefs, behavioral patterns, knowledge, and all learned properties owned by a civilization or society. These are all determined by acquisition of skills, or knowledge regarding how to perform tasks or symbolic thought among a particular group of people. There is extensive cultural intermingling that occurs due to trading, learning and working that has taken its activities on to an international platform. Emigration and migration have also led to greater levels of multiculturalism in the workplace as well as in the learning institutions, and now people from different backgrounds interact through studying and working together more than ever before. Other interactions influenced by multiculturalism include politics, sports, marriage and entertainment. In today’s world firms have expanded their regional operations and employees may be deployed to any corner of the globe, and as such there is a need to be culturally conscious. International deployments of employees have integrated cultural training sessions into their orientations as means to help its workforce adapt to working different environments.

In the past few decades there has been greater emphasis on taking into consideration cultural differences when dealing with international relation in business. Corporate companies have expanded beyond national ...

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...anizations: Conclusively, cultural diversity among North Americans and Brazilians provides a distinct cultural working environment, which may be both a source of conflict of harmony and synergy at the workplace. The two nations are in close proximity but their cultural differences are so pronounced and very significant in affecting the workplace environment. Brazil particularly provides a different and challenging workplace environment that all expatriates should be aware of in order to operate smoothly. However, if enough preparation and training is offered on distinctions in the local culture then working in these environs should be an easy task. Diversity is double-edged, in that if well approached it may enhance synergy, cooperation and easy working, but on the other hand if not well handled by the management this may result into conflict and misunderstanding.