Different Human Resources Practices Among Different Cultures

Culture according to Harper (2001) from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning â€Å"to cultivate. Culture generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance. Cultures according to Vaughn and Rodney 2006) can be â€Å"understood as systems of symbols and meanings that even their creators contest, that lack fixed boundaries, that are constantly in flux, and that interact and compete with one another†. Culture has been called â€Å"the way of life for an entire society.† It includes codes of manners, religion dress, language, rituals and norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief as well as the art. Main Body Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that is passed down from generation to generation. Culture varies from different communities and different populations in the world. Religion plays a key role to our culture different religions have different practices. Religion can dictate the dresscode, working hours including breaks, working days.A country like United States of America where they are liberal when it comes to religion does not really dictate the dress code. The dress code varies from company to company depending on the kind of work they do from Casual to formal wear to all sexes. Unlike Muslim religion dominated countries where all women are supposed to cover their heads at all times and sometimes dresses in a specific gown. Morality varies from culture to culture and it plays a big role for religion . Some organizations may consider premarital pregnancy an immoral issue while some will not see it as an issue.Marriage plays a role to religion. Culture makes human resources practices to differ from the languages used officially by the countries . Example an English speaking country may find it difficult to adapt to the French speaking culture habbits if they are sta ting in the French speaking country. Both parties may have a language barrier in the ways they translate their English, two they are certain practices by this two different cultures of which none of the parties are not used to example hugging and a kiss on the cheek may seem to be unprofessional to one of the parties unlike to the other.Politics and the political system of a country or a territory vary from different communities and in different cultures. The human resources practices also depend on the system of governance of a territory or a country. The political system contributes a lot to how an organization sets its policies and practices. Such human resource practices include when the financial year starts, rates of taxation, maternity leave for the women, religious to statutory holidays and also working hours.Human resources practices also depend on the organization culture which is affected by the founder of the organization. Most of the human resource practices depend on h ow the organization was founded and the beliefs and values of the founding team were. Example if the founders did not belief in certain dress codes like no trousers suits for women it happens that is habit is carried forward down to generations. This is called the founder syndrome and it tends to become corporate culture of the organisation.Corporate culture according to Hill and Jones (2001)comprises the attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values of an organization. It has been defined as â€Å"the specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization and that control the way they interact with each other and with stakeholders outside the organization. Organizational values are beliefs and ideas about what kinds of goals members of an organization should pursue and ideas about the appropriate kinds or standards of behavior organizational members should use to achieve these goals.