1. CULTURE IS BASED ON NATIONALITY.
Culture is a set of values and behaviors that are learned and shared by a group of people who have common experiences and influences. National culture fits this definition. However, although national culture influences each of us greatly, it’s only ONE of the many cultures that impact us. We’re also members of numerous other cultures! When you think about the people that you share values and behaviors with, and with whom you also have common experiences and influences, you start seeing cultures based on education (what and where you studied), work experience (where you’ve worked, for how long), particular life experiences (e.g., growing up with a single parent, traveling around the world, managing a chronic illness, being married or single, being a parent or not), socio-economic experience (middle class vs. low income upbringing vs. never having to worry about money), or geographic location (what area of the country you grew up, city vs. suburban vs. rural). Our culture or worldview is also influenced by our gender identity (and all the experiences that come from belonging to a particular gender), our age (i.e., the era when we grew up), our sexual and gender identity, our religious faith (or lack thereof), and our ethnic background. Your organization has culture
2. SOME CULTURES ARE JUST MORE EVOLVED THAN OTHERS.
Cultures exist because a group has found a way to make their lives better. No culture is inherently worse or better than any other. Rather, some cultures may have values and behaviors that don’t support success when their environment changes.
