BASIC CONCEPT OF CULTURE BY CAPRICORN GROUP

Summary

The transcript provides a comprehensive overview of culture, exploring its definitions, aspects, components, and significance in society and organizations. It discusses the differing views of culture by scholars like Matthew Arnold and Edward Tyler, emphasizing that culture is learned, transmitted through generations, and reflects behavioral patterns. Key components include cognitive, material, and normative aspects, while characteristics such as being collective and dynamic are highlighted. The role of culture in organizations is also examined, focusing on its function in defining identity, guiding behavior, and fostering commitment. Understanding cultural influences is essential for effective marketing and consumer engagement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Culture is defined as a complex whole that includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and other habits developed by members of society.
• 😀 Matthew Arnold views culture as related to special intellectual or artistic achievements, distinguishing high culture from popular culture.
• 😀 Edward Tyler believed cultures can be ranked on an evolutionary scale, progressing from savagery to civilization.
• 😀 Culture consists of patterns of behavior that vary between different societies, affecting consumption and social practices.
• 😀 Culture is learned through experiences and social interactions rather than being innate, leading to differing perspectives on similar objects or situations.
• 😀 The process of transmitting cultural elements from one generation to the next is known as inculturation, ensuring continuity of cultural practices.
• 😀 The components of culture include cognitive (knowledge), material (tangible items), and normative (values and beliefs) elements.
• 😀 Key characteristics of culture include its learned nature, abstract existence in members' minds, and its role in guiding shared attitudes and behaviors.
• 😀 Culture fulfills human needs and desires, influencing lifestyles, social interactions, and emotional behaviors within society.
• 😀 In organizations, culture defines boundaries, creates identity, encourages commitment, provides stability, and guides employee behavior for alignment with goals.

Q & A

What is the definition of culture according to Matthew Arnold?

Matthew Arnold, in 'Culture and Anarchy', defined culture as something related to special intellectual or artistic achievements, which is often referred to as High Culture, contrasting it with everyday or popular culture.

How did Edward Tyler define culture?

Edward Tyler, in 'Primitive Culture', viewed culture as something that all people possess. He believed societies could be ranked on an evolutionary scale from savagery to civilization and defined culture as a complex whole that includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and other habits developed as members of society.

What are the three key aspects of culture?

The three key aspects of culture are: 1) Culture is a pattern of behavior that varies between different societies, 2) Culture is learned through experiences and interactions, and 3) Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next.

What is meant by 'inculturation'?

Inculturation refers to the process of transmitting cultural elements from one generation to the next, ensuring that values, ideas, attitudes, symbols, and artifacts are taught to and learned by the next generation.

What are the components of culture according to the transcript?

The components of culture can be divided into three key elements: cognitive (knowledge), material (tangible items), and normative (values, beliefs, and norms regulating behavior).

How does culture influence behavior?

Culture influences behavior by establishing patterns that are commonly practiced within a society, guiding acceptable and unacceptable actions and interactions among its members.

What role does language play in culture?

Language is crucial for transmitting cultural knowledge and serves as a unifying force within groups, connecting individuals to their past and future.

Why is understanding culture important in business?

Understanding culture is essential in business as it affects consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and how products are developed, promoted, and consumed across different cultural boundaries.

What are some elements of culture that managers should be aware of in international operations?

Managers should be aware of elements such as languages, norms, symbols, values, attitudes, rituals, customs, material culture, and shared beliefs and values when operating internationally.

How does culture continuously change?

Culture is in constant flux, with changes often being subtle or slow but always present. It evolves through interactions with other cultures and adjusts to new circumstances.