Define culture

The main aim of this task is to provide a brief overview about the culture, teamwork and motivation in healthcare sector. Culture plays a significant role in every organization. If the company does not provide training and development coaching then culture differences are raised in the firm. The paper explains that how the company manages and reduces culture issues to increase productivity and outputs. Cultural diversity, advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity have been explained in the task. Further detail of the task has been discussed below.

Culture may be defined as the knowledge and characteristics of a specific group of people, encompassing religion, language, social habits arts and music.  Different people who belong to different societies follow different culture and speak different languages. The culture varies includes religion, foods, clothes and many others (Berman et al, 2012). Furthermore, culture is the identity of a group of people who are living in particular place, have their own plan of life. People who do not follow their culture, no value are given to them because they do not follow their religion. Culture has its own characteristics which include learnt, continuous, shared, adaptive and varies. It has great importance in each and every person’s life because culture is the identity of the country, without culture the community is impossible. Culture is a main root of any society which gives them ways of life. Furthermore, it also provides unique solution for the critical problem and issues such as language and communication barriers that are faced by the society. Culture teaches people to think for the country not individually, as it also provides the concept of nation, family etc. There are various types of culture such as education, religious, family, non-material culture and language. In today’s era, education and language play a major role in building and developing a cultural society (Schein, 2010).

In health care industry, patients differ in various ways. Some of these differences occur due to patient personality, illness, education and socioeconomic, however the most profound differences may be cultural. After the various researchers it has been analyzed that if the employees treat each and every patient with respect, they can avert most culture issues (Mountsinai, 2018). Along with this, having knowledge of cultural customs and values can lead to avoid misunderstanding and it will also help to provide better care to the patients (Wonderling, 2011). It is necessary to understand where and how ethnic differences impact on health care delivery if the health inequalities are to be minimized across the whole population. Ethnicity put an impact on healthcare sector (Purnell, 2012). Ethnicity includes various aspects of difference such as culture, social, political influences, religion, race and nationality. Health care industry can be stressful because patients who are limited English proficient and unable to read, write, speak and understand English at appropriate level for effective and successful encounters in healthcare settings. In this way, communication challenges are faced by patients in health care sector. It is essential for health care practices to take effective and strict actions in order to address cultural barriers faced by number of LEP (Limited English proficient) patients. Along with this, people should improve the ability of health care providers and health care system in order to communicate patients effectively. It will also help to improve and enhance the profitability of health care industry (Robbins & Judge, 2017).

Cultural differences in the healthcare setting

There are various cultural barriers which may influence the growth and success of each and every company. Some of the cultural barriers include communication differences, effects of religion, gender role and behavior. Misunderstanding occurs due to poor and ineffective communication. Along with this, people are unable to speak with employers due to language differences (Chhokar, Brodbeck and House, 2013). People come from different culture and backgrounds. As a result, language differences are raised in the organization. Behavioral issues can also lead miscommunication within the organization. Along with this, religious can be a biggest cultural barrier as well. In today’s world, discrimination is going on in hiring process. The employers discriminate candidate on the basis of castes and religion which is not good for image of the company. Gender role is one of the biggest cultural barriers in most of the companies. Some organizations consider women’s for specific tasks and duties in the workplace. As a result, it is difficult for men to work under a female boss (McDermott and O’dell, 2001).

There are various ways to reduce and eliminate cultural barriers within the organization. It is important for employees to make eye contact with employers at the workplace who are speaking. Training and development coaching shall be provided to the workers to understand and analyze the cross cultural issues (Lluch, 2011). Along with this, there are enormous articles and books on cultural diversity have been published in the market, employees should read these books and articles for knowing and understanding the causes of cultural issues. It will help to reduce cultural barriers in the organization. Additionally, reciprocal and effective relations shall be maintained with employees to understand their personal issues and problems (Moran, Abramson and Moran, 2014).

The cultural diversity is the quality of diverse and different cultures as opposed to global culture. The advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in the workplace have been stated below.

Advantages

• Cultural diversity increases creativity and adaptability because it provides variety of solutions to handle and resolve various issues related to culture and language.
• It also increases productivity and outcomes of the company. Due to cultural diversity, the people are able to perform tasks and duties effectively and hassle free manner.
• Diverse person who is having different experiences such as languages, skills, cultural understanding and other differences leads a company to render customers services in the international market (Barak, 2016).

Disadvantages

• Communication issues are raised due to cultural diversity. Due to lack of cohesiveness, the company is unable to maximize production and outcomes.
• For cultural diversity, the company has to provide training and development coaching to the workforce that is costly and time consuming process.
• If employees do not accept other cultures, they are likely to compete against each other rather become effective and collaborative members of a team.  
• The people do accept other culture as it affects the growth and success of the firm adversely.
• If the employees do not accept other culture, it creates tensions and stress at the workplace (Klagge, 2016).

Team refers to a group in which people work together to attain common goals and objectives. If people work in a team, various cultural issues are faced by team members in the organization (Galanti, 2000). These issues have been stated below.

Communication, language and expression issues: The quality of communication is major concern in cross cultural teams. The team members speak in English but certain forms of slang or colloquialisms may not be understood, leading to misinterpretations. As a result, communication barriers are occurred in the organization (Bochner, 2013).

Cultural barriers and how to overcome these barriers to work effectively as a team member

Work style: One of the significant issues in cross cultural team is work style. Work style may differ if a team has a cross cultural mix of individuals. Different people maintain different styles to accomplish the tasks and duties which may influence the productivity and performance of the organization. Along with this, personalities and background issues are also faced by the company at the workplace. These issues lead misunderstandings in the organization (Kirkman & Shapiro, 2001).

Dominating influences: This is a major concerned that has a certain cultural similarity or homogeneity may strive to dominate the team process. The dominating group may try to swing the decisions towards a direction in which they are comfortable with it. As a result, it can create a frustrating working environment at the workplace.

Motivation and expectation issues: The performance and productivity of the company may influence due to lack of motivation. Motivation is an essential factor which helps to motivate and encourage individual for performing tasks and duties effectively (Dweck, 2013). The people expect that employer will motivate them for their unique roles and duties. In the absence of right stimulus, the employees get frusted and do not work effectively (Patrick &, Kumar, 2012).

The employees can perform their duties and roles effectively, if top management provides proper training and development coaching to them. Due to cultural differences, workers cannot perform tasks and duties efficiently and effectively. As a result, it affects the outcomes and performance of the organization (Scott and Davis, 2015). Different leadership styles shall be used by the management to improve and avert cross cultural differences at the workplace. Additionally, proper rewards and incentives must be provided to encourage and enhance the workers efficiency and effectiveness (Schunk and Zimmerman, 2012).

In today’s era, the population of the country is more diverse, so the hospitals have to face various challenges and issues while providing care to the patients of different ethnicities. Cultural diversity training encompasses presentations, seminars and small group activities which are focused on raising awareness of different culture and ways of living. It also increases and enhances knowledge about people from different background such as gender, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socio-economic. In the health care sector, cultural diversity training and coaching helps to employees to understand the issues and problems of patients. In addition, different training programs are held to understand different learning styles such as verbal, hands-on and visual (Black, 2016). Computer based training programs are being held by health care industry to track and monitor the performance and productivity of the workers. Cultural diversity training helps to improve and enhance the skills, capabilities and efficiency of the workers to serve better service in this sector (Borkowski, 2015). The physiological factors are significant in cultural diversity training to understand and evaluate the similarities and differences among the people. The psychographics monitor on personality, interest, values and lifestyles. Along with this, hospitals must always assess the effectiveness and efficiency of their training programs through testing of skills and surveys (Jeffreys, 2015). It will help to improve and enhance competency and skills of the employees in the health care industry. In this way, the health care industry can serve the society in a better and hassle free manner (Diversityconnection, 2013).

Advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in the workplace

It is an important to learn about different culture for various reasons. Furthermore, it is very interesting to learn the culture of different nations. Some people find other culture charming and attractive because each is different from others. This is a good and unique reason to learn about those cultures (Cameron and Quinn, 2011). If people learn different culture, it provides knowledge about dances, new foods and wardrobes. Along with this, people can stimulate their mind to learn more things and knowledge about different cultures. Misunderstandings and miscommunications can be resolved through understanding and learning of different cultures. Lifestyle is improved by knowing and understanding the foreign culture (LeVine, 2018). Creativity and innovation is also increased as it people can analyze and evaluate the foreign market by gaining knowledge of foreign culture. One of the significant benefits is diversification that helps to generate more outcomes and returns. Along with this, the firm can attract and retain more candidates in the organization (Kinloch and Metge, 2014). The diversity culture also helps to understand and analyze the tastes, preferences and choices of the consumers globally. Apart from this, various growth opportunities and benefits can be taken within the organization to stay in the competitive market. The diversity culture also maintains a favorable working environment in the workplace (Stahl et al, 2009).

In today’s modern world, organizations are becoming more diverse. Hiring top talent and skills from ethnic, racial, geographic and religious backgrounds is becoming an important business practice. Most of the companies getting benefits from diverse culture, however there are some challenges arisen in the workplace which may influence the productivity of the company as well as employees (Barak, 2016). There are various ways to manage workplace diversity have been stated below.

Understand discrimination: The managers who supervise and monitor the performance of the workforce must understand the discrimination laws and penalties for violating them. Knowledge of this regulation reduces the number of behavioral issues and conflicts (Wrench, 2016).

Determine one’s preconceptions: As a leader or manager, they should be able to identify and analyze the misconceptions and biases before reaching out to others. Understanding biases and misconceptions helps to develop and build workable solutions.

Invest in diversity training: The companies should hold diversity training sessions and programs to underline policies and encourage suitable behavior. In this way, workplace diversity can be managed in the organization (Melkman, 2018).

Create an empowered atmosphere: Leaders and managers also influence the working environment. Therefore, they should maintain reciprocal culture in the workplace to minimize workplace diversity issues.

Cultural differences in teams

Team building and free flow of communication: The Company should develop trust among the employees to encourage teamwork within the organization. Team building exercises are helpful to manage the workplace diversity (Ting-Toomey, 2012). In addition, open communication should be maintained by the firm to share ideas, concerns, queries and solutions (Harvey and Allard, 2015).

The cultural differences or diversity culture in a workplace means the company employs workers from a variety of backgrounds including race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. The diverse culture improves and enhances the morale, loyalty and trust of the workers because in diverse culture people come from different culture and different languages are used by them. Thus, the company can take various benefits in the international market (Jeffreys, 2015). In addition, global workforce will also increase through cultural diversity because the company appoints number of workers who belong to different culture and backgrounds. It helps to maximize more and more customers in the marketplace (Asherman, 2018). Furthermore, they can provide better services to the customers in the global market. Along with this, cultural differences are also very important to maintain effective relationship with community (Gibbons and Roberts, 2012). In cultural differences, people who belongs to different culture and lifestyles work together in order to achieve common objectives (Thomas and Peterson, 2017). This helps people to share and hear their different perspectives, ideas and opinions. Due to cultural diversity, people start to do work with more effectively and efficiently because they conduct business activities in international market (Locke and Latham, 2013).

There are various issues occurred in team while conducting business activities and operations in health care sector. Medical errors can occur due to lack of communication. These errors have the potential to cause dangerous injury and unexpected patient health (Kimble, 2011). The communication issues also rise in the healthcare sector which could affect the performance of teams (Hatch, 2018). The patients do not rely on health care executives due to lack of communication. The managers are failed to monitor and supervise the performance and efficiency of the employees. As a result, leadership issues are raised in the organization (Hackman, 2011). Personality differences also arise at the workplace in the health care industry. Apart from this, team members do not take proper roles and responsibilities and they avoid the work and duties. In this way, it affects the success and growth of the organization. Reciprocal relationship plays significant role in the organizations. However, due to lack of effective relationship, the employers are unable to analyze and understand the issues and consequences of the employees (Shemla, Meyer & L Greer, 2016).  

Conclusion 

On the above mentioned study, it has been concluded that culture, and team work plays a critical role in every organization to meet its long term goals and objectives. With the help of diversify culture, the firm has been able to attain its targets and goals. Effective training and development sessions are held by the health care sector to improve the skills and talents of the workers. On the other hand, culture diversity training provides enormous benefits to the employees as well as organization. Now it is recommended that the healthcare should focus on training and development coaching of the workers to serve better society.

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