Final answer:
Using anthropologist Ken Barger's experience with the Inuit culture, we can understand how cultural background affects approach to work. Observing workplace norms is crucial for adapting to a new environment, and culture shock is a common challenge in adapting to different cultural dynamics. Recognizing cultural influences is essential for effective work interactions and collaboration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering how a person's cultural background can affect work situations, we can use the experience of anthropologist Ken Barger as an example. While participating in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic, Barger encountered a profound cultural difference regarding the concept of success. In his own culture, victory was highly valued, while for the Inuit, the effort and cooperation necessary for survival were more critical. This experience regarding cultural expectations influenced Barger's approach in his work situation, emphasizing the importance of hard work and collaboration over the more material value of victory commonly held in his native culture.
Another important aspect is how cultural norms and unwritten rules in the workplace can guide one's behavior. When starting a new job, observing and emulating the behaviors of co-workers and supervisors are essential in understanding these norms. For instance, how colleagues approach work-life balance, social interactions, and ethical considerations can inform a new employee on how to conduct themselves successfully in the work environment.
Lastly, culture shock and ethnocentrism are challenges that individuals may face when entering a new cultural setting, such as an exchange student adapting to classroom dynamics in a different country. These situations can affect work and social interactions, necessitating an understanding and adaptation to new cultural norms for successful integration and collaboration. Whether it's recognizing the value systems or adapting to a new set of expected behaviors, acknowledging cultural influences is crucial in all work situations.