Integration Paper

Integration Paper

Introduction

Culture is known as the environment in which we live and are being surrounded with all the activities that are being carried out in the specific time period. It is also a powerful element that makes up our environment, relationships, and work processes. It is also something that we cannot see, unless there is physical manifestation taking place at our work place.

Discussion

Elmer points out that he has been teaching cross-cultural classes at school and university. But the students often ask the question as to why should they ever study cross-cultural skills rather than just going out in the world and doing their ministry (Elmer, 2002).

Likewise, the author states that those that he encountered in the business world were equally dissident in learning cross cultural skills. They believed that their technical skills were enough to do their work in business. However, the problem with this thinking is that they are only concerned with getting the job done rather than with making relationships with the people. Therefore, it is clear that task-orientation is good, but it is useless without making friendships (Elmer, 2002).

If we would not trust someone then we will not spend a long time with them and we will not pay any heed to their advice. In this way, it is the trust that brings quality in a relationship. Hence, people only listen to people that they trust. They will only pay heed if they trust the person who is saying something. Hence, people do not change their ways easily when the person comes to their culture, unless the person has built trust with them (Elmer, 2002).

One of the most popular American anthropologists Oberg (1960) was the one who proposes the culture shock's term. This will give indication that people will be feeling lost, anxious and confused due to ...