Cultural Capabilities of Workplace: Analysis of Behavior in Friends TV Show

This study analyzes the cultural capabilities of workplace behavior in the Friends TV show. It identifies issues and provides recommendations for improving workplace culture. The analysis includes a summary of the video, observations, Rachel's interview, and recommendations for improving workplace culture.

Running head: CULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF WORKPLACE
CULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF WORKPLACE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Background..................................................................................................................................2
Aim..............................................................................................................................................2
Scope............................................................................................................................................2
Summary and Observations.............................................................................................................3
Summary of the Video.................................................................................................................3
Observations in the Video...........................................................................................................3
Rachel’s Interview...........................................................................................................................4
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The studies understands the importance of cultural capabilities analyzing “Bonerz, P.
(Director). (1997, Dec 11). Friends, The One They’re Going to a Party (Rachel’s Boss Doesn’t
want to lose her), Season 4 Episode 9. (Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions in association with
Warner Bros. Television). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuyGLDvve-A.”
Background
The cultural capabilities are of extreme importance in meeting with the issues relating to
the workplace behavior in the society. The cultural behavior and the cultural biases have an
important role to play in the cultural behavior of the individual in the society. The cultural
capability ensures a safe working environment for the different people in the society (LeVine,
2018). The cultural capabilities therefore are often affected by the different personal behaviors
and problems but are important for the personal wellbeing of the different individuals in the
society.
Aim
The aim of the study is to identify the issues in the cultural capabilities and the workplace
relations through the analysis of the different behaviors in the Friends Tv show’s scene where
Rachel’s boss lies to keep her in her previous position.
Scope
Through the analysis of the behavior presented in the TV show the different changes in
the behavioral patterns of Rachel and her boss is studied through time we show the difference
between a hostile working environment and an environment which is conducive to the growth in

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the different environments. The analysis of the scene helps in explaining and ensuring the
cultural capabilities in the working environments are well understood.
Summary and Observations
Summary of the Video
In the video it is seen that the character Rachel is sitting in an interview in her office of
what seems to be a promotional interview. The interview panel consists of two apparent heads
and her current boss in the organization. It is seen that throughout the interview she tries to
establish herself as an able employee who works hard. Her current boss has to reiterate her
claims so that they can easily be assured. At this point her current boss is seen to demean her
constantly and have xtreme opinions about her to stop her from being promoted. She even
implicates of being unprofessional in her attitude towards work.fater the interview Rachel
confromts her boss asking for her explanation for the behavior in the interview room to which
her boss replies casually. It is seen that the boss comes out as extremely srict towards Rachel
until Rachel wants to resign from her position. It is then it is seen that the stand of her boss
softens who tries to avoid her fro resigning from her post. On being questioned she said she
doesn’t want to loose a good employee like her and offers her different promotions and perks.
Observations in the Video
There are a number of things occurring in the video which shows a number of different
things relating to the workplace culture and the practices in the different organizations. one of the
most important issues that is shown is the transition of completely negative and a hostile working
environment to a positive one which aids the growth of the employees. When the intentions of
the boss are not known the behavior comes out as completely awkward and even wrong to many

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levels in the different work environments. The interviewer is constantly taking the opinion which
also shows that her opinion has a great credibility in the office and paints a rather negative
picture of Rachel. Seeing from the perspective of Rachel the interview is completely negative for
her psychological wellbeing and self-esteem which explains her behavior in the office. The next
part in which the Rachel confronts her boss is completely different and a very positive scene
where it is seen that her efforts and work are well appreciated and liked by her boss who doesn’t
want her to leave. The effort on her boss’ part to create a new job role to keep her in the
organization shows that the work done by Rachel is liked and appraised. This shows the opening
of a proper communication channel between the different channels in the organization.
Rachel’s Interview
Scene
description
time in
sequence
Sign of empathy Body language Voice Tone
0:00- 1:17 The interviewer asks her
about the reason she wants
the job and promotion
Rachel being fidgety
shows her
nervousness. Her
present boss is also
showing signs of
anxiousness in her
hurried behaviour
Voice tone of Rachel
changes to appease the
interviewer and establish
her stature. Rachel’s
boss’ words are hurried
and anxious
1:19-3:37 Rachel’s boss empathizes
with her. She tries to calm
her down. At one point she
is commanding her not to
create a scene and in the
last part she is trying to
pacify her to stay.
Rachel is angry and upset
in the scene.
Rachel is angry and
she shows signs of
anger and leaving the
place.
Her boss shows a
calm body language
but it changes when it
is seen that Rachel
will leave.
Rachel’s voice tone is
angry and dejected but
cams down later.
Her boss’ voice tone is
calm. It becomes anxious
but calms down later.

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Analysis
One of the most important factors in the understanding of the different cultural aspects in
the scene is the understanding of the different employee and their behavior. In the interview
scene the cultural analysis of the body language and the tone of speech of Rachel show that the
she is extremely tensed and confused about her interview as she tends to answer the question
very excitedly and is seemingly trying to calm herself. The male interviewer is shownwith a
sense of authority sitting calmly at his place and trying to understand the different perspectives
of the different interviewees, the second interviewer on the other hand seems critical and is
deeply observant of the different communications taking place in the interview. On the other
hand the boss of Rachel who seems tensed and anxious during the interview, almost to the same
extent and somewhat even more than that. The communication in calm from the male
interviewers side who is putting forward relatively straight and simple questions to analyses
Rachel’s overall behavior and the adeptness in the field she chooses to work in the different
fields related to the industry. After the answers Rachel’s boss cuts in and distorts her answers
and gives a negative opinion about Rachel. The answers from Rachel show of her nervousness as
she seems too eager to please the interviewer with her answer. On the other hand her boss who
cuts in and gives a negative opinon about Rachel seems to eager and anxious to give out her
views.
It is seen that the second interviewer is smiling and trying to keep Rachel comfortable but
on the other hand she is also not approving of the opinions that she is getting about Rachel from
her boss. In the second and the third question too Rachel is trying to impress the interviewers

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with her prowess about the different aspects of the filed she is supposed to work in but the
negation on the part of her boss makes her feel humiliated which is very evident in her behavior.
One of the other important aspects that have been highlighted in this context is the fact that the
different issues relating to the development of the overall environment is that the male head
interviewer is helped by the advise two of the female members and their personal opinuions hold
a stromg position in the matter. The overall interview shows a negative opinion about the
different developments in the organization and there is mood of a negative environment and
partial attitude towards rthe employee from her boss. Her boss goes to the extent of pointing out
of her having coquettish behavior which further maligns the image of Rachel.
In the second half of the scene the body language of Rachel is outright dejected and angry
as she approaches her boss about the partial attitude she showed during the interview. On the
contrary, her boss is relartively calm happy and content with the way the interview went. This
scene shows that the behavior of her boss infuriates Rachel more and she is very angry about her
approach in the interview to the point she wants to resign from the job where she is so
undervalued and her work in which she puts her effort is undervalued. Her crying also shows that
she is dejected at her boss’ opinion about herself. It is therefore established in this scene that she
had a conflict of opinion with how good an employee she thought herself to be. When in a fit of
anger Rachel is about to leave the office her boss again seem anxious and tries to cal her down.
When Rachel is persistent about leaving her job, her boss has to admit that she is a good
employee that’s why she does not want her to go. The effort on the part of her boss shows how
important she is to her and explains the anxious negative comments she made during the
interview. When Rachel is made aware of the real cause she appears to calm done and is
seemingly trying to regain her lost confidence in herself and her work.

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Recommendations
From the anslsysis and the understanding of the scene a number of issues regarding the
cultural capabilities of the organization in imporving the safety and health of the workplace can
be understood.
 Appreciation: The result of the behaviour and its effect on the psyche of Rachel shows
the importance of appreciation in the organization. If the employee does not get their due
appreciation from the bosses of the work that the employees do (Gee, 2018). The
appreciation of the employee improves their job satisfaction and improves performance.
 Feedback: The feedback of the work to the employees about their work is extremely
important as it helps them understand how the management comprehends their work and
get a positive opinion about their work (Bolman & Deal, 2017).
 Appraisal: Appraisals and rewards are one of the best ways to motivate the employees
and maintain a positive work culture in the organization helping in the development of
the positive work behaviours (Alvesson & Sveningsson, 2015).
Conclusion
It is therefore seen in this analysis that the cultural aspect has an important role to play in
the overall development and the proper wellbeing of the employee. The cultural capabilities help
the employee in identifying with the organization and the organizational goals thereby improving
their performance in the different sectors in the organization. The cultural capabilities also helps
in developing the overall organizational behavior and ensuring the workplace is safe for the
emotional wellbeing of the different employees. The safe work place gives a more positive result

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as the employees are certain of their position and know that their efforts will be appraised and
rewarded.

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References
Gee, J. (2018). The new work order. Routledge.
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership.
John Wiley & Sons.
Alvesson, M., & Sveningsson, S. (2015). Changing organizational culture: Cultural change
work in progress. Routledge.
LeVine, R. A. (2018). Culture, behavior, and personality: An introduction to the comparative
study of psychosocial adaptation. Routledge.