University Reflective Journal: Cultural Differences in India

This reflective journal provides an in-depth analysis of cultural differences within India. It begins by discussing the importance of understanding diverse cultures and explores the seven dimensions of culture, highlighting how they manifest in different ways of thinking and values. The journal then examines the absence of standardized demographic census and emphasizes the significance of data collection for studying global communities, particularly in relation to healthcare and community development. It delves into the concept of cultural intelligence, linking it to emotional intelligence and the ability to interpret unfamiliar gestures. The journal also defines attributes of organizational working culture and explores leadership attributes, especially in the context of India's diverse cultural backgrounds. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of team-oriented leadership and its relevance to Indian cultural contexts. The journal draws on various sources to support its arguments and offers insights into the complexities of Indian culture.

Running Head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction:
The purpose of this reflective journal is to provide analysis and discuss the
cultural differences among the people of India. Understanding diverse cultures
before exploring the cultural dynamics is very important in order to describe the
diversity of a place. Learning about diversity helps to raise self-awareness in the
cultural perspectives as to develop and enhance the social welfare activities
(Silintowe and Susanto 2018).
Discussion:
Task 2:
1. I think the seven dimensions of culture described the matter that differs
among the various cultural people. The main aspect between different
cultures, according to me is the way of thinking in order to maintain their own
values and beliefs and state their own preference relating to some factors
(Martins et al. 2017). The factors that affect the cultural aspects are –
Universalism vs. Particularism
Individualism vs. Communitarianism
Specific vs. Diffuse
Neutral vs. Emotional
Achievement vs. Ascription
Sequential time vs. Synchronous time
Internal direction vs. External direction

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The main aspect of culture is that we generalize different cultural
people with stereotypical ideas around them and judge them on the basis of our
stagnant ideas (Nowak 2016). The main objective about learning a culture is that,
there is nothing good or bad about culture, there are only differences. In order to
understand cultural differences the factors related to success and failures are
needed to be well determined.
2. There is no standardized demographic census that describes the community
differences among people. According to me, the collection of data regarding
the inputs, models and systems of changing environment of the cultural
perspectives are the main source studying global communities in order to
measure, categorize and relate to the facts that affect the correlation of
variables like global health care networks, providers, and institutions to benefit
the global demographic data standardization.
I think community development is a phenomenal change that effects the
cultural as well as societal changes. The growing population and demographical
changes affect the cultural background of a country in many aspects such as the
population and economic changes are needed to be planned as to deal with the
changing circumstances (Khan and Panarina 2017). According to me the
changes in a community should be evaluated with the past recorded economic,
social and cultural aspects as to compare with the new demographical changes
in the sectors (Martins et al. 2017).
The objectives of demographical change in population has evolved in
many years. I think the changing priorities of the population is reflecting on the
sustainable outcomes that have potential interpretations in order to maximize the

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well-being of Indian communities. I think the main purpose of this demographical
change is, the population affects the communities in order to make future
population ready for the economic, liveable communities and environmental
sustainable changes. Therefore, the well-being of communities specifically refers
to the aspects that can be easily measured in terms of the amenities and cultural
factors of different communities.
According to me, the main focus needs to be on the well-being of the
existing and future community differences in the society of India. The
responsibility of a decision maker is primarily based on the constituents regarding
India’s humanitarian commitments (Ang and Van Dyne 2015). Therefore, the
main objective here is to plan a sustainable and dynamic perspective to assess
the population growth in course of time to plan out a process of accommodating
the community changes regarding the economic, social and environmental
factors.
3. In my opinion, the cultural intelligence is solely related to the emotional
intelligence. Therefore, a person with high emotional intelligence understands
cultural intelligence much better than others. Cultural intelligence helps a
person being able to interpret unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures in a peculiar
way that is neither universal nor idiosyncratic. The main elements that lies
between the emotion and intelligence behaviour, values and everything
related to a culture (Ott and Michailova 2018). A culture is based on the core
beliefs and reflexes that helps to renovate the beliefs in course of time. The
core of cultural intelligence is mainly based on prejudgement rather than
judgement. I think the cultural intelligence is deeply rooted to the interest in
other human beings and their values and beliefs as well.

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4. I prefer to define the attributes on working culture development in accordance
of organization to have significant effect on the culture and economic aspects
related to the people as well. Culture in between organizations exist in order
to provide good returns to the shareholders (Khan and Panarina 2017). The
corporate culture is often described as the behaviour of people when no one
is watching them. The eight attributes of Wesfarmers’ in their corporate
culture is based on the factors like –
Operate ethically and honestly in an open and transparent way
Observe all laws and regulations
Have focus on the customers regarding their genuine need and their desires
To treat suppliers with great respect
To make sure the employees are looked after and they have safe, fulfilling
environment to work in.
To operate that environment with great responsibility.
All of the employees contributing to the welfare of the society and upbringing.
Having the required skills and knowledge for the tasks.
A corporate culture is made up of management teams that runs a company on
everyday basis. Therefore, the culture is specifically focused on to provide
governance in order to conduct a momentum in the workplace regarding the
objectives of the company (Khan and Panarina 2017).
5. Leadership attributes are mainly depended on trust and encouragement
among team leader and team members in the workplace. There are certain
characteristics that differ in the leadership skills between people of several
cultural backgrounds. In India, people are mainly differentiated with various
cultural backgrounds due to different regional aspect and several states.

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I would prefer a team oriented leadership that does not always consist
of a cultural component. The approaches have both universal and culture
based specific activities. The people of India mostly belong from the Aryan
community backgrounds. Therefore, I think the cultural aspects of them finely
relates with the culture of Middle West. Though, India has its own culture of
more than 5000 years of age. After the Aryan race crossed the Indus River
and populated the river valley (Ang and Van Dyne 2015). At that time, there
was a leader among the Aryans who sought refuge for the group on the other
side of the rivers. There is always a leader who seeks way to find resource for
the rest of the people (Ott and Michailova 2018). According to me, the
leadership culture is deeply rooted in the people from the ancient times.
Therefore, understanding the team oriented leadership in Indian cultural
backgrounds can be helpful and effective as to link them directly regarding
their cultural background and behavioural approach in the workplace.
Conclusion:
This reflective journal analysed and discussed the cultural differences among
the people of India. Understanding diverse cultures before exploring the cultural
dynamics is very important in order to describe the diversity of a place. Learning
about diversity helps to raise self-awareness in the cultural perspectives as to
develop and enhance the social welfare activities.

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References:
Ang, S. and Van Dyne, L., 2015. Conceptualization of cultural intelligence: Definition,
distinctiveness, and nomological network. In Handbook of cultural intelligence (pp.
21-33). Routledge.
Khan, M.A. and Panarina, E., 2017. The role of national cultures in shaping the
corporate management cultures: A four countries theoretical analysis. Journal of
Eastern European and Central Asian Research, 4(1), pp.13-25.
Martins, J.M., Yusuf, F., Brooks, G. and Swanson, D.A., 2017. Demographics and
market segmentation: China and India. In The Frontiers of Applied Demography (pp.
3-19). Springer, Cham.
Nowak, M., 2016. Cultural determinants of accounting, performance management
and costs problems. A view from the Polish perspective using G. Hofstede’s and
GLOBE culture dimensions. Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we
Wrocławiu, (441), pp.134-149.
Ott, D.L. and Michailova, S., 2018. Cultural intelligence: A review and new research
avenues. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(1), pp.99-119.
Silintowe, Y.B.R. and Susanto, A., 2018. Intercultural Communication of Indian
Cultural Dimensions Through Indonesian Secretary’s Perspective.
Thomas, D.C., 2015. Cultural intelligence. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, pp.1-
3.