An individual’s ethnic background, age, gender and personality will impact their view of work and their workplace. Individual performance and job satisfaction are affected by whether or not individuals have a positive view of their work and workplace. Managers need to understand how a difference in individuals affects their point of view to create an environment that encourages high performance from all individuals.
The differences in cultural background between various ethnic groups affect the attitudes and behaviors of individuals in the workplace. One cultural difference that will impact behaviors at work is the focus on individual achievement versus group achievement. Cultural view of relationships is another area of difference that can impact behaviors at work. People with an Asian or Hispanic ethnic background will be more focused on group performance, cooperation and shared beliefs. People with a European or American background will be more focused on the needs and accomplishments of the individual. Ethnic background affects the way individuals view relationships at work. Some ethnic groups, Asians as an example, view relationships as hierarchical and prefer highly structured work environments. Other ethnic groups, Europeans as an example, view relationships informally and prefer less structured work environments with informal groups and teams (Aghazadeh, 2004). Ethnic background also impacts the individual’s commitment to work and work ethic. Individuals with an Asian background tend to be more committed to their job than people with a European background as an example. People with an Indian background view work as a way of fulfilling a family commitment rather than a w ...