Fundamentals of culture

Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge,

experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving.

Culture is the sum of total of the learned behavior of a group of people that are generally considered to be the tradition of that people and are transmitted from generation to generation.

Culture Definition-

Culture is Abstract:

Culture exists in the minds or habits of the members of society.

Culture is a Pattern of Learned Behavior:

The definition of culture indicated that the learned behavior of people is patterned.

Culture is the Products of Behavior:

Culture learning is the product of behavior. As the person behaves, there occur changes in him.

Characteristics Of Culture-

Culture is shared by the Members of Society:

The patterns of learned behavior and the results of behavior are possessed not by one or a few person, but usually by a large proportion.

Culture is a way of Life:

Culture means simply the “way of life” of a people or their “design for living.”

Culture is Idealistic:

Culture embodies the ideas and norms of a group. It is sum-total of the ideal patterns and norms of behavior of a group.

Cont.…..

Elements Of Culture-

Attitudes, Values and Goals:

Each person learns in his culture what is good, true, and beautiful. Attitudes, values and goals are defined by the culture. Attitude are tendencies to feel and act in certain ways. Values are measures of goodness or desirability. Goals are those attainments which our values define as worthy.

Language:

Important for communication and passing on traditions and beliefs.

Cont.…..

Religion:

Monotheism: belief in one god.

Polytheism: belief in more than one god.

Norms:

Norms are culturally defined expectations of behavior. They are guidelines we use to determine how we should behave in any given situation and what would be considered inappropriate behavior.

Cont.…..

There are four types of culture: Clan, Adhocracy, Market, and Hierarchy.

Clan Culture:

Clan oriented cultures are family-like, with a focus on mentoring, nurturing, and “doing things together.”

Adhocracy Culture:

Adhocracy oriented cultures are dynamic and entrepreneurial, with a focus on risk-taking, innovation, and “doing things first.”

Types Of Culture-

Market Culture:

Market oriented cultures are results oriented, with a focus on competition, achievement, and “getting the job done.”

Hierarchy Culture:

Hierarchy oriented cultures are structured and controlled, with a focus on efficiency, stability and “doing things right.”

Cont.…..

Different layers of culture exist at the following levels:

The National Level:

Associated with the nation as a whole.

The Regional Level:

Associated with ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences that exist within a nation.

The Gender Level:

Associated with gender differences (female vs. male).

Layers Of Culture-

The Generation Level:

Associated with the differences between grandparents and parents, parents and children.

The Social Class Level:

Associated with educational opportunities and differences in occupation.

The Corporate Level:

Associated with the particular culture of an organization. Applicable to those who are employed.

Cont.….

Submitted By: Aishwarya Ambikesh & Shivangi Verma

MBA-HR 3rd SemDepartment of Rural Management

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow