Uk Culture
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The term culture refers to a state of intellectual development or manners. The social and political forces that influence the growth of a human being is defined as culture. It is the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state. It is a country consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It is governed by a parliamentary system with its seat of government in the capital city of London. There are three devolved national administrations of varying powers in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively. The UK has three Crown Dependencies and fourteen overseas territories that are not constitutionally part of the UK. These territories are remnants of the British Empire, which at its height in 1922 encompassed almost a quarter of the worlds land surface, the largest empire in history. As a result, British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies.The United Kingdom is a nation of cultural and ethnic diversity consisting of four countries each with a clear identity: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A thoroughly multicultural society, the UK continues to blend its rich cultural heritage with a modern and innovative outlook. Knowledge and an appreciation of the basic cultural, ethical and business values of the UK is crucial to any organisation wanting to conduct business in such a varied yet traditional country.
In the last few decades the intercultural communications field has increasingly gained importance within politics, trade and commerce. Both international and national companies are now realising that a clash of cultures can and does have an adverse affect on business success.
This clash takes place both on an international level, with staff frequently being sent abroad to conduct business and on a domestic level, with an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural UK workforce. The interdependent, global and multi-cultural marketplace of the 21st century brings with it new challenges.
Intercultural communication training aims to reduce the negative impact culture can have on business transactions. With differences in areas such as values, beliefs, norms, manners and etiquette there is plenty of room for misunderstandings and poor communication.
Intercultural awareness seeks to minimise such consequences and maximise the potential of businesses by equipping them with the appropriate tools to communicate across cultures effectively.