How Cultural Differences Influence Conflict Within an Organization: A Case Study of Near East University (2024)

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Abstract

The culture that people come from has played an important part in shaping any society. Culture is of vital importance since it assists in the way people live and articulating the manner in which information among people is administered. Miscommunication often arises due to the differences in cultures that exist that leads to people misunderstanding of other cultural contexts. Individuals from certain cultures may deal with conflict easily while others tend to find it difficult in dealing with it amenably. This leads to the system of sweeping it under the carpet (De Drue, Blom, & Hagendoom, 2007). Conflict is triggered when there are cultural differences between individuals within an organization or through general interaction with one another. This often leads to cross-cultural conflict which generally occurs in the context that individuals are not willing to understand each other’s diversity in cultures. This study examines cultural differences that influence conflict within an organization. Quota Sampling was used as sampling technique. Data was grouped according to ethnicities. The study is qualitative in nature and made use of semi-structured interviews which were carried out with fifty participants from three ethnic groups. Data was analyzed using Qualitative Content analysis. Findings suggested ways that management could reduce conflict by creating an environment where all cultures interact with one another freely.

Volume 8, Issue 1
January 2019

Page 112-128

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How Cultural Differences Influence Conflict Within an Organization: A Case Study of Near East University (2024)

FAQs

How do cultural differences influence conflict within the organization? ›

Conflict is triggered when there are cultural differences between individuals within an organisation or through general interaction with one another. This often leads to cross-cultural conflict which generally occurs in the context that individuals are not willing to understand each other's diversity in cultures.

What is an example of cultural differences that resulted in conflict? ›

An example of cultural conflict is the debate over abortion. Ethnic cleansing is another extreme example of cultural conflict. Wars can also be a result of a cultural conflict; for example the differing views on slavery were one of the reasons for the American Civil War.

How cultural differences affect organizations? ›

Colleagues from different cultures can also bring with them different workplace attitudes, values, behaviors, and etiquette. While these can be enriching and even beneficial in a diverse professional environment, they can also cause misunderstandings or ill feelings between team members.

How does your cultural background affect how you handle conflict? ›

collectivism. Individuals from collectivistic cultures select compromising, avoiding (withdrawing), and integrating (problem-solving) styles of conflict handling more often than individuals from individualistic cultures. Dominating (forcing) is more often used in individualistic cultures than collectivistic cultures.

What are 4 reasons for cultural conflict in the workplace? ›

There are many factors that contribute to cultural differences at work: ethnic or racial background, gender bias, age, and educational background.

What are the different conflicts caused by cultural diversities? ›

Cultural difference is one of the root causes of many conflicts we see in our world today. Xenophobia, racism, religious intolerance, civil war and political strife all share two things in common – each have existed for all human history and each involves two or more groups different from one another.

What are the common effects of cultural differences? ›

Cultural differences play a significant role in shaping how we perceive and approach life's challenges. They influence our values, beliefs, norms, and communication styles, which in turn impact problem-solving methods, coping strategies, and overall attitudes towards difficulties.

What are the cultural conflict mainly caused by? ›

Cultural conflict is a conflict that occurs as a friction of different cultures. In addition, cultural conflicts occur as a result of misinterpretation, etnocentrism, stereotype and prejudice. Misinterpretation happens between people from different cultures.

How culture can impact change within an organization? ›

Organizational culture can have a significant impact on the success or failure of an organizational transformation. A strong, positive culture that supports change and employee development can lead to a more engaged workforce and a smoother transition.

How do cultural differences influence? ›

Cultural differences influences perception by creating lived experiences that teach certain beliefs, values, behaviors, and communication styles. These differences influence the way that people view the world around them.

What impact does culture have on individuals within the organization? ›

The culture of an organization has a direct and substantial impact on its bottom line. Performance: A strong organizational culture promotes a high level of performance among employees which drives innovation, efficiency, productivity, and improved customer service, leading to increased revenue and profits.

How cultural differences influence conflict within an organization? ›

Conflict is triggered when there are cultural differences between individuals within an organisation or through general interaction with one another. This often leads to cross-cultural conflict which generally occurs in the context that individuals are not willing to understand each other's diversity in cultures.

What is the best example of cultural conflict? ›

An example of a cultural conflict would be honor killings. This is where a male family member kills a female family member for engaging in premarital sex or refusing an arranged marriage.

How does organizational culture influence conflict resolution? ›

In this article, you will learn how organizational culture can affect conflict resolution in four ways: by defining the sources and types of conflict, by influencing the styles and strategies of conflict management, by affecting the communication and feedback processes, and by impacting the learning and innovation ...

How might cultural differences contribute to interpersonal conflict? ›

How might cultural differences contribute to interpersonal conflict? What steps could people take to avoid this problem? Cultural differences might cause people to misunderstand one another. People of different cultures can prevent conflicts by trying to understand one another and by practicing tolerance.

How does cultural diversity affect organizational behavior? ›

Cultural diversity improves your teams creativity

A more diverse workforce allows you to bring new ways of thinking into the business that can be applied in many different ways. By listening to each employee's voice and way of thinking, a company will no longer be pigeon-holed in one direction.

How does culture impact or affect organizational behavior? ›

HR professionals, managers, and leaders must have a thorough understanding of organizational culture as it drives recruitment, retention, brand identity, and employee engagement. A good culture boosts job satisfaction, productivity, and innovation. A poor one causes high staff turnover and low morale.

How does culture affect the way you handle organizational change? ›

Organizational culture can have a significant impact on the success or failure of an organizational transformation. A strong, positive culture that supports change and employee development can lead to a more engaged workforce and a smoother transition.

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