Canada Culture Essay

1.0 Introduction Society is a sh ared context in a way that either individuals activity relates and connects to it, including business. Culture is the comprised of values, doctrines, looks, customs, and attitudes that differentiate to each one society. A societys death de callines the systems that manage how organizations function in the society (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Because of individuals hold their own activity and habits, they do things differently in a aggroup.There are some characteristics of culture are essential for their significance to international business. source of all, culture reflects learned behavior that is conveyed from one appendage of a society to anformer(a). Certain elements of culture are conveyed intergenerationally, for instance a family, when parents educate their children table etiquette. close to elements are transmitted intragenerationally, like when seniors teach incoming freshmen about a schools customs (Griffin and Pustay, 2010 Phatak e t al., 2009).Next, the elements of culture are interrelated. For example, in Canada, different subcultures (different heathenish group) imply Anglophones and francophones (English-speaking and French-speaking pot) (Deresky, 2011).Due to culture is learned behavior, the culture changes in response to external forces affect the society, in other words, it is adaptive. An example is after creation War II, Germany was divided into free-market-oriented West Germany and communist guarded East Germany. Although they are having a common inheritance developed everyplace centuries, this division created large ethnic differences amid Ossis (East Germans) and Wessis (West Germans). The differences resulted from adaptations of the East German culture to the principles of communist ideology concerning attitudes toward work, risk taking, and integrity of remuneration systems (Griffin and Pustay, 2010).Finally, culture is shared by associates of the society and in point shapes the membershi p of the society. Persons who share a culture are members of a society, while those who do non are outside the confines of the society (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Culture is wrong everybody without their realization. We are different because of it.2.0 Brief Introduction of Canada Location The country to be discussed in this assignment is Canada. Canada is placed on the northern section of the North American continent which is the north of the United States mainland. Waters bordering the country consist of the North Atlantic Ocean to the east, the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Canadas size is as great as that of the continent of Europe (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). With a total area of approximately 9,984,670 square kilometers according to CIA (2011), it is the largest country in the westerly Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, after Russia (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011).In addition, Canada is divided into ten province s and three territories. The three territories are Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Territory (CIA, 2011 Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). These lands are all located in the northwestern, tundra regions of Canada, and each of them has a rather small universe of discourse in comparison to the other provinces. Also, the territories are primarily settled by native tribes. These natives take obtained a certain level of self-g all overnment for each particular territory (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011).Culture According to CIA, Canada has two prescribed languages, namely English (58.8%) and French (21.6%). thank to the diversity of all origins Canadians which stand from British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, and mixed background 26%, Canada is a highly diverse culture. Besides, the major religions are Roman Catholic and Protestant (CIA, 2011).Due to its short history, Canadian cultu re is above all modern. This is particularly apparent in its authors, almost all of whom are still alive Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Yann Martel (three recent Booker Prize winners), Marie-Claire Blais and Antonine Maillet are already popular in the US (Embassy of Canada in Washington, 2011). In recent decades, Canada has gained international recognition in the visual arts thanks to progressive artists. Jeff Wall, Rodney Graham, Edward Burtynsky, Ken Lum, Ian Wallace and Genevive Cadieux introduced impudently uses for photography techniques, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller used bran-new technologies in artistic formation (Embassy of Canada in Washington, 2011).Population The population of Canada in July 2011 was 34,030,589 as estimated by the CIA (2011), which made its population as number 37 among the 237 countries of the world. It was about 15.9% of the population was over 65 years of age, with 15.7% of the population under 15 years of age in 2011 and on that point were 98 males for every 100 females in the country in 2011 (CIA, 2011). According to CIA, the annual population growth rate for 2011 is 0.794%.It was estimated by CIA (2011) that 81% of the population lived in urban areas in 2009. Canadas capital city, Ottawa, had a population of 1,170,000 in that year. The Toronto metropolitan area had an estimated population of 5,377,000 Montral, 3,750,000 Vancouver, 2,197,000 and Calgary, 1,160,000 (CIA, 2011).According to the Government of Yukon (2011), Yukon Territory has an expanding population over years of 34,667 as of 2010. It was originally occupied by the Athapaskan tribe, which still has six distinct groups of peoples residing in the territory (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). In April 2011, the Northwest Territories had a population of 43,505 (NWT forcefulness of Statistics). There is about 28 percent of the population is descended from the Dene tribe, while other indigenous groups are the Inuvialuit and the Mtis (Encyclopedia of t he Nations, 2011).Nunavut Bureau of Statistics (2011) shows that the Nunavut Territory had a population of 33,413 as of April 2011. It was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999 and is now the largest policy-making subdivision in the country, covering 18 percent of the total land area. Moreover, it is also the largest native land-claim shutdown in the history of the country. About 84 percent of the residents claim ancestry from native tribes, and the largest of these Nunavut tribes is the Inuit of 83 percent, formerly known as the Eskimos which is a derogatory term meaning eaters of raw meat. Conversely, the remainder of the native population in Nunavut Territory is descended from the Dene and Mtis tribes (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011).Nationality According to CIA, the people of Canada is known as Canadian in singular form, and Canadians in the plural form, whereas the adjective of Canada is called Canadian. There are four steps to becoming a Canadian citizen. First ly, determine if a person is worthy to become a citizen. Secondly, apply for citizenship. Next, take the citizenship test, if the person is between the ages of 18 and 54. Finally, attend a citizenship ceremony, if the person is 14 or older (CIC, 2011).Economy As Canada Site (2011) says, Canada is one of the worlds wealthiest nations, has the tenth largest economy in the world, and has one of the highest levels of economic freedom in the world. Besides that, Canada is also a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G8). OECD is a platform in which governing bodys work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems (OECD, 2011), while G8 is the group of eight highly industrialized nations including Canada, which hold a yearly meeting, the G8 Summit to foster consensus on global issues like economic growth and crisis management, global security, energy, and terrorism (Council on Foreign Relations, 2011).S ince World War II, the remarkable growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service welkins has transformed Canada from a largely rural economy into one primarily urban industrial. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in employment and economic integration with the United States of America (US), Canadas principal trading partner. Canada benefits a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports each year. Furthermore, Canada is the USs largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric effect. With great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canadas economies enjoyed solid growth over years (CIA, 2011).The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country of purchasing power parity in 2010 was $1.33 trillion, which shows an increase after the economic recession from 20 08 to 2009, with GDP of official trade rate $1.574 trillion in 2010 (CIA, 2011). Together with the Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) for the year 2010 of $39,400, there was a surge since 2009. The services sector was the major part of composition of GDP which was 78% in 2010, with 20 % in industry, and 2% in agriculture. Canada also had an unemployment rate of 8% in 2010 which has a drop of 0.3% compared to 2009. However, the inflation rate also had a surge of 1.3% to 1.6% in 2010 (CIA, 2011).The agricultural products of Canada include wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits and more, whereas the industries products are stand from transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, diet products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas. The exports commodities are motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals, plastics, fertilizers wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, el ectricity, and aluminum with $406.8 billion in 2010. import goods are machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods with $406.4 billion in 2010 (CIA, 2011).On 8 July 2011, the rate of 1.00 US dollar is 0.96 Canadian Dollar, which is the currency of Canada, at an exchange rate of 0.9627 using nominal rate (Bank of Canada, 2011).Politics Canada achieved independence on the first of July 1867 and recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster on 11 December 1931. The government of Canada stands of a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional monarchy (CIA, 2011). Every territory has only one senator and one representative in the national parliament, fewer legislators than those representing the other provinces (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2011). Besides, the political loss leaders are consist of the Bloc Quebecois, Gilles Duceppe Conservative Party of Canada, Stephen Harper Green Party, Elizabeth May Liberal Party, Robert Rae(interim) and New Democratic Party, Jack Layton. These political pressure groups are from the agricultural sector, automobile industry, business groups, chemical industry, commercial banks, communications sector, energy industry, environmentalists, public administration groups, steel industry, and trade unions (CIA, 2011).3.0 Analysis of Geert Hofstedes Dimensions Brief Nature of the Business The industry for this assignment is in the retailing sector. It is placed in Charlottetown, which is located in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Its primary industry is in the fish and seafood markets, together with its alternate industry of dealing with wholesalers and distributors, and a full-service restaurant. It serves as a seafood market to sell live and cooked lobster live mussels, clams, oysters, and quahaugs shucked scallops, frozen snow holler out sections, haddock, salmon and halibut fillets, lobster meat, and much more. Besides, the organization also dispatches lobster, mussels and oysters across Canada. Having the company set off with wonderful views of the heritage Hillsborough River and Charlottetown waterfront, it is a spot for people school principal to the waterfront for a delicious seafood meal, or purchasing lobster, mussels, clams, oysters, crab or fresh fillets from the seafood market in the town.Introduction of Geert Hofstedes Dimensions Culture is defined into several ways. They include Geert Hofstedes Five Dimensions which would be discussed as the following. Social Orientation Social taste course or individualism versus collectivism dimension looked at the relationship between the person and his or her fellows. In societies where individualism was emphasized, the ties between individuals were loose and individual achievement and freedom were highly treasured. In collectivistic societies, the bonds between individuals were tight. Therefore, people innate(p) in collective societies, for example extended families, and everyone was supposed to take care of the interest of his or her group (Hill, 2007).Power Orientation One of the dimensions from Hofstede is the power orientation (Giffin and Pustay, 2010), or the power distance as Hill (2007) says. It is mainly dealt with the way a society treats the fact of unequal physical and intellectual capabilities in humans. lavishly power orientation cultures were found in countries that permit inequalities grow eventually into inequalities of power and wealth, says Hofstede (Hill, 2007). According to Griffin and Pustay (2010), high power orientation denotes a power respect culture, where people in a culture tend to accept the power and authority of their superiors merely on the basis of the superiors positions in the hierarchy. These same people also are inclined to respect the superiors right to that power orientation. People at all levels in a firm accept the decisions and mandates of those above them because of the implied belief that higher-level positions carry the right to make decisions and issue commands (Giffin and Pustay, 2010).On the contrary, low power distance cultures would try to minimize such inequalities they could (Hill, 2007). As Griffin and Pustay (2010) say, low power orientation suggests that a culture is in power tolerance. It has much less significance to an individuals position in the hierarchy. They are more will to question a decision or mandate from those higher levels or even reject it. They are willing to follow a leader when that leader is perceived to be correct or when it seems to be in their own self-interest to do so but not because of the leaders intangible asset right to issue mandates.Uncertainty Orientation Another dimension is uncertainty orientation (Griffin and Pustay, 2010) or uncertainty avoidance according to Hill (2007). It assessed the degree of several(a) cultures socialize their members into acknowledging indefinite situations and tolerating ambiguity. Correlates of low uncertai nty orientation, or uncertainty avoidance according to Griffin and Pustay (2010) a culture set high priority on job security, career patterns, retirement benefits, and the like. They also took seriously for rules and regulations the manager was expected to deliver clear instructions, and subordinates initiatives were closely controlled (Hill, 2007). Furthermore, Griffin and Pustay (2010) define low power orientation as ambiguity and change are seen as undesirable, and society will prevent it whenever possible.These people prefer a structured, routine, and even bureaucratic, way of performing tasks. On the other hand, high uncertainty orientation, or uncertainty acceptance according to Griffin and Pustay (2010) cultures were regarded as a greater readiness to take risks and less stimulated resistance to change (Hill, 2007). According to Griffin and Pustay (2010), people in uncertainty acceptance are stimulated by change and thrive on new opportunities. Ambiguity is considered as a c ontext within which an individual can grow, develop, and engrave out new opportunities. A sense of monotony, routineness, and overbearing structure are the certainty carried in this culture.Goal Orientation Goal orientation or masculinity versus feminity according to Hill (2007) is the approach in which people are make to work toward different types of goals. One extreme on the goal orientation range is aggressive goal behavior. People who display aggressive goal behavior or masculine cultures according to Hill (2007) tend to place a high premium on material possessions, money, and assertiveness.At the other extreme, passive goal behavior or feminine cultures according to Hill (2007) are people that place a higher value on social relationships, quality of life, and benefit for others. Moreover, cultures that value aggressive goal behavior also tend to define gender-based roles rather rigidly, whereas cultures that stress passive goal behavior do not. In cultures regarded as extrem ely aggressive goal behavior, men are expected to work and to focus their careers in conventionally male occupations women are usually expected not to work outside the home and to focus on their families. If they do work outside the home, they are usually expected to be engaged in areas of traditionally work dominated by women (Griffin and Pustay, 2010).Time Orientation Hofstedes fifth dimension, time orientation, is the extent to which members of a culture adopt a long-term against a short-term outlook on work, life, and other aspects of society. Some cultures, such as those of Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, have a longterm, future orientation that cherish dedication, hard work, perseverance, and moderation. different cultures, including those of Pakistan and West Africa, have a tendency to focus on the past and present, stressing respect for traditions and fulfillment of social obligations (Griffin and Pustay, 2010). Assessment of Canadas Culture Using Hofstedes Dimen sions In this part of the assignment, Canadas culture is studied along Hofstedes Dimensions. The ranking of Five Dimensions for Canada adapted from Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions (2009) is shown in Figure 1 below.