Cultural integration is where people from one culture adopt another culture while maintaining their own (Study.com para 3). It is a common concept amongst the immigrants because they use it as a survival tool. Also, it does happen in organizations hence aiding in globalization. One type is where individuals maintain their own culture while adopting new cultural practices like attitudes and ceremonies. Also, it involves the introduction of people’s culture to the new culture. For instance, introducing some cultural characteristics such as attitude, arts, and religion to the new culture. Generally, most people value the culture that raised them by viewing the elements of it as their comfort. Therefore, when people move to a different culture, there's a high possibility of introducing the characteristics that comfort them (Study.com para 4). Some people believe that cultural integration is harmful as it makes the lines between the cultures to be blurred while others view it positively since it aids in the creation of harmony between the different cultures (Study.com para 5). The paper examines ways on how to facilitate culture integration successfully.
Examples of Cultural Integration
In the United States, there are different choices of restaurants that do not have an origin there. For instance, the Chinese immigrants brought their food with them and many more different cultures in the world. Also, the U.S original religious beliefs were animistic, but due to cultural integration, there are different types of religious beliefs irrespective of the culture’s origin (Study.com para 6). Furthermore, American audiences have adapted foreign films, and foreign markets have adopted the U.S films due to cultural integration. When most people think of cultural integration, the context of globalization comes in (Study.com para 6). Therefore, this process is also useful in different organizations and companies.
Theories of Cultural Integration
Social scientist identified three theories of cultural integration which include multiculturalism, structuralism, and assimilation theories (Algan, Bisin, and Verdie para 10). The theories will aid in the elaboration of how to facilitate culture integration successfully.
Assimilation Theory
Three features define the theory. First, through a natural process, a different culture shares a common culture having the same socio-economic opportunities. Secondly, in favor of a new culture, cultural integration makes the original behavioral pattern of an individual to disappear. Finally, this process moves towards making an individual completely assimilated, and it moves irreversibly and inevitably (Algan, Bisin " Verdie para 11).
Multiculturalism Theory
The perspective offers people of the different cultural diversities to consider the host society or an organization which will view them as the integral active segments of their society rather than being viewed as outsiders or foreigners. A multi-cultural society is composed of a heterogeneous population of racial and ethnic groups as well as the dominant group of majority (Algan, Bisin " Verdie para 14).
Structuralism Theory
The approach emphasizes the relationship between the differences of socio-economic opportunities to the differences of social integration of ethnic minority groups. It focuses on the structure of the socio-economic effects of the host country towards the immigrants (Algan, Bisin " Verdie para 15).
Cultural Integration at the Workplace
Global companies should understand that this young professional new generation is not easy to comply with working rules and social perspective of a given company especially the ones that differ from their personal beliefs (Byskata para 5). Therefore, Byskata maintained that organizations should be flexible and open to accommodate new forms of working styles, behaviors and perspectives which can lead to a company’s progress in this new era of generation (para 5). She further argued that cultural integration is like a road with two lanes, summing up both young international talent’s effort to adopt the culture of the company, and the company to accommodate new forms of individual’s different beliefs which will add up to their culture likewise (Byskata para 6). Therefore, according to Byskata, it is true to say that employees and companies can gain from the diversity that comes as a result of cultural integration (Byskata para 7).
How to Integrate Culture Successfully
Mapping Other Culture’s Territory
Canter suggested that it is important to research on where we’re going since it is important to be aware of the cultural practices like traditions, customs, and climate of the place we’re going (para 1). The same applying to the integration of cultures of the company of two different organizations. Mapping another culture or another company’s culture before we engage with them will help one in determining the approach to be taken and how it should happen. In the event of a cultural integration requirement, territory mapping is helpful in identifying the potential issues and challenges involved in coping up with the new culture. Therefore, this aspect is ideal in familiarizing one to cope and adapt quickly with the different culture.
Encouraging Cross-Functional Teams and Mixing
It is important to identify and create cross-functional teaming in an organization or any culture to enhance cultural integration. Even if the organization’s cultural strategy acts on peaceful coexistence, it is important to establish this teaming to work together on key projects. Cross-functional teams help the employees to know each other, exchange knowledge and build internal capabilities within themselves hence reaching a cultural integration (Canter para 4). Also, encouraging mixing and socializing of different cultures especially amongst the immigrants, is essential as one immigrant can easily learn from another. Exchanging knowledge between different cultures is important as it promotes cultural integration.
Encourage Social Cohesion
Social cohesion is the cooperation of the community members to survive and prosper. According to an article from the Cities of Migration (para 12), responding positively to cultural diversities and religious practices of different cultures which are core aspects of social cohesion, leads to a successful culture integration. Also, social cohesion makes people from different cultures to come together and socialize with one another hence encouraging harmony. Encouraging people to mingle with one another socially through jobs, religion or economic activities encourages people to learn from one another through knowledge exchange especially in a multicultural society hence harmony.
Integration through Education
Cities of Migration noted that education is a key factor towards a successful cultural integration (para 10). For instance, through education, students from different cultures come together and mingle hence exchanging different cultures amongst themselves. Irrespective of a student’s cultural background, education embraces every student hence encouraging the integration of cultures amongst many students from different parts of the world. Also, education encourages students from different cultures to learn, cope, and adapt with others. Besides mingling with students from different cultures, the education system also gives students related cultural studies that aid them in learning other people’s culture hence encouraging cultural integration.
Establishing Team Integration and a Collaborative Planning Process
Establishing leaders from different cultures is important in the cultural integration process. Integration team includes leaders of the culture or the staff from both parties having skills and knowledge in facilitation and fast-tracking the process of integration (Canter para 2). Involving the team leaders in the planning process is important as collectively they are in the best position to use their culture’s knowledge that will aid in the planning and decision making to avoid conflicts.
Effective Communication
Effective communication is important in the cultural integration process. For instance, in an organization setting, employees should always get regular communication to avoid defensive behaviors and anxiety amongst those employees who do not come from that culture (Canter para 3). Since cultural integration aids in bringing harmony, regular communication makes an organization to have a peaceful environment hence high input towards achieving the organization’s goal. The absence of communication will make employees start feeling gaps with wrong information hence a conflict could occur, but regular communication will make all employees work in harmony despite the cultural differences.
Conclusion
Cultural integration is where people from one culture adopt another culture while maintaining their own. The process happens either in immigrants or companies because when most people think of cultural integration, the context of globalization comes in. Since it aids in the creation of harmony between different cultures, the three theories; multiculturalism, structuralism, and assimilation have been identified by the social scientist to aid in the elaboration of how to facilitate it successfully. To achieve a successful cultural integration, therefore, people should map other culture’s territories to be aware of how to deal with the different cultures, encourage social cohesion, and encourage integration through education. Also, establishing team integration and a collaborative planning process, effective communication, and encouraging cross-functional teams in any given organization or company highly attracts cultural integration.
Works Cited
Algan, Yann, Alberto Bisin, and Thierry Verdier. "Introduction: Perspectives on Cultural Integration of Immigrants." Oxford University Press, 2013. 22 Nov. 2018, http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199660094.001.0001/acprof-9780199660094-chapter-1?print
Byskata, Alexandra. “Multiculturalism and Cultural Integration at the Workplace.” June 2017. 22 Nov. 2018, https://blog.aiesec.org/cultural-integration-at-the-workplace/
Canter, Corinne. “5 Steps to Successful Cultural Integration”. 22 Nov. 2018, https://www.human-synergistics.com.au/resources/content/2015/02/10/5-steps-to-successful-cultural-integration
Cities Of Migration.”Conversations in Integration "Five Steps To Successful Integration ." 22 Nov. 2018, http://citiesofmigration.ca/ezine_stories/five-steps-to-successful-integration/
Study.Com. “Cultural Integration”: Definition " Examples.” 22 Nov. 2018, https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-integration-definition-examples.html
