Conflict Management

One concept that I find interesting is conflict management. The book points out that because people come from different cultures, they are raised to see similar things differently. I like how the book points out that confrontation in the United States resides in truth and debate, while in Asian cultures it resides in maintaining harmony.

This topic is important because now more than ever, cultures will mix. In SJSU, group projects can often have members from four to five different cultures. It is important to understand these different cultures so that we don’t mistake their actions in a negative sense. It is important to know how certain cultures perceive information, as their response can be important to the project at hand.

I think the only true way to understand people from different cultures is to ask questions. I know sometimes I am quick to “jump the gun” when it comes to things I don’t understand. Being a student at SJSU has opened my eyes to different cultures and the way they tackle problems. This is important because the work force will vary with people from all around the world.

Henry