Question

Please indicate your level of ethnocentrism (low, moderate, high) and discuss the impact ethnocentrism could have in your future or current work environment.

Answer 1

Ethnocentrism comprises of the acts and thought processes that judge other cultures on the basis of certain preconceptions and ideas that may be found in the standard/values of own culture. These preconceptions often relate to religion, custom, behavior, and language. As we can see, these distinctions are actually certain categories or aspects which give a culture or an ethnicity its unique Identity. High impact ethnocentric behavior would mean that a person may think that his behavior/approach/culture is right and superior, and the beliefs and customs held by other individuals who may belong to different/other groups are not right or may be inferior.

My Level of Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism, at low and reasonable levels, may have certain good aspects as well. It offers assurance to one's own culture and improves confidence, which is necessary to be successful. Groups may also be more focussed and cohesive by practicing the ethnocentric approaches to a certain degree and in the right way. All cultures and people may have a certain degree of ethnocentrism. I would describe my level of ethnocentrism to be low. Educational and workplace environments (that I have been exposed to) had people from different ethnicities and religions. The diversified higher education centers and workplaces nowadays have people from different cultures, nationalities, continents, and regions studying/working at the same place. Therefore, the diversified workgroups today also have people from different demographics and cultures, and ethnocentrism may be least or absent, at least in the urban areas. Ethnocentric thoughts maybe profound in the rural areas, but not in the society and scenarios where I got an education and worked. While ethnocentrism may provide for greater cohesiveness to certain groups that I belong, it never affects my thoughts or actions to an extent that it may be a cause of bias and misjudgment.

Impact of Ethnocentrism on Current/Future Work Environment

Ethnocentrism of higher degrees may be enemy of multiculturalism at the workplaces and therefore impact productivity, success, growth, and innovation adversely. The milder forms of ethnocentrism may help employee have better confidence and provide for better collaboration between certain groups. But in the modern diverse workplaces that have people from different demographics working together, high ethnocentrism will lead to exclusion, favoritism, and cliquish behavior. It might give rise to frequent conflicts, which may deteriorate performance and productivity. Unchecked ethnocentrism of higher degrees also affects decision-making adversely. Decisions are made on unrealistic comparisons and presumptions, and not on the analysis of data and therefore will not provide the desired outcomes. Ethnocentrism may also be demotivating for certain employees of different ethnicities who are in minority.

Severe ethnocentrism would have no place in the future work environment as the world is getting increasingly globalized and all countries are now turning to be open economies. The work groups of the future will have people from diverse demographics and therefore ethnocentric behavior and acts would not be suitable or practical.