Cultural Perspective in Groups

Culture can be described as agreed norms that are used to govern the way people relate and go about their normal activities, be it in a group or in the society (McGraw-Hill, 2000).  There are numerous definitions of culture but central to these definitions is the fact that communication is at the center of developing, maintaining, and changing culture. Members who share the same culture have similar interpretations and similar views of the world, as evidenced by cultural practices in each and every group.  Cultural practices are performed through communication, language, and other nonverbal messages, which all arise from the culture which individuals tend to be indoctrinated into.
Personal and group identity tends to be engraved in a culture which means they are not separable from culture they are enmeshed into (McGraw-Hill, 2000). This means that culture forms a part of individual identity. Since individuals experience in one culture is different from another culture, every individual holds a unique view of one culture compared to the other. This diversity is brought into the group since members have different cultural practices.
In a group, culture norms are important as they define how group members interact and share with one another (McGraw-Hill, 2000). Every group develops its own culture in the course of group formation. This culture is constituted of unique characteristics that define how group members relate and how the group carries out its activities. Cultural norms in a group ensure that the group does not have to stipulate rules since cultural norms acts as rules for the group.  In a diverse group, cultural norms ensure that the group performs the same thing in different ways. If culture norms were taken to be laws rather than rules, every group activity would be performed in the same way, which means it would bring about boredom and affect the cohesion of the group.
While considering cultural practices of any group, it is important to recognize that there exist diversity in ethics and societal norms.  Ethics is an important part of cultural norms or cultural practices which helps the group to act in a cohesive manner. Ethics defines aspect of culture that group members believe need to be performed rather than being enforced (McGraw-Hill, 2000).  Since a group consists of members with different cultural norms, a group will exhibit diversity in ethics and social norms.
Culture in group can be viewed in different ways. First, it should be realized that different cultures have a different understanding and conceptualization of the group norms. This means that individuals from different cultures have different conceptualization of group norms, while they are likely to share some similarities in group norms as well (McGraw-Hill, 2000).  Second, group members who form a group bring different cultural backgrounds including experiences in the group. Note that the group exhibit different and similar culture norms to that of individual members.  Third, it should be realized that a group cannot function without cultural practices which bonds members together. This means that the group must come up with its own unique culture that should define norms of interaction, language, rituals, and others.
Cultural diversity within a group assists in formation of group ethics and norms but at the same time it can be a great challenge.  Diversity within the group is likely to affect group process and the outcomes as well. Not all individuals will share similar view on cultural practices like leadership style, conformity, relationships, and others. Individual background culture and experience with societal norms is likely to affect the way they perceive and adhere to group norms (McGraw-Hill, 2000). The need for group norms is meant to ensure that the differences in social norms and cultural practices between different members of the group are bridged for cohesiveness of the group.
The most important aspect for any group to consider while coming up with its cultural norms is the diversity within the group.  Diversity in ethics and societal norm can be a source of creativity for the group and at the same time it can lead to destructive conflict (Stanford GSG News, 1999). Bringing together diverse cultural experiences can assist the group to understand problems that are facing the group in a different new way, which can assist the group to come up with more creating solutions.
Since all members come to the group with diverse ethics and social norms, there is likelihood of cultural conflict as all members assert their own practices to be the best. Ethics and societal norms provide the base for group interaction and for formulation of new group norms. There is no culture that is superior to the other and the competition effect of such practices can bring unending group conflicts (Stanford GSG News, 1999). Therefore, it is appropriate that group members adopt new cultural norms that standardize the group practices and relations.  In the process of group formation, there should be periods dedicated to discussing and understanding group member's social norms to bridge the gap that may exist between the group members.  In the process, the group should also provide time for socializing to help members learn and appreciate the diversity in the group.  These are among practices that assist the group facilitate diversity in ethics and societal norms.
Culture includes all the agreed norms that governs members in a group or in the society relate to one another and how group activities are implemented (Atherton, 2010). Culture is an integral aspect of the group as it provides platform for group cohesion. Every individual member brings to the group diverse ethics and social norms since they come from different backgrounds. Groups should use diverse ethics and societal norms to formulate group culture that puts into considered the cultural practices of each and every member. Diversity in the group should be used as platform for group cohesion rather than a divisive factor.

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