Culture And Society

-

Culture and Society


Pillar Men


1. Culture, Acquisition, and Investment

A wide variety of primarily intangible aspects of social life have been included in the

complex idea of culture. Sociologists describe culture as an individual or group's common

values, beliefs, language, communication patterns, and customs that together shape their

identity and way of life1. It is a potent force that molds our attitudes, actions, and social

relationships.

Why culture is important?

1. identification and Belonging: Humans gain a sense of identification and affiliation from

their cultural background. Connecting individuals and their common experiences, traditions,

and ancestry fosters a sense of coherence and community.

2. Social Cohesion: Cultural norms and practices set the stage for social interactions. They

are in favor of upholding social order, fostering harmony, and promoting collaboration.

3. Communication: Culture has an effect on language usage, nonverbal cues, and

communication styles. Finding cultural nuances helps effective communication across varied

groups. Understanding differences in culture could help strengthen interactions between

groups' efficiency.

4. Worldview and Values: Our understanding of fact, ethics, and morals is formed by the

cultural beliefs that we have. They guide action and decision-making processes.

5. Art, Literature, and Expression: Music, literature, art, and other kinds of expression are

products of culture. They make life greater inspire creativity and capture the essence of

humanity.

Then, there was a lot of debate after Facebook paid an impressive amount of money, about $19 billion to acquire WhatsApp in 2014. So, let's discuss to determine whether

Facebook overpaid to WhatsApp or not.

a. WhatsApp’s Functionality:

- Even though WhatsApp is frequently connected to messaging, it provides more

functionalities rather than just texting. In addition to sharing images, videos, and even

location data where users could participate in group discussions.

- WhatsApp is essentially a quick mobile social media network where users can share

their lives even when they're on the go.

b. Facebook's motivation:

- With over a billion members, Facebook had to deal with a trend where youths who are

often referred to as "Facebook Nevers" decided to use alternative apps like WeChat,

Snapchat, and WhatsApp instead of using Facebook.

- An important factor was WhatsApp's widespread use in emerging and European

economies. In comparison with Facebook, it had three times as many users in places

like Italy and Germany, and twice as many in the UK and Brazil.

- Facebook's decision to purchase WhatsApp was motivated by the phrase "if you can't

beat them, join them."

c. Mobile messaging game

- Due to the high cost of international roaming, Facebook joined the market later than

in other nations where mobile texting is essential. That wasn't even a product until

2011 when it bought Beluga.

- Conversely, WhatsApp achieved its goal of giving users the greatest possible mobile

messaging experience devoid of advertisements.

Lastly, there are 3 common obstacles that could be faced when bringing in new investors.

a. Unknown investment risks:

Beginner investors could not completely comprehend the dangers related to different

investment approaches and, therefore may result in substantial deficits in the portfolios they

own at an early stage.

b. An abundance of information:

When faced with a huge number of information, particular investors might get anxious, make

poor decisions, or lose confidence.

c. Limited investment capital:

Limited capital is a common problem for new investors, especially when some financial

assets are expensive.

By: Steven Junius (TP075216)


2. Navigating Ownership Changes

The issue of changes in the ownership structure. The introduction of new investors may lead to changes in the ownership structure, which may affect the company's decision-making and control rights. If you want to retain full control and management of your business, you may not want investors to be involved in your business. You have to realize that when you use investors to fund your business, you're giving up some control. If you're not happy with this, it's best to reconsider your choice. - （Stephanie Wells, "Powerful Forms"）

In addition to this, new investors may come from different cultural backgrounds or industry sectors, and they may be in conflict with the company's existing culture and values. Management will need to work to harmonize and integrate the interests and perspectives of all parties. While profitability is critical, other aspects such as sustainability, fair trade, and providing a higher standard of living for employees are also important indicators of success.

By: Kelvin Foo Jing Jie


3. Some of the Problems That bring In New Investors

·  Clashing cultures and values between founders and investors: Emphasizes the importance of company culture and how it can clash with the strategic goals or mindset of new investors. If the core values and principles of the founding team diverge from those of the investors, it can create tensions and misalignment.

·  Loss of control and decision-making power: Bringing in new investors often means giving up some control and decision-making power to those investors, especially if they acquire a significant stake. This can lead to conflicts if the investors want to steer the company in a different direction than the founders envisioned.

·  Unrealistic expectations and pressure for growth: The New York Times article about the Texas distillery illustrates how investors can have high expectations for rapid growth and returns, which may not align with the founders' more measured approach or the realities of the business. This pressure can strain resources and potentially compromise the core product or service.

By: Richerson Yovannlim (TP072370)


4. Why Corporate Culture is Important

Culture refers to a collection of beliefs and attitudes about how things are done in the workplace. Culture may not be discussed every day, but it is always present in the background, influencing every bit of work that gets completed or not (Morgan, 2022). 

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is a famous quote from legendary management consultant and writer Peter Drucker. The statement "culture eats strategy for breakfast" suggests that no matter how well-designed your strategic plan is, it will fail unless your team shares the appropriate culture. (Conmy, 2023)

What is the impact of corporate culture?

  • Employee Engagement: A positive organizational culture increases employee engagement and satisfaction. Employees that feel connected to the business culture are more likely to be motivated, productive, and dedicated to their jobs. A high level of employee engagement benefits the business as a whole in the long run.

  • Decreased Turnover: A culture that encourages individual objectives and team accomplishments can help reduce turnover because employees experience a sense of community and shared accomplishment.

  • Increased Productivity: Employees that are content with their work and find fulfillment in it put in more effort. A strong culture that is aligned with your organization's goals will boost employee productivity.

By: Marvind Meydie Lincoln (TP073309)


References:

Morgan, P. (2022, August 19). Understanding the importance of corporate culture after the great resignation. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulamorgan/2022/08/19/understanding-the-importance-of-corporate-culture-after-the-great-resignation/?sh=274b133a18cd

Conmy, S. (2023, May 8). What does culture eats strategy for breakfast mean?. The Corporate Governance Institute. https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/lexicon/what-does-culture-eats-strategy-for-breakfast-mean/

‌

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AI in Problem Solving

-
Image
AI in Problem Solving       Artificial Intelligence or AI is a set of several technologies that are working together, so it enables the machine to sense, comprehend, act, and learn as well as a human level of intelligence. The presence of AI in human life has already helped to make people's lives more efficient and power many programs and services to help them do their daily activities. Unfortunately, not all aspects of our lives have already been using AI, even if AI has already been widely used in the market. So, in this blog, we would like to discuss some problems that could be solved by using AI. 1. The Presence of AI in Healthcare           AI not only can be used in the field of information technology, but it also can be used in the field of medication which has direct contact with humans. Especially in healthcare, we still suffer many problems and some of these problems could be solved using AI. We can use AI to help peo...
Read more

Where Good Ideas Come From

-
 Where Good Ideas Come From 1. Inspiration to Achieve Ideas      In the business world, many people are dying to find good ideas to the extent that they are willing to buy ideas from people. From this we can see that good ideas are hard to find and that it is important that we ourselves have good ideas because we would then be wanted by the market or could even start our own business with that idea. The first characteristic of a great idea is that it needs to be desirable, feasible, and viable (Mendes, 2023). These characteristics of ideas are always effective in guaranteeing the idea is good but trying to create our own idea is the hard part.      Inspiration is one of the major things that will help someone generate ideas because creativity is essential. There are many ways to find inspiration. For example, we can get inspiration by looking at the past, this could mean that we try coming up with an idea to prevent the vase you broke from getting knoc...
Read more