Spain

Spain

Accepting a new job often involves considering many factors. We weigh our personal values and needs, to those of various organizations. Once this decision has been made and a new job is started we must then adjust our behaviors to fit those of our organization. When accepting a position in a foreign country this process becomes much more involved. Not only do we have to make the normal adjustments to a new work environment, but we must also adapt to a new culture. This paper aims to examine the country of Spain, in anticipation of starting a job there in three months time. We will investigate the history of the country in hopes of not only learning about their culture, but also how that culture was formed. We will examine various aspects of that culture; such as the language, attitudes, beliefs, and the norms of the society.

After establishing a good basis for what to expect from the society as a whole, we will examine their corporate culture. Learning all we can about Spain's organizational behavior, will help not only in everyday Spanish life, but most importantly how to function in a new job. This can be achieved by looking at the various aspects of corporate culture including: management styles, human resource policy trends, dress, norms and ethics. Also valuable will be the examination of how work and social cultures mix.

Culture can be defined in many ways. Generally it is understood to be "the set of values, customs, and beliefs that people have in common with other members of a social unit (e.g. a nation) (Greenberg, 14). As United States citizens we share a culture uniquely American. In order to be better prepared for life in Spain we must learn the Spanish culture. Often times "when people are faced with a new culture, it is not unusual for them to become confused and disoriented - a phenomenon known as culture shock" (Greenberg, 14). With an in depth look at Spain's culture, and within that their organizational practices, this can certainly be avoided.

Spain has an incredibly rich history. Early evidence of human habitation dates back almost 800,000 years (spainview.com). Since then the peninsula has been populated by numerous cultures, and varying ethnicities. Having been conquered and re-conquered by different peoples over time, a large influence in today's culture can be seen from the Roman's who occupied the Iberian Peninsula for six centuries. After the fall of the Roman Empire and a brief occupation by Germanic peoples, Muslims migrated to the area and their presence remains there today, even with a heavily Christian population. Around the time of the discovery of the America's, Jew's and Moore's were expelled from Spain. Later a French power ruled the country until the defeat of Napoleon's army. During the early 19th century with the increasing strength of the working class, Spain was declared a republic. The Spanish Civil War which led Spain to become a dictatorship allied the country with the axis powers during World War II. This divided the country from the rest of Europe and only in 1975 did Spain become a constitutional monarchy (spainview.com). Later democracy would open Spain up to The European Union. "In 2005 Spaniards became the first Europeans to vote in a referendum on the proposed EU constitution. The overwhelming "yes" vote (77%) came as no surprise in a country that had long been one of the largest net recipients of EU funds" (Britannica.com).

This diverse history has created the Spain of today. With a population of over 44 million people, this constitutional monarchy is largely urban. Although the literacy rate is about 98% only 7% of the population has an undergraduate college degree (Britannica.com). Health care is offered by the government, but there is also privatized health care and health care plans offered by many employers. Since Spain is a member of the European Union, the Euro is the form of currency used. There is no official religion of Spain, however over 90% are Roman Catholic (Britannica.com). This is due to the presence of the Romans in Spain until the fall of the Roman Empire. All of this information related to Spain's history and current state will be immensely useful in understanding the society we will soon become a part of.

Spain's rich and colorful history has profoundly influenced their culture, traditions, and organizational practices. Historically, dress has been an inseparable part of social status and this is definitely to be taken into consideration while working abroad, especially in Spain. Older executives and those in upper management levels maintain very high standards of dress. Usually, ultraconservative dark suits and white shirts prevail as the Spanish have a fondness for dark tones, especially black. Conservative business attire isn't something that differs dramatically from America to Spain. However, personal adornments that signify success or social class should be subdued when living and working there. It is not popular to stand out, so you should always avoid flashy colors that bring attention. The main focus of the dress code is to blend in with everyone else. Unlike Americans, who like to flaunt their signs of wealth be it a Rolex watch or excessive jewelry, the Spanish prefer to not display these items as they are likely to generate envy and may ultimately hinder the development of a new relationship, whether business or otherwise. This is very different from the colorful and bold ties and suits you see in the U.S. It is quite normal now to go into a U.S. corporate office and see a variety of colors and styles, as opposed to the very down played and repetitive look of a plain black, grey or brown suit. It is also very common to display wealth and power through dress in the US, as we mentioned. In other words to be "flashy" is not appropriate in Spain. The Spanish concept is to blend with the conservative views associated with dress and business attire.

When living in Spain, it is important to remember that social relationships come first, then the business. Unlike American business people, it is common for the Spanish to meet to talk or eat and drink. It is interesting to note that until recently, the "social" meeting for business purposes had been reserved solely for the elite. Now, as Spain slowly emerges from its tightly held conservative views, these business meetings are much more common. In fact, the siesta, or afternoon rest which has been a Spanish tradition for hundreds of years is being abandoned by most modern businessmen and women. Instead, typical siesta hours, usually between 2pm and 4pm, are being used as lunch meetings. When lunching with the Spanish, be prepared to relax, converse and drink. Trying to rush through lunch and sticking to non-alcoholic

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