Assignment Task:
Culture forms the way people make decisions, communicate, and interact in group settings. Culture can bring creativity and different ideas, but it can also lead to misunderstandings if disparities are not made known. To work productively in a group, members should have an open mind to different perspectives, adapt to various communication styles, and practice inclusivity.
The group in this case study is of Latino descent. The social worker had a lack of cultural knowledge about the Latino background, and this created challenges. They also had a facilitator, but they were people of different generations, so they had a time trying to manage the group. Different generations are always going to bump heads when it comes to their views on things. The older group members had a time trying to understand the younger member's modern views, because they were brought up differently with different values from them. There was also an issue with the language the group was using because there were members who were confused and didn't speak the language. The social worker should have provided a translator or a translating device during the group session so that everyone would be able to understand the things that were said in the session. If a translator was not available, the social worker should have held different meetings based on the language you speak fluently so the group members could better understand the group discussion. Adaptation and cultural sensitivity are important in group work because when you learn to respect cultural differences, it can help create a more supportive environment.
Cultural backgrounds can influence the way people contribute to group work. An example would be a person from a culture that values teamwork and harmony may prioritize group achievements over personal ideas to avoid conflict. In cultures where dominance is highly valued, a person may be more likely to follow leadership guidance rather than imposing their different opinions. When you understand these cultural influences, it sanctions you to have better alliances by promoting both assertiveness and cooperation, which can lead to a better productive and balanced group dynamic.
Explain how a characteristic from your own culture might change the group dynamic created by your colleague's characteristics. Need Assignment Help?
OR
Explain how you would manage a group that exhibits the characteristic(s) described by your colleague.