• One aspect of space orientation is that it is dependent on what is to be regarded as private or public.
• In some cultures, a house, car and even the refrigerator is not open to the public but in others all these are welcome.
• Another aspect that relates to the invisible boundary around every person is the ‘comfort zones’. If this zone is encroached upon, people will tend to feel uneasy or even under threat.
• In some cultures, this zone is much narrower than in others. For instance the proximity of people when they are having a conversation is closer compared to other cultures.
• The concept of space can also be seen in terms of personality. This can be related in the Trompenaars’ dimension of specific versus diffuse relationships.
• Where in the specific relationship, the belief is that people can work together without a good relationship. The focus is on getting the work done. In such a culture, the space orientation is highly likely to be private.
• However, in the diffuse relationship the belief is that good relationships are vital to meeting business objectives. …show more content…
The focus here is on building good relationship. The space orientation in this culture is highly likely to be public.
PRIVATE SPACE CULTURE
• Private space cultures work within individual offices and rooms which are divided by partitions or cubicles. However, managers generally have separate offices.
• There is an increased importance on closed-door meetings with minimal or no interruptions at all. • Permission is needed in order for one to enter a private space. • Private space has two distinct dimensions. I. INFORMATION CONTROL • Employees fight a constant battle to protect and manage and access their personal information. • This brings up questions such as who needs access to these project files? How one can keep their fellow coworkers from seeing information that is sensitive on their screen computer screen? Where can I have a confidential conversation without being overheard? • Technology has further challenged our sense of personal sovereignty. Social media in particular has done more than any other medium to hinder our ability to control information that is private. • Facebook for instance enables one to create a profile where information such as what religion one practices, how old one is and where you live. • One has to make conscious decisions about how he or she manages their personal information. II. STIMULATION CONTROL • Stimulation control entails the noises and distractions that can break concentration or inhibit the ability to maintain focus. • One person’s distraction could be another’s comforting white noise. • Sometimes one might find background music soothing in the sense that it helps in completing a task. The other times it might be considered as annoying. • However we define them, one needs ways to manage distractions. PUBLIC SPACE CULTURE • Public space cultures contain both private and personal spaces, but the primary orientation is toward open public space. • Public space cultures tend to be relationship-centered organizations, and the location of office space is not necessarily an indicator of status. • It is the dominant form of workplace design as it can accommodate collaboration, promote learning and nurture a strong culture. • People need to focus alone or in pairs to generate great ideas or process information; then they shall come together as a group to build on those ideas or develop a similar point of view; and then they break apart again to take next steps. • The greater the tasks at hand, the more the individuals need punctuating moments of private time to think or recharge. • The open plan is just one of the many culprits of assaulting our privacy. The increased focus on the collaborative work means we’re rarely alone, and the availability of mobile devices means we are always accessible. Private Public Planning Tendency to use more individualistic forms of planning Uses more group-oriented or authoritative planning Organizing Approaches used tend to center on tasks Approaches used tend to be centered on relationships Staffing The information about how the staff are to be employed is more explicit The information about how the staff are to be employed is more implicit Directing Managers and employees do not share the same office The location or size
• In some cultures, a house, car and even the refrigerator is not open to the public but in others all these are welcome.
• Another aspect that relates to the invisible boundary around every person is the ‘comfort zones’. If this zone is encroached upon, people will tend to feel uneasy or even under threat.
• In some cultures, this zone is much narrower than in others. For instance the proximity of people when they are having a conversation is closer compared to other cultures.
• The concept of space can also be seen in terms of personality. This can be related in the Trompenaars’ dimension of specific versus diffuse relationships.
• Where in the specific relationship, the belief is that people can work together without a good relationship. The focus is on getting the work done. In such a culture, the space orientation is highly likely to be private.
• However, in the diffuse relationship the belief is that good relationships are vital to meeting business objectives. …show more content…
The focus here is on building good relationship. The space orientation in this culture is highly likely to be public.
PRIVATE SPACE CULTURE
• Private space cultures work within individual offices and rooms which are divided by partitions or cubicles. However, managers generally have separate offices.
• There is an increased importance on closed-door meetings with minimal or no interruptions at all. • Permission is needed in order for one to enter a private space. • Private space has two distinct dimensions. I. INFORMATION CONTROL • Employees fight a constant battle to protect and manage and access their personal information. • This brings up questions such as who needs access to these project files? How one can keep their fellow coworkers from seeing information that is sensitive on their screen computer screen? Where can I have a confidential conversation without being overheard? • Technology has further challenged our sense of personal sovereignty. Social media in particular has done more than any other medium to hinder our ability to control information that is private. • Facebook for instance enables one to create a profile where information such as what religion one practices, how old one is and where you live. • One has to make conscious decisions about how he or she manages their personal information. II. STIMULATION CONTROL • Stimulation control entails the noises and distractions that can break concentration or inhibit the ability to maintain focus. • One person’s distraction could be another’s comforting white noise. • Sometimes one might find background music soothing in the sense that it helps in completing a task. The other times it might be considered as annoying. • However we define them, one needs ways to manage distractions. PUBLIC SPACE CULTURE • Public space cultures contain both private and personal spaces, but the primary orientation is toward open public space. • Public space cultures tend to be relationship-centered organizations, and the location of office space is not necessarily an indicator of status. • It is the dominant form of workplace design as it can accommodate collaboration, promote learning and nurture a strong culture. • People need to focus alone or in pairs to generate great ideas or process information; then they shall come together as a group to build on those ideas or develop a similar point of view; and then they break apart again to take next steps. • The greater the tasks at hand, the more the individuals need punctuating moments of private time to think or recharge. • The open plan is just one of the many culprits of assaulting our privacy. The increased focus on the collaborative work means we’re rarely alone, and the availability of mobile devices means we are always accessible. Private Public Planning Tendency to use more individualistic forms of planning Uses more group-oriented or authoritative planning Organizing Approaches used tend to center on tasks Approaches used tend to be centered on relationships Staffing The information about how the staff are to be employed is more explicit The information about how the staff are to be employed is more implicit Directing Managers and employees do not share the same office The location or size