To conclude about the specific features of the culture manifested in a particular situation, it is necessary to observe the interactions of the participants during their daily activities. The ethnographic study was conducted during the usual staff meeting in one of the Kmart department stores. During the meeting, much attention was paid to the particular features of communication between the meeting participants in order to understand the aspects of the environment, characteristics of individuals, their interactions, and the presented culture.
The staff meeting was held at the department manager’s office. The meeting was scheduled as the regular and daily morning meeting conducted by a group supervisor for the store’s employees. The participants of the staff meeting were the group supervisor, a white male aged 35-40 years, the department manager, a white male aged 41-45 years, and four male employees among whom one was the Asian. The implementation of new instructions for the staff was discussed during the observed meeting. The meeting was not started on time because the department manager and supervisor came to the office later than the group of employees. The provided details are important to make inferences about the staff’s interactions and culture (Daniel, 2011, p. 54; Neuman, 2011, p. 442).
While focusing on the culture expressed in the specific participants’ interactions, it is important to concentrate on such details as the use of the slang and argot while discussing the new instructions and daily routines. Thus, such linguistic, cultural artifacts as the printed instructions were written in formal English, but they were discussed using the argot. It is possible to conclude that the observed group builds the interactions and communication using the language determined by their working environment (Neuman, 2011, p. 424).
Referring to the communication within the group, it is important to focus on the fact that although the four male employees were waiting for the supervisor and the department manager for fifteen minutes, they do not demonstrate discontent. Furthermore, the employees demonstrated respect for the supervisor and the department manager during the meeting while supporting the propositions and discussing the instructions openly in an enthusiastic tone (Martin, 2009, p. 112; Neuman, 2011, p. 446).
The supervisor and the department managers take the leading positions in the group, but they position themselves as equal to the staff. The supervisor and the department managers were sitting in front of the group, the eye contact was supported by all the group members. The staff members were speaking only when the leaders were silent or asked questions. The loud voice was not used to accentuate the important aspects. That is why it is possible to conclude that there are no obvious conflicts within the group, the participants developed a supportive culture based on the desire to achieve the same goal and work in a positive environment.
Discussing the culture manifested in the particular situation of the staff meeting, it is important to note that all the participants share the same working culture because of the similar visions of the department’s development. There are no observed tensions related to the aspect of the race, although one member of the group is the Asian. All the participants are males working as a team and sharing the same culture while accepting the lading positions of the supervisor and the manager.
The provided inferences are valuable to understand the described environment, the observed individuals, and the nature of interactions because the situation of the absence of negations during the meeting supports the idea that all the participants share the same culture and accept and follow their social roles while using the same language and having the same understanding of the concepts and goals.
References
Daniel, B. (2011). Handbook of Research on Methods and Techniques for Studying Virtual Communities: Paradigms and Phenomena. USA: Idea Group Inc. Web.
Martin, D. (2009). Language Disabilities in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity. USA: Multilingual Matters. Web.
Neuman, W. (2011). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Web.