Ethnography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethnography - Essay Example Ethnography refers to a collection of qualitative methods usually utilized in social sciences. These qualitative methods in most cases focus on close observation of social interactions and practises. These methods used in ethnography enable a researcher to interpret as well as build on theories that outline the occurrence of a given social process, the reasons that underlie a given occurrence within the society (Andrew, 1988: p.45). Ethnography studies the social interactions of people within a given society, their perceptions, as well as, their behaviors in relation to particular communities, organizations, teams and groups. The roots of this study trace down to the anthropological studies of rural minute areas, usually from a very remote setting. The central aim of this policy is to determine the provision of a rich as well as holistic insight into the views and actions of people. In addition, this study also considers their nature such as the sights and sounds within their environ ment or the location of their residence. The collection of this information follows several outlined features about the cultures of a give society. As such, there are several policy issues outlining the ethnography tendencies within the society (Clifford, 2013). ... As such, ethnography entails a graphical representation as well as in writing of a particular culture of a group within the society. As such, the relevant authorities come up with different policies that follow the concept of ethnocentrism (Hoey, 2013). An understanding of ethnography enables these companies to trade properly in new areas with different cultures from those of their homeland. In addition, it enables these organizations to dispel ethnocentrism from leaders or management teams of their organizations. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to overlook the cultures of other groups or factions in the society. An ethnocentric person feels that other cultures are inferior to theirs, and as such, assumes that his or her culture is the best in the society. Furthermore, he or she ends up making critical management decisions based on their culture, irrespective of the cultures surrounding the communities within which his or her organization operates. For instance, an American company ope rating in Kuwait appoints an ethnocentric individual to head the delegation. Kuwait has a very different culture compared to the American culture. As such, it is very wrong for a manager from the United States to impose American cultures on Kuwait nationals when operating in their home country. On the contrary, this American manager should try to operate like a native from Kuwait (Egger, 2008: p.94). The most common policies of the study of ethnocentrism occur in the investment and expansion analysis of multinational corporations. Most of these companies that expand into foreign territories foe market expansions as well as exploitation of investment opportunities have to