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Business Cultural Dimensions Analysis Assignment: Ireland
Emmanuel Bravo-Vazquez
School of Business, Liberty University
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Business Cultural Dimensions Analysis Assignment: Ireland
When doing business internationally, we need to understand what is involved. According
to the textbook, there are six cultural dimensions: communication, religion, ethics, values and
attitudes, manners and customs, and social structures and organizations. These dimensions are
critical to understanding how to proceed with business dealings and negotiations. In the United
States, we know how communication works. During a business meeting, the two parties shake
hands and begin discussions. The predominant religion is Christianity. We have ethical
guidelines and labor laws governing how businesses conduct themselves. The United States has
values, manners, and customs, such as being on time for a meeting, being polite to a customer,
and being true to an organization's mission statement. The United States has social structures that
include poverty and middle- and high-earning classes. This range allows individuals to move
between the classes and is part of what makes America a free market system. However, this
information will not help a global manager because each country has its own version of these
dimensions. In this paper, we will look at Ireland.
What are the major elements and dimensions of culture in this region?
Communication
In Ireland, there are two predominant languages: the first is, of course, the English
language, and the second is Gaelic, which is a Celtic language. In large areas of the population,
English is spoken and taught in school systems. This is because English is one of Ireland's
official languages. However, Irish is also an official language that has declined due to English's
popularity. According to the article An Educational Psychological Provision in Irish‐medium
Primary Schools in Indigenous Irish Language-speaking Communities Gaelic has renewed
interest in the last three decades. This is because the education system in Ireland has made
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several schools teach their curriculum in Gaelic. According to the article, Gaelic is defined as
areas of the population where the majority, until recent years, spoke Irish as their primary
language. (Murtagh, L., & Seoighe, A. (2022) page 1280) The regions where Gaelic is still
spoken as a majority are Ireland's rural areas. The Irish government has seen a decline in the
Gaelic language, and according to the article, only 7.7% of the Irish schools taught their
curriculum in Gaelic.
Of course, this is troubling for the Irish government because Irish, being an official
language, must be something their citizens should be proficient in. It is also alarming because if
Gaelic is not adequately taught within their school systems, their academic proficiency will
naturally drop. Another main issue with this is the lost identity of the Irish population. Later in
this paper, I will talk more deeply about the Irish identity. However, with the decline in Gaelic,
Ireland stands to lose its roots and be assimilated into an English-speaking society. The Irish
government has noticed this and thus created a 5-year policy named Gaeltacht Education. This
policy invested resources into furthering Gaelic schools to renew the language.
This is important because, as a global manager, knowing that two official languages are
spoken in Ireland is essential. There is no official language in the United States; thus, anyone can
use any language. While English is taught within the school system, no official law or legislature
says English is an official language. However, in Ireland, because Irish (Gaelic) is an official
language, there is a chance that a manager will encounter a Gaelic-speaking business. It would
be a disservice to assume that natives will find English a welcoming language within their living
areas.
According to the textbook, the two main ways language affects communication are the
ability to convey a message clearly and the ability to create thoughts. (Satterlee, C. B. (2023)
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page 42) Gaelic is starting to get more recognition as a declining language within Ireland. It is
more pressing to understand that there will be challenges regarding international business with
Ireland. If a global manager encounters this language, there is a possibility that a translator from
Gaelic to English might not be readily available to act as a mediator.
This also plays a role in the second part of language, creating thoughts. In Gaelic, the
word for hello is dia dhuit, but it is pronounced Jee-ah ghwitch; a critical thing to note is that it
does not translate into the English word of hello. Instead, it means God be with you or God to
you. Taking note of these language changes will prevent any mix-up between language barriers.
Knowing the translation ahead of time will prevent possible religious conflicts. This leads me to
my next dimension, which is religion.
Religion
In Ireland, the primary religion is Christianity, specifically Roman Catholicism.
Catholicism is significant in the United Kingdom and Europe but particularly strong in Ireland.
Catholicism also varies significantly between regions of the country due to the old Celtic ways
that used to be predominant. However, in modern times, it is Orthodox and follows the teachings
of the Vatican.
This denomination under Christianity is different in several ways. First, Catholics believe
in and hold the authority of the Pope higher than anything else. The Pope is the link between the
material world and the spiritual. The Pope is chosen from the Vatican College of Cardinals.
Currently in office, Pope Francis is the 266th and was elected on March 13th, 2013. What is
important to note is that the pope is seen as an authority figure to the entire Roman Catholic
Church. This means that every country that follows this doctrine, Ireland included, sees him as
the final word-sayer.
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The article, The Humble Charisma of a White Dressed Man in a Desert Place, discusses
how Pope Francis dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope Francis is noted as having high
charisma, which helped him be able to speak to Catholics around the world during those
troubling times. This quote stood out in the article: “The charismatic leadership of Pope Francis
is unquestionable both in the religious domain and in public opinion.” (Scardigno, R., Papapicco,
et al. 2021) This shows that the pope's role is seen in high regard by many Roman Catholics,
who bring their troubles not just of the spiritual kind but also of the physical.
Another article, Hope from the Pope, discusses Pope Francis's views on climate change.
The main takeaway is that Pope Francis is crucial and dramatically influences Roman Catholics
worldwide. Science and religion are often at odds; however, Pope Francis understands that
science is a tool for humanity to understand creation. This merges the two entities and creates
unity by a religious figure, which would make Roman Catholics view science in a new light.
Global managers must note that the pope's role is taken very seriously among Roman
Catholics. This information is beneficial because the worldwide climate and other critical
political issues have trouble reaching the awareness necessary to make a difference. Roman
Catholics are devout, attend church every Sunday, and take the pope's word very seriously. This
makes them more aware of political issues due to this influence, and they will be more open to
speaking about more challenging problems facing the world. Global managers need this critical
information regarding the pope if they are dealing with countries such as Ireland.
The second way Roman Catholicism differs is in how it practices communion, salvation,
and the approach to God. Communion is typically done during mass, the name for its Sunday
worship. During Communion, the church priest blesses bread and wine, symbolizing Jesus of
Nazareth's sacrifice. Next, salvation is seen as a process rather than an absolute action done by
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the sacrifice of Jesus. In the article HOMILY PRO ELIGENDO ROMANO PONTIFICE, Cardinal
Ratzinger addresses the College of Cardinals. In this article, he hits on various topics regarding
Roman Catholicism and says, “The more we love Jesus, the more we know him, the more our
true freedom develops and our joy in being redeemed flourishes.” (Ratzinger, J. C. (2007) page
454) This shows that to Roman Catholics, faith is built on a process that differs significantly
from other denominations. Reformed Presbyterians see salvation by grace and believe in
predestination, meaning that God has already chosen who he is saved and who is not. The
scriptures further affirm this. Lastly, Catholics believe in intermediaries such as the pope and
saints to act as conduits to speak with God. They pray to different saints and believe that the
Virgin Mary is a figure that requires adoration and sanctification because she is the mother of
Jesus.
These are essential distinctions that global managers need to be aware of when doing
business within Ireland. By not understanding that Pope Francis's word is highly regarded, global
managers could misspeak and insult the dominant religion in the area. This, of course, is highly
detrimental to ongoing relations and future negotiations. In the United States, we have a
multitude of religions, allowing for differences to be accepted. However, with Roman Catholics,
there is more of a strict foundation found within their religion. This can easily translate into the
business world, and a global manager could slip up and plan a meeting on a Sunday, not
knowing that Catholics attend Mass during this time. This would be an insult to Catholics by not
respecting their time of worship. So, understanding Catholicism's ins and outs, especially in
Ireland, is highly important.
Ethics
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Ethics differ between countries due to several factors, such as views, culture, and
upbringing. However, there seems to be no issue with women in the workforce in Ireland.
Traditional Irish women were seen as stay-at-home individuals in a more domesticated role.
Women were granted their civil rights in 1918, two years earlier than the United States of
America. Ireland is a very safe country for women; according to the book titled Ireland Women
in Culture, business, & travel Ireland has the lowest number of rapes and murders of women.
((2010). World Trade Press. Page 3) This is believed to be true because of the Roman Catholic
religion, which is the dominant religion, and thus, people are taught biblical values as children.
This isn’t to say there are no reported cases, but generally, the country is safe and boasts a great
ethical environment.
In 2013, President Higgins started an ethics initiative targeting the younger population,
challenging them to live ethically with their communities. This initiative is great because it gives
the younger population something to look up to. Often, younger individuals try to find their place
in society and could turn to the wrong place for guidance. However, having these initiatives in
place gives them guidelines on acting with their fellow citizens and those who visit.
Another initiative that the government of Ireland launched is the d for Business, Good for
the Community Ireland's National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility. This initiative has
four distinct cores: community, environment, marketplace, and workplace. Each pillar addresses
a different aspect of a citizen's life in Ireland. Having corporate social responsibility at the
government level reduces the amount of corruption within the country. This also enhances the
country's view when it comes to doing business. The government of Ireland wants to attract
growth opportunities so that the country can find a happy workforce that will increase worker
retention. These will build on each other to create a more unified country.
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In my research into corporate social responsibility for Ireland, I came across this article
titled Rebuilding Trust: Ireland’s CSR Plan in the Light of “Caritas in Veritate.” Which talks
about how the Irish population lost trust in the baking system during the 2008 financial crisis.
(Kearns, A. J. (2017) page 845) The vital thing to note is that the country took their guidance
from Pope Benedict XVI. Comparing the United States to Ireland. The US government does not
look towards any religious figure for inspiration or advice on critical topics within the country.
However, Ireland, a devout Roman Catholic country, looked at the teachings of Pope Benedict
XVI to come up with a solution for regaining lost trust. This could be why ethical standards are
so high and why criminal levels are so low. Their religious devotion to Catholicism and Mass
gives them a groundwork for being ethically sound.
Values and Attitudes
As stated, Ireland strongly believes in Roman Catholicism and has a positive attitude
toward teaching and passing on Catholic values to its children. This is especially true within their
school system. It seems that religion and school are not separated within the country. In the
United States, schools are not allowed to provide faith-based instructions. It is also frowned upon
for any teacher to speak openly about religion. However, in Ireland, the opposite is true. Most
Irish citizens want to pass on their religious values through the school system since this is where
they will spend most of their day.
In the article titled ‘I will do it, but religion is a very personal thing,’ teacher education
applicants’ attitudes towards teaching religion in Ireland discuss this. According to the article,
when questioning Irish parents about religion in school, they said, “If it is part of the school
ethos, then it is part of my job.” “Ireland is a religious Christian country, and I think religion
should be a part of education.” These statements show that parents are involved in what their
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children are learning within the country's school system. Ireland wants to ensure the performance
of its country's religion and seems to pass it on at every level, beginning with early childhood.
This issue clashes with another problem that most European countries are facing, and that
is immigration. In recent years, Muslims have considerably migrated to Western countries. In
2011, Syrian refugees began moving and relocating to other parts of the world. The Syrian Civil
War raging in the country prompted the mass migration. From 2014-2016, a million refugees
entered Europe seeking asylum due to the worsening conditions of their countries. Ireland was a
country that saw immigrants come into their country. Naturally, Ireland, being a Roman Catholic
church, caused strife within their country.
The country seems to resist change and individualism regarding other religions. Islam is a
religion that believes in Allah and the Koran. Muslims believe that Muhammad is their prophet,
and they think that he spoke with God and was his messenger who wrote the Koran and the five
pillars of faith for Islam. This directly contradicts Roman Catholicism, which believes in the
pope. The strife comes from Islam now starting to become a mainstream religion and thus
challenging the Irish identity of being devout Catholics.
This topic also deals with the role of genders and how women are viewed. In Ireland,
women can dress and express themselves as they please. They enjoy many freedoms granted by
the laws and constitution of Ireland. They can work and own businesses and report sexual
harassment within their workplace. But, Irish nationals are worried that due to the rise in Islamic
individuals and a challenge to their national identity as Catholics, they will soon begin to lose
what makes them an Irish country. In Islam, women are required to stay at home and live a
domesticated life and role. They must also obey their husbands without question and fully
conceal their bodies so no other men can see them. In Ireland, women tend to dress more
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conservatively, but they don’t follow Islamic standards. In the article titled Integrating Ireland's
Muslims, an Irish senator was asked about the Muslim population, and he said Muslims need to
accept the fact that the Catholic Church is a part of Irish culture and their constitution outlaws
the recognition of any other religion.
References
Ciciora, A. C. (2010). Integrating Ireland's Muslims: Attitudes of Muslim and Irish elites towards
value compatibility and the mainstreaming of Islam. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs,
30(2), 199-216. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2010.494071
Ireland women in culture, business, & travel (2nd ed.). (2010). World Trade Press.
Hope from the pope. (2015). Nature (London), 522(7557), 391-391.
https://doi.org/10.1038/522391a
Kearns, A. J. (2017). Rebuilding Trust: Ireland’s CSR Plan in the Light of “Caritas in Veritate.”
Journal of Business Ethics, 146(4), 845–857. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45022353
Murtagh, L., & Seoighe, A. (2022). An educational psychological provision in Irish‐medium
primary schools in Indigenous Irish language speaking communities (Gaeltacht): Views
of teachers and educational psychologists.8British Journal of Educational
Psychology,892(4), 1278-1294.Mhttps://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12499
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Ratzinger, J. C. (2007). Appendix: HOMILY PRO ELIGENDO ROMANO PONTIFICE.
Common Knowledge., 13(2–3), 451–455. https://doi.org/10.1215/0961754X-2007-016
Satterlee, C. B. (2023). International Business with Biblical Worldview. McGraw Hill Education.
Second Edition.
Scardigno, R., Papapicco, C., Luccarelli, V., Zagaria, A. E., Mininni, G., & D'Errico, F. (2021).
The humble charisma of a white-dressed man in a desert place: Pope Francis'
communicative style in the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 683259-
683259. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683259
