Cross cultural differences: Americans VS Thai in working and social culture.

Abstract

Thailand has more and more foreign enterprises in the country for trade and industry. Thai people are hired to work with foreigners in these organizations so people with different culture will have to work together for the output of the companies. Difference in culture causes problems in both efficiency and working environment. This study is for finding the cross cultural differences in working and social culture between Thais and Americans in order to find out the cause that obstruct the best performance outcome and the good working atmosphere of the multi-national and Thai- American organizations. This basic knowledge could help to formulate a training course for preparing and improving people with these two different cultures to work together better in terms of performance and having good friendship. The in-depth interview method was applied in this study to get maximum output from the experience of the Thais and Americans working or having experience working with people of these different cultures in the organization. It was found from the study that Thais are comparatively of indirectness, collectivism, particularism, femininity, and short term orientation and both short term and long term orientation in result and long term orientation in relationship, while Americans are comparatively of directness, individualism, universalism, masculinity, and short term in relationship and long term orientation and both short term and long term orientation in relationship. It was also found that in order to have a better performance organization; the better value working culture should be kept while compromising with the other culture. These approach should be researched and recorded and be applied for the Thai-American organization. If this approach could be applied successfully, the Thai-American organizations especially the multi-national organizations, in Thailand could increase their performance and having a better working environment. Key words: Cross Cultural Differences/ Cultural Conflict/ Management Environment/ Different Culture Environment/ Multi-culture