Interpersonal

Abstract

Much about quality of life in Ireland and the expectations of the information-sector workplace can be explained by considering the pivotal role of interpersonal relations in Irish culture. The term interpersonal embodies several cultural traits. It refers to the easygoing air exhibited by workers, a strong emphasis placed on communication skills, and a genuine interest in and concern for others. If you add to this mix the small size of the society and landmass, a sense of comfortable intimacy results. I wanted to learn more about this dimension of Irish society: the desire to interact with others, to be helpful and friendly, the need to get on with people. I wanted to learn how important it was in Irish society and how it influenced the workplace. What I found was that the focus on interpersonal relations explained much of what I found to be distinctive about the information-sector workplace in Ireland.