Multiculturalism in Corporate America

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Multiculturalism in Corporate America

• A New General Education Experience

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What We AreFrom Managing Cultural Differences,
Elsevier Publishers, 6e
The American Way The Americans and the Japanese
decided to engage in a competitive boat race.
Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their
peak performance. On the big day they both felt
ready. The Japanese won by a mile. Afterward,
the American team was discouraged by the loss.
Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that
the reason for the crushing defeat had to be
found, so a consulting firm was hired to
investigate the problem and recommend corrective
action.
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The Consultant's Findings

• The Japanese team
• 8 people rowing
• 1 person steering
• The American team
• 1 person rowing
• 8 people steering.
• Conclusion
• Too many people were steering and not enough were
  rowing on the American team.

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Strategy

• So, as the race day neared again the following
  year, the American team's management structure
  was completely
• reorganized. The new structure
• 4 steering managers
• 3 area steering managers
• 1 staff steering manager
• a new performance review system for the person
  rowing the boat to provide work incentive.
• Result
• The next year the Japanese won by two miles!

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In the End. . . .
Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the
rower for poor performance and gave the
managers a bonus for discovering the problem.
!!
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Times Are Changing

• Global forces have created a need for change.
• Approaches/strengths that made us successful in
  the past may not be the approaches/strengths that
  will make us successful in the future.
• One cannot change the winds, but one can adjust
  the sails and learn to be a more skillful sailor.
  

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Project Creation

• Advisory Committee Brainstorming Session
• Business/Industry Statewide Collaborative in
  Business and Computer Information Systems
• Need to increase interest in international
  business programs through marketing, short
  courses, curriculum infusion
• Bay Area Consortium Mini-grant
• Developed a general education course that
  addresses the issues of diversity in business

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Multiculturalism in Corporate America

• Understanding culture in the context of business
  operations
• Focus on American cultures to meet the GE
  requirements of the college and University of
  California and California State University
  transfer requirements
• Primary focus to understand self and develop a
  sensitivity and appreciation of others from
  diverse backgrounds.

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Others Are UsDemographic Realities in the US
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Multiculturalism A peaceful place for cultural
beliefs and values

• A basic framework through which one views the
  world as a community of people.
• A healthy environment where people respect each
  other regardless of differences and everyone is
  valued for their contribution.
• The means of collaborative participation among
  multiple cultures in one social system toward a
  meaningful achievement for all.
• Parhizger, 2002

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The Bicultural Village

• We have become a bicultural society where our
  employees live in two cultures and operate in two
  cultures.
• The challenge?
• Creating an environment that appreciates and
  capitalizes on the advantages derived from
  diversity.

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Low Context/High Context CulturesIn US
Corporations

• Low High
• North Americans Latin
• Germans African
• Swiss Native American Japanese

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Systems of Information

• Low Context High Context
• Narrow Expertise Well informed beyond
  expertise
• Compartmentalized Extensive networks
• Information overload Accustomed to
  interruptions
• Rigid adherence to schedules Relationships over
  schedules

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Why This Makes Good Sense

• We have no choice
• Competition for talent
• Productivity
• Market demands
• Changing Environment
• Good management

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Unity and Development

• The union of differences is the basic foundation
  to generate new ideas.
• Unity is a source of
• development.

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Power of Differences

• Understanding, appreciating, and incorporating
  differences will generate creativity and wisdom

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Self Exploration

• Edward T. Hall, Ph.D.

"When you work with another culture, it
is important to first learn about yourself."
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Multiculturalism in Corporate AmericaNew Course
to Address the New Business Environment

• Identify common traits, practices, traditions,
  beliefs, values, and orientations of own culture
  and that of two other American cultures.
• Appreciate the issues associated with cultural in
  human social and commercial interactions.
• Define ethical dimensions of communicating within
  and among other cultures.

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Multiculturalism in Corporate AmericaNew Course
to Address the New Business Environment

• Explain how bias and prejudice can impede
  productive work.
• Demonstrate verbal and nonverbal communication
  methods that show an understanding of cultural
  orientation.
• Recognize, understand, and acknowledge the
  identity, experience, and position of a
  culturally different person in the work
  environment.
• Demonstrate effective work strategies that
  embrace the power of diversity in corporate
  America.

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Instructional Strategies

• Lecture
• Videos
• Case studies
• Cultural research
• Guest speakers
• Role-playing
• Team projects

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Summary www.calbusinessed.org