CULTURAL DIVERSITY

1
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
2
Structure of Presentation

• 1.0 What is Culture?
• 2.0 Understanding Cultural Differences
• 3.0 Dealing with Cultural Differences

3
1.0 What is Culture - definition

• Culture is a shared system of
• Meanings
• Beliefs
• Values
• Behaviours
• through which experience is interpreted and
  carried out

4
Culture is

• Relative
• Learned
• Taught
• Changes over time
• Complex responsive process

5

• A set of learned behaviors, values, beliefs and
  patterns of interaction shared by a group of
  people who tend to share historical and
  geographical proximity.
• Culture is everything that people have, think,
  and do as members of their society.
• One's own culture provides the "lens" through
  which we view the world...
• In other words, culture is central to what we
  see, how we make sense of what we see, and how we
  express ourselves.

6
THE LEVELS OF CULTURE
7
Forces Shaping Individual Culture
Urbanisation
Education
Nationalism
Colonisation
Migration
Industrialisation
Personal Culture
Minority Experience
Social background
Values World-views Beliefs Behaviours
Cross-cultural Adjustments
Ethnic background
Profession
Religion
Gender
Language
8
2.0 Understanding cultural differences

1. Identify Common Ground / background
2. Identify barriers
3. Remove communication barriers
4. Adapt your communication style

Language Perceptual Mental framework
9
Culture in Operations
10
2.0 Understanding Cultural Differences
Typologies of cultures

• Task oriented
• People Oriented
• Listener Oriented

11
Task Oriented Cultures

• Anglo American / German
• Data / Facts / Numbers / Individuals
• Style of communication CBS (Clear Brief
  Sincere), no overlapping, topic first

A
B
12
Multitask Oriented Cultures

• Mediterranean / Middle east
• People oriented / courtesies
• Style of communication
• Comment - topic / overlapping

A
B
13
Listener Oriented Cultures

• Far East / Finnic
• Collectivism / community /Spirituality
• Style of communication
• Long pauses / meditation

A
B
14
Which Communication Style?

• Power P Distance D
• Deferential (-P D) diplomacy
• Solidarity (-P -D) business
• Hierarchical (P -/D) power differ.
• Involvement VS independence
• strategies

15
Roots of Diversity

• Nationalism
• Religion
• Ethnic Mixtures
• Customs Habits
• Logic

16
Nationalism

• Nationalism has many common factors
• RACE superiority of ethnic background
• COUNTRY borders geography
• LANGUAGE priority of linguistic kinship
• RELIGION deep religious faith
• CULTURE common values

17
Resurgence of Nationalism

• Often due to the collapse of empires or
  ideologies.
• Can be either a good thing or a bad thing

18
Understanding Cultural Differences

• Religion
• Religion still an important place in many
  societies
• Knowledge of religion of host nation very
  important
• Respect

19
Collapse of law order can lead to
20
3.0 Dealing with Cultural Differences

• Building Cultural Awareness
• Understand your own culture
• Understand and accept logic of other cultural
  frameworks

21

3.0 Dealing with Cultural Differences

• Communication
• Language is culture specific
• Avoid use of idiomatic expressions
• Careful with humour

22
Dealing with Cultural Differences

• Family and Gender
• Elders are highly respected in some cultures
• Understand family ties
• Different gender beliefs and views

23
Logic

• The logic of other cultures may not be what we
  are accustomed to
• We have to try to understand their logic and
  apply it for our own needs

24
Special Considerations

• Alcohol
• Male ? Female
• Status
• Recognize Friction and Stress
• Military v Civilian
• The Generation Gap

25
To avoidbackground

• Stereotypes
• Prejudice
• Ethno-centric perspectives

26
Host Countrys Culture

• Knowledge of history, culture, customs and
  traditions
• Background
• Expectations

27
Dealing with Cultural Differences

• Body Language
• Gesture/body language have different meanings
• Smile will never be misunderstood
• Polite handshake is accepted in most cultures

28
Eating habits

• Utensils vs non-utensils
• Common plates
• Types of food
• Beef, pork, fish
• Religious reasons
• Meal times

29
Cultural Shock

• Unfamiliar
• Language
• Climate
• Currency
• Road signs
• Colleagues
• Adaptation process

30
The Adaptation Stages

• Honeymoon
• Initial confrontation
• Adjustment crisis
• Recovery

31
Adaptation Stages

• Honeymoon
• First Exciting Contact with the Culture
• Observe
• Excitement, curiosity, slight concern
• Initial Confrontation
• First intensive feelings
• Attempt to solve problems in familiar ways
• Surprise, confusion mystified about others
  behaviours

32
Adaptation Stages

• Adjustment Crisis
• Problems intensify
• Some experimentation with new behaviours
• Frustration, anger, confusion about own identity
• Recovery
• Sense of belonging to culture emerges
• New strategies to help one function effectively
• The culture is understandable, many aspects of
  the new culture are enjoyable.

33
Cultural Intelligence
Conclusion

• Open-minded

• Benefit from different cultures

34
Develop Cultural Knowledge
Conclusions
35
Thesis
Antithesis
Synthesis

• Immanuel Kant

You do not have to like or accept different
behaviour, but try to understand it
36
(No Transcript)
37
Summary

• Avoid conflicts due to misperception and make a
  positive impression when dealing with the host
  culture
• Prepare yourself ahead of time prior to
  deployment this will give you more credibility
  and respect
• Follow the rules (written or not) of the host
  country
• Make the effort, it will be worth it in the long
  run!!!

38
Cultural Diversities

• If you are
• Humble, Respectful and Friendly
• you will always be fine

39
in business you dont get what you deserveYou
get what you negotiate!