Chapter 9 DuBrin

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Chapter 9 (DuBrin)

• Developing Cross Cultural Competence

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Objectives

• Explain some of the major ways in which cultures
  differ from one another

• Be sensitive to potential cultural bloopers

• Pinpoint barriers to cross-cultural understanding

• Describe techniques for improving cross-cultural
  relations

• Be prepared to overcome cross-cultural
  communication barriers

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Cultural Interactions you can count on.

• Minority groups are growing 7 times faster than
  the present majority population
• Disabled people are joining the workforce
• More trade with other countries.

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Your Career Success

• Being able to work with people from other
  countries
• Being able to work outside your own country
• Being able to work with a culturally diverse
  customer base

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Individualism versus collectivism

• Self versus organizational needs?
• Self versus the team?
• What cultures might value individualism?
• What cultures might value collectivism?

6
Acceptance of Power and Authority

• Acceptance of a power hierarchy.
• Characterized by definite levels of power
• Power is concentrated at the top
• What cultures might have a greater acceptance of
  power and authority?
• What cultures might be more likely to question or
  challenge authority?
• Read about Jacques Ellul

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Materialism versus concern for others.

• Assertiveness and acquisition of wealth.
• Devil take the hindmost.
• What is mine is mine.
• I did it my way.
• How would you rate the USA?
• Charities
• Social programs
• Progressive income tax

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Formality versus informality

• Tradition
• Ceremony
• Social Rules
• Deference to Rank and Title

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Sense of Urgency

• Strong time orientation
• Time is a scarce resource.
• Time is money
• Deadlines

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High-context versus Low-context

• Body language
• Relationship orientation versus strictly business
  orientation.

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Cultural Clashes

• Religious holidays
• Heterosexual bias

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Perceptual Expectations

• Predisposition to discriminate
• Stereotyping, profiling
• Positive versus Negative expectations
• What expectations do you suppose another culture
  might have concerning you?

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Ethnocentrism

• Everything about ones own culture is the best.
• What about the American (USA) culture might we
  believe is superior to any other culture?
• Should our concept of freedom be imposed by force
  on other people?

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Intergroup versus Interpersonal

• Does our approach fit the person or the persons
  classification?
• Do we tend to treat all faculty members alike?
• Do we tend to treat all Middle-Easterners alike?
• At what point in a relationship does group
  membership seem insignificant?

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Stereotypes in Intergroup Relations

• Selecting information that fits the stereotype.
• Rejecting real information that may be
  inconsistent to our expectations.

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Different Norms and Codes of Conduct

• Compare the typical and socially accepted
  behaviors seen in the USA with those known to
  exist in Iraq.
• Compare our norms with norms of other cultures.

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Developing Cross-Cultural Sensitivity

• Learn about differences and pay attention to
  them.
• When in Rome do as the Romans do.

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Respect Everyone

• Can you believe that other cultures are equally
  as good as yours?
• Respect converts to attitudes
• Listen to what people have to say.

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Value Cultural Differences

• Perceive people from other cultures as different
  but equally good.
• Enjoy aspects of other cultures.
• For WASPs try KWANZAA , Rosh Hashana and Yom
  Kipur, Ramadan

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Minimize Cultural Differences

• Observe and learn
• Learn a second language.
• Be prepared for individual or clannish
  differences within a culture
• Be ready for feedback.

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Participate in Cultural Training

• Some companies provide training to employees. US
  Govt. does.
• Negotiating styles
• Money matter discussions
• Body language
• Business etiquette
• Design preferences

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Participate in Diversity Training

• Leads to workplace harmony
• Minimizes open expressions of racism and sexism.
• Empathy for all people
• See Exhibit 9-2 The diversity Umbrella

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Overcoming Cultural Communication Barriers

• Be alert to cultural differences in customs and
  behavior
• Use straightforward language and speak slowly and
  clearly
• Observe cultural differences in etiquette
• Be sensitive to non-verbal communication
• Judge people on their merits
• Get feedback for understanding, not agreement