Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity

1. Fundaments

   • High/Low Context way of communicating
     • Relation Centered
       • 1)Asian, 2)Latin American, 3)Middle Eastern
         • High Context
           • Non verbal
             • Save face
             • Maintain social harmony
             • Convey meaning
           • In Support: Don Locke
           • In Support: Puerto Ricans
     • Task Centered
       • 1) European, 2) Scandinavian, 3) North American
         • Low context
           • Verbal, Logical and clear
             • Thoughts
             • Ideas
             • Feelings
   • Individualism
     • Relation Centered
       • 1) Asian 2) Latin American 3) Middle Eastern
         • Collectivist culture
           • tight social frameworks
           • welfare of the organization is important
           • Disregard personal sucesss
           • Ex :Pepsi Co.
     • Task Centered
       • 1) European 2) Scandinavian 3) North American
         • Individualistic culture
           • own interests
           • deal of freedom
           • personal success.
   • Power distance
     • Relation Centered
       • 1) Asian, 2) Latin American, 3) Middle Eastern
         • High power distance
           • power is distributed unequally
             • Status
             • Rank
             • respect those in high positions
     • Task Centered
       • European Scandinavian North American
         • Low power distance
           • downplay differences in power
           • Employees are more comfortable approaching and challenging their superiors
           • difficult to work together
   • Uncertainty Avoidance
     • Relation Centered
       • Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern
         • Low
           • value tradition and formal rules
           • less tolerance for different ideas
     • Task Centered
       • European Scandinavian North American
         • High
           • Take risks
           • tolerant of behavior that differs from the norm
   • Masculinity
     • Relation Centered
       • Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern
         • masculine
           • gender roles are highly differentiated
           • focus on team competence
             • training
             • use of up-to-date methods
           • highly concerned with individual success:
             • responsible jobs
             • better training
     • Task Centered
       • European Scandinavian North American
         • feminine
           • concerned about members’ feelings
           • gender roles are more similar
           • focus more on collective concerns
             • cooperative problem solving,
             • maintaining a friendly atmosphere
             • good physical working conditions
   • Future Orientation
     • Relation Centered
       • Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern
         • long-term orientation
           • work on long-range goals
           • work hard
     • Task Centered
       • European Scandinavian North American
         • short-term orientation
           • look for quick payoffs
           • consider short-term goals

2. Intercultural Competence

   • Become Culturally Literate
   • Develop Constructive Attitudes
     • View Diversity as an Opportunity
     • Avoid Ethnocentrism
   • Adapt Your Behavior
     • Don’t Condescend
     • Create Dialogue

3. Ethical Issues

   • Ways of Respnding
     • Avoiding
     • Accommodating
     • Forcing
     • Educating–Persuading
     • Negotiating–Compromising
     • Collaboration–Problem Solving
   • Bribes/ Payoffs
   • Favoritism
   • Solution
     • Universal Code
       • Caux Round Table Principles for Business
         • A code Developed by business leaders in Japan, Europe, and the United States
         • ethics based on ideals from both East Asia and the West
         • Communication-related principles
           • treating all employees with honesty and dignity
           • listening to employee suggestions
           • dishonest means of acquiring commercial information
           • avoiding industrial espionage
           • dealing with all customers fairly
           • avoiding discriminatory practices
   • Ask questions from yourself :make the best possible decision
     • How morally significant is this situation?
     • Is there home culture consensus regarding the issue?