Masaryk Uni, Brno INTERCULTURAL MANAGEMENT 3 Further conceptual input: More key concepts Derek Mainwaring Debate •Some people say that cross-cultural studies are just stereotyping people and cultures………………………. •……well let’s look at the notion of stereotypes……and the idea that « everybody’s the same the world over »… Part One: Stereotypes lutetia Heaven is a place where…. •The chefs are….French •The mechanics are….German •The police are….British •The lovers are….Italian •And everything is organisd by….the Swiss MC900424492[1] Hell is a place where…. •The chefs are…. •The mechanics are…. •The lovers are…. •The police are…. •And everything is organised by…. MC900436121[1] Stereotypes C:\Users\crysstefa\Pictures\europe-according-to-france-716x477.jpg http://alphadesigner.com/art-store/europe-according-to-france-print/ Stereotypes C:\Users\crysstefa\Pictures\europe-according-to-switzerland-716x477.jpg http://alphadesigner.com/art-store/europe-according-to-switzerland-print/ Stereotypes So, what can we say about Stereotypes? Stereotypes are inevitable …… •…to help classify or organise information fruits are sweet, Scandinavians have blonde hair •…to help explain the unusual/different and reassure myself what a strange way to conduct a meeting! •…to deal with uncertainty it must be English humour! Stereotypes are inevitable …… •to anticipate the behaviour of others kids always like chocolate We must be on time for the German visitors •…to define oneself, in opposition to others These youngsters can’t live without cellphones I don’t need to be on time , she’s Costa Rican BUT they are dangerous because… •…they simplify and over-generalise tomatoes and avocados are fruit too Scandinavians – blonde hair – Bjork? •…they confirm prejudices See, I told you so, they’re all the same •…they are ethnocentric and deny the value of otherness Meetings are always like this here – pointless! Example: Where is this? other_bosphorus_bridge 800px-Skyline_of_Maslak_in_Istanbul_on_June_23_2005 Where is this? Where is this? 99ekgroep3 DonerWChef Sans titre So, how to deal with stereotypes •Recognise them! •Analyse them - there may be some « truth » in them, however incomplete •Challenge them – esp. the « All x are y » type •But…. accept that they exist! •Move on…………………….. Strategy: the ORID learning loop OBSERVE INVESTIGATE DEVELOP REFLECT Based on Mattock,1999 DM, 2005 Example •OBSERVE – Japanese gift wrapping, wrapping can be more beautiful than gift •REFLECT – Importance of appearances… Ceremony/ritual… Imp. of paper •INVESTIGATE – Japan is a very crowded island – no room for trees •DEVELOP – If paper is precious this adds to the ritual imp. of business cards Further examples 1 •Learning about others: observations Iceland – road-building gangs composed almost entirely of schoolchildren reflect…..investigate….develop…. Guatemala – Mayan infants always have head covered………….. Further examples 2 •Learning about self when in contact with others: example: a Brit in France Lunch-time…… compromise Meetings…..adapt Food culture…..integrate Intercultural Management 1 CULTURAL AWARENESS vs. COMPETENCE Awareness Competence Intercultural Management 1 Intercultural Awareness •See/understand/explain differences •Know about cultural difference and… •Anticipate potential problems •Self-awareness •Essentially this is knowledge Intercultural Management 1 Intercultural Competence •Intercultural mindset: awareness of cultural diversity (expressed through different communication styles) Plus….. •Intercultural skill set: knowledge of cultural frameworks and ways to work with them – language skills, flexibility, openness, resilience, autonomy, transparency, etc. Plus…. •Intercultural sensitivity: ability to experience cultural difference – empathy •Essentially these are skills Intercultural Management 1 CULTURAL AWARENESS vs. COMPETENCE Awareness Competence See but don’t empathise Just do it! Notice that all the descriptions mentioned friendliness. But BEWARE Cultural relativism!!!! You can « excuse » everything by saying: « oh well, it’s cultural » Examples? Intercultural Management 1 Reminder: Social sciences work with generalisations/tendencies Remember the Debate •We’ve looked at the « inevitability » of some forms of stereotyping… •But •…what about the idea that: « everybody’s the same the world over »…??? Maslow’s pyramid All humans have the same needs…. So, yes we are all the same BUT…. Cultural similarities and differences •The way we express and recognise those needs is sometimes different…. Germany China Sunday on the street Socialising Germany China Giving your opinion Germany China Concepts outlined by Trompenaars •Universal vs. Particular •Individual vs. Collective •Neutral vs. Emotional •Specific vs. Diffuse •Achievement vs. Ascription •Internal vs. External control Universal vs. Particular •Rules •Trust = one who honours word or contract •Only one truth or reality •A deal is a deal •« We can’t make exceptions » •Relationships •Trust = one who honours changing sutuations •Several perspectives on reality •Relationships evolve •« He/she is a special case » Examples Germany: the red traffic light bd07304_ The notion & tolerance of « cheating » “I” vs “We” Cultures j0302953 Versus • “I identity; Individual goals • Ties between individuals are loose “The American dream” “Amer-I-can” • “We” identity; group goals • Integrated into strong, cohesive groups “The pig that squeals goes to market” Individual vs. Collective “I” versus “We” Cultures j0302953 Examples United States Australia United Kingdom Canada Netherlands New Zealand Sweden France Germany Examples Guatemala Ecuador Panama Indonesia Pakistan Taiwan China Japan West/East African countries Neutral vs Emotional •Do not reveal what they are thinking/feeling •Cool and self-possessed conduct admired •Physical contact, gestures, expressions are limited •Reveal thoughts & feelings verbally & non-verbally •Heated, vital, animated conduct admired •Touching, gesturing & dramatic expressions Emotionally Restrained Communication Style • Emotions are discredited as unprofessional • Trust is developed and credibility developed through emotional suppression • Sensitive to hurting feelings of others Emotionally Expressive Communication Style j0091577[1] • Emotions are an indicator of the importance of the matter • Trust and emotional commitment is developed and credibility established through emotions Verbal Styles 1 a. b. a. b. a. b. Verbal Styles 2 Self-effacement •Emphasizes the importance of humbling oneself •Displays the use of self-deprecation concerning one’s efforts or performance Ex: UK Self-enhancement •Emphasizes the importance of one’s accomplishments and achievements Ex: USA Specific vs. Diffuse •Direct communication •Role-dependent behaviour •Public & private kept separate •Management by objectives (MbO) •Indirect comm’n. •Person or context dependent behaviour •Public & private interact •Management by process (e.g. TQM) Public Versus Private Space, Communication, and Interaction United States Many other countries Lewin’s circles > > Private car kitchen Golf club Private Many activities in « public » sphere Many activities in « private » sphere public Discomfort Zone Public and Private Types private private Verbal Styles 3 Person-oriented •Role not important •Informality – no apparent link between appearance and status •Individual-centered •Verbal style less indicative of competence Status-oriented •Role-centered – WHO you are •Formality – in dress, speech codes (tu/vous, Du/Sie etc.), titles (Herr Doktor, Doktor) •Emphasizes hierarchy and deference to authority •Use of proper verbal style (context-dependent) Achievement vs Ascription •Respect based on knowledge & skills •Skills or experience-based CV •Judged by what done - accomplishments •Performance related pay effective •Respect based on seniority •Background or title-based CV •Judged by status (gender, age, connections) •Top-down rewards effective The interesting case of France •Achievement-oriented to a certain level •Entrance to selective education on merit •The best educational institutions are state-owned •Ascription-oriented thereafter •« X-Mines » still opens doors •CV –it’s not so much what you have done but which school you went to. Relationship to Nature: Internal versus External Control Internal Control Nature as a mechanism Dominance over nature External Control Nature as an organism Subjugation to nature Nature: the garden English garden French garden Japanese Zen garden Internal versus External Control •What happens to me is my own doing. Success = being in control OR •Things can be controlled from the outside. Success = being in harmony Internal versus External Control j0302953 Some Values U.S. Americans Live By Friendly and informal relationships I am important and have control over my environment Rules Linear time orientation Independence Problem-solving attitude Change is positive Present Future Achievement Initiative Task/action orientation Bennett’s model of Intercultural sensitivity (1993) 6 stages: DENIAL DEFENCE IMITATION ACCEPTANCE ADAPTATION INTEGRATION