Multiculturalism

1. Multiculturalism A Very Brief Introduction to Engaging with People from Other Cultures

2. In an ideal world… • the policemen would be English, • the car mechanics would be German, • the cooks would be French, • the innkeepers would be Swiss, • and the lovers would be Italian.

3. In a living hell… • the policemen would be German, • the car mechanics would be French, • the cooks would be English, • the innkeepers would be Italian, • and the lovers would be Swiss.

4. Multicultural Conflicts People from different cultures have different… • ways of viewing the world; • ways of dressing; • ways of expressing personality; • ideas about what is good.

5. In Short, Don’t Be This Guy http://www.aperfectworld.org/cartoons/flagdesecration.png

6. International Perceptions of Americans • Europe & especially England: "Americans are stupid and unsubtle. And they are fat and bad dressers." • Finland: "Americans always want to say your name: 'That's a nice tie, Mikko. Hi Mikko, how are you Mikko?'" • Indian: "Americans are always in a hurry. Just watch the way they walk down the street." • Kenyan: "Americans are distant. They are not really close to other people -- even other Americans." • Turkey: "Once we were out in a rural area in the middle of nowhere and saw an American come to a stop sign. Though he could see in both directions for miles, and there was no traffic, he still stopped!"

7. International Perceptions of Americans • Colombia: "In the United States, they think that life is only work." • Indonesia: "In the United States everything has to be talked about and analyzed. Even the littlest thing has to be 'Why, why, why?'." • Ethiopia: "The American is very explicit. He wants a 'yes' or 'no.' If someone tries to speak figuratively, the American is confused." • Iran: "The first time my American professor told me 'I don't know, I will have to look it up,' I was shocked. I asked myself, 'Why is he teaching me?'"

8. Shaking hands Men and women together in a photo Woman wearing a green beret Men holding hands Taking a telephone message Photo of a person in a wheelchair White dress Crossing legs A clerk giving change Emailing work group members Communication Breakdowns

9. Cultural Dimensions • High Context vs. Low Context • Monochronic vs. Polychronic • Future- vs. Present- vs. Past-Oriented • Quantity of Time • Power Distance • Individualism vs. Collectivism

10. High/Low Context • In a Low Context culture… • information is fully spelled out; • people depend on what is actually said or written. • In a High Context culture… • communicators assume common knowledge and views; • information is implicit or communicated indirectly; • it’s the listener’s responsibility to keep up their knowledge base and remain plugged into informal networks.

11. High/Low Context Problems • Low Context cultures… • can seem offensively blunt; • are not known for ability to tolerate or understand diversity. • High Context cultures… • can seem secretive, devious, and stingy with information; • are vulnerable to communication breakdowns from assuming too much shared understanding.

12. What are some High Context cultures? What are some Low Context cultures? Where does your culture fit?

13. Monochronic/Polychronic • In a Monochronic culture… • people do just one thing at a time; • there is a sense of appropriate times and places for everything; • people do not value interruptions. • In a Polychronic culture… • people do multiple things at the same time; • workers don’t mind interruptions.

14. What are some Monochronic cultures? What are some Polychronic cultures? Where does your culture fit?

15. Future/Present/Past Oriented • Past-Oriented cultures… • focus on traditional values and ways of doing things; • tend to be conservative in management. • Present-Oriented cultures… • see the past as passed and the future as uncertain; • prefer short-term benefits. • Future-Oriented cultures… • have a great deal of optimism about the future; • view management as a matter of planning, doing, and controlling.

16. What are some Past-Oriented cultures? What are some Future-Oriented cultures? What are some Present-Oriented cultures? Where does your culture fit?

17. Quantity of Time • In a Time-Limited culture… • time is seen as a valuable resource; • wasting time is insulting or a sign of power. • In a Time-Plentiful culture… • time appears endless or cyclical; • people tend to rely on relationships for conducting business.

18. What are some Time-Limited cultures? What are some Time-Plentiful cultures? Where does your culture fit?

19. Power Distance • In a High Power-Distant culture… • employees bypassing superiors is seen as insubordination; • superiors do not interact as social equals with subordinates. • In a Low Power-Distant culture… • employees bypassing supervisors is acceptable; • superiors and subordinates interact socially as equals.

20. What are some High Power-Distant cultures? What are some Low Power-Distant cultures? Where does your culture fit?

21. Individualism/Collectivism I • In an Individualist culture… • individual uniqueness and self-determination are valued; • showing initiative and working well independently is admired. • In a Collectivist culture… • people are expected to identify with and work well in groups; • groups protect people in exchange for loyalty and compliance.

22. Individualism/Collectivism II • The paradox: • individualist cultures tend to believe that there universal values exist; • collectivist cultures tend to accept that different groups have different values.

23. What are some Individualist cultures? What are some Collectivist cultures? Where does your culture fit?

24. Real-World Problems I You greet your Austrian client. This is the eighth time you have met in person over the last four months, and you have eaten dinner together each time. He calls you Herr Smith. (“Herr” is German for “Mr.”) • What is your impression? Why?

25. Real-World Problems II A Japanese businessman wants to tell his Norwegian client that he is uninterested in a particular sale. So the Japanese man says, "That will be very difficult." The Norwegian eagerly asks how she can help. The Japanese man is mystified. • What went wrong? Why?

26. Real-World Problems III A Canadian meets with a high-ranking official in Kuwait. The meeting is not held in a closed office and is constantly interrupted. The Canadian is annoyed and wonders if he's being taken seriously. • What went wrong? Why?

27. Real-World Problems IV A software engineer from Google visits the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA, for a job interview and asks about Microsoft’s personal research time policy. The Microsoft interviewer is mystified. What is the conflict, and where did it come from?

28. Thanks to Kevin Garrison for providing the original PowerPoint.