"Surviving in a Multicultural World" Intercultural Competence ...
"Surviving in a Multicultural World" Intercultural Competence ...
"Surviving in a Multicultural World" Intercultural Competence ...
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"<strong>Surviv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> a <strong>Multicultural</strong> World"<br />
<strong>Intercultural</strong> <strong>Competence</strong> Build<strong>in</strong>g for Eng<strong>in</strong>eers<br />
Gabriele Abermann<br />
Salzburg University of Applied Sciences<br />
IFME Vorarlberg November 2007
Agenda<br />
<strong>Intercultural</strong> Communication at ITS – Overall Objective<br />
Curriculum Integration<br />
Pool Project<br />
Skills Project<br />
2
FHS Brief<br />
Core competencies <strong>in</strong><br />
Information technologies<br />
Media and design<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess and tourism<br />
Wood and biogene technologies<br />
Health care and social work<br />
Founded <strong>in</strong> 1995<br />
~ 2000 students<br />
Excellent <strong>in</strong>dustry network<br />
Regionally rooted – <strong>in</strong>ternationally active
ICC at ITS<br />
Prepare eng<strong>in</strong>eers for future workplace<br />
Prepare eng<strong>in</strong>eers for mult<strong>in</strong>ational team work<br />
Sensitise eng<strong>in</strong>eers to cultural differences<br />
Provide eng<strong>in</strong>eers with basic <strong>in</strong>tercultural competence<br />
Enhance personality development<br />
Enhance <strong>in</strong>terpersonal competence<br />
Enhance communication skills<br />
4
Curriculum Integration<br />
14- hour blocked course <strong>in</strong> 7th semester<br />
Cooperation with British colleague <strong>in</strong> Switzerland<br />
Theory <strong>in</strong>put + hands-on tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Aspects covered<br />
-Def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>ition of culture / <strong>in</strong>tercultural communication<br />
-Communication and negotiation styles<br />
-Body language<br />
-Time relationships<br />
-Games and Simulations<br />
5
Pool Project<br />
Leonardo DaV<strong>in</strong>ciII Pilot Project 2004-2007<br />
10 partners from 7 countries<br />
AT, ES, ET, FI, IE, LT, RO<br />
Virtual mult<strong>in</strong>ational project environment<br />
Impact of virtual collaboration<br />
Plann<strong>in</strong>g and documentation<br />
Quality assurance<br />
<strong>Intercultural</strong> competence<br />
Project with<strong>in</strong> project: transnational student project as pilot<br />
Products: Curriculum and handbook<br />
6
SKILLS Project<br />
Leonardo DaV<strong>in</strong>ciII Mobility Project 2006 -2008<br />
Student placements <strong>in</strong><br />
DE, BG, ES, FR, IT, IE, HU, LT, RO<br />
Sensitise students to issues of culture at workplace<br />
Sensitise students to potential areas of conflict<br />
Raise student awareness of host culture vs organisational<br />
culture<br />
Provide basic theoretical framework as reference<br />
Provide some practical tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Stimulate self-reflective and observation abilities<br />
7
Instruments
Theory Input – Hofstede‘s Cultural Dimensions<br />
Symbols - Heroes – Rituals – Values<br />
Power Distance Index (PDI)<br />
Individualism Index (IDV)<br />
Mascul<strong>in</strong>ity Index (MAS)<br />
Uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty Avoidance Index (UAI)<br />
Long-term Orientation (LTO)<br />
Hofstede, Geert and Jan Gert Hofstede. Cultures and Organisations. Software of the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>d.Third Millenium Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2004.<br />
9
Manifestations of Culture:<br />
The Onion / The Iceberg<br />
• Symbols<br />
words, gestures, pictures, objects<br />
dress, hair styles, flags, status symbols …<br />
• Heroes<br />
persons, with highly prized characteristics<br />
• Rituals<br />
ways of greet<strong>in</strong>g, social / religious ceremonies<br />
discourse – specific language usage<br />
• Values<br />
broad tendencies to prefer certa<strong>in</strong> states<br />
of affairs over others<br />
P V<br />
R I<br />
A S<br />
C I<br />
T B<br />
I L<br />
C E<br />
E<br />
S<br />
INVISIBLE<br />
10
Cultural Dimension 1:<br />
Power Distance Index (PDI)<br />
Informs about dependence relationships <strong>in</strong> a country<br />
“… is the extent to which the less powerful members of<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions and organizations with<strong>in</strong> a country expect<br />
and accept that power is distributed unequally.”<br />
11
Individualism Index (IDV)<br />
Collectivist<br />
extended families protection <strong>in</strong><br />
exchange for loyalty<br />
Children learn to th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong> terms<br />
of “we”<br />
Harmony – avoidance of<br />
confrontations<br />
Predeterm<strong>in</strong>ed friendships<br />
Resources should be shared<br />
with relatives<br />
High- context communication<br />
Trespass<strong>in</strong>g leads to shame and<br />
loss of face for self and<br />
group<br />
Individualist<br />
Nuclear families – everybody<br />
responsible for himself<br />
Children learn to th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong><br />
terms of “I”<br />
Open expression of op<strong>in</strong>ion<br />
Voluntary friendships.<br />
Individual ownerships of<br />
resources.<br />
Low-context communication.<br />
Trespass<strong>in</strong>g leads to guilt<br />
and loss of self-respect.<br />
12
Mascul<strong>in</strong>ity Index (MAS)<br />
Mascul<strong>in</strong>e<br />
emotional gender roles<br />
clearly dist<strong>in</strong>ct<br />
Men: assertive, tough and<br />
focused on material<br />
success<br />
Women: more modest,<br />
tender and concerned<br />
with the quality of life<br />
Fem<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>e<br />
emotional gender roles<br />
overlap<br />
Men and women: modest,<br />
tender and concerned<br />
with the quality of life<br />
13
Cultural Dimension 5:<br />
Long-Term Orientation (LTO)<br />
“ the foster<strong>in</strong>g of virtues oriented toward future<br />
rewards – <strong>in</strong> particular perseverance and thrift. “<br />
STO<br />
Efforts should produce quick<br />
results.<br />
Social pressure toward spend<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Respect for traditions.<br />
Concern with personal stability.<br />
Concern with social status and<br />
obligations.<br />
LTO<br />
Susta<strong>in</strong>ed efforts toward slow<br />
results.<br />
Be<strong>in</strong>g spar<strong>in</strong>g with resources.<br />
Respect for circumstances.<br />
Concern with personal adaptiveness.<br />
Will<strong>in</strong>gness to subord<strong>in</strong>ate oneself<br />
for a purpose.<br />
14
Comparison US - Austria<br />
Source: http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_dimensions.php?culture1=95&culture2=7#compare<br />
15
<strong>Intercultural</strong> Diary<br />
Weekly blog <strong>in</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g environment<br />
Unstructured - no specific format / task<br />
Free-flow<strong>in</strong>g thoughts<br />
Observations on cultural differences at<br />
workplace / host culture<br />
Ideally related to Hofstede – but no restrictions
F<strong>in</strong>al Report<br />
Submitted after end of placement<br />
Structured through guid<strong>in</strong>g questions<br />
Revaluation of observations from diary<br />
Double-loop of self-reflection<br />
Heightened awareness and competence build<strong>in</strong>g
<strong>Intercultural</strong> Diary - Blogs<br />
Spa<strong>in</strong>, Madrid: PDI, IDV<br />
woche01<br />
ARBEITSBEGINN bei <strong>in</strong>k apache madrid. me<strong>in</strong>e mühvoll antra<strong>in</strong>ierte<br />
höflichkeitsform auf spanisch f<strong>in</strong>det ke<strong>in</strong>en anklang und mir wird gleich gesagt,<br />
dass die firma wie e<strong>in</strong>e große familie ist und sich somit jeder dutzt..<br />
First day at work with <strong>in</strong>k apache madrid: my meticulously<br />
tra<strong>in</strong>ed polite Spanish is not seen as the proper approach<br />
and I am told that the company is actually like a big<br />
family, so everybody uses the <strong>in</strong>formal forms of address<strong>in</strong>g<br />
each other …
<strong>Intercultural</strong> Diary - Blogs<br />
Paris, France: PDI, UAI<br />
Auch diese Woche verg<strong>in</strong>g wie im Flug, wie immer super-<strong>in</strong>ternational.<br />
Me<strong>in</strong> Chef hat mich ziemlich aufgezogen weil ich <strong>in</strong> e<strong>in</strong>er mail e<strong>in</strong>en ziemlichen<br />
Schmarrn geschrieben hab, aber wir haben dann beide darüber gelacht.<br />
Er ist echt cool, das Verhältnis ist sehr kollegial.<br />
Aga<strong>in</strong> this week went by amaz<strong>in</strong>gly quickly, as always<br />
super-<strong>in</strong>ternational. My boss made fun of me as I had<br />
written a lot of nonsense <strong>in</strong> an email, but eventually both<br />
of us could laugh about it. He is really cool, the relationship<br />
is very jovial.
<strong>Intercultural</strong> Diary - Blogs<br />
Hannover, Germany: UAI<br />
zur ersten woche <strong>in</strong> hannover: ja sicher vieles neu hier (die sprechen so komisch hier<br />
, ich glaube sie nennen es hochdeutsch) und vieles vieles ganz und gar anders als bei<br />
und (man(<strong>in</strong>) will es gar nicht glauben!!) sehr sehr nette kollegen!!(anmerkung: die<br />
hannoveraner brauchen sehr lange bis sie warm werden und zu plaudern beg<strong>in</strong>nen. .<br />
About the first week <strong>in</strong> Hannover: yes, many th<strong>in</strong>gs new here<br />
(they do speak <strong>in</strong> a funny way – I believe they call it High<br />
German and many th<strong>in</strong>gs so different from us, it‘s almost<br />
unbelievable!!) very, very nice colleagues (note: the<br />
Hannoverans need a long time to open up and start a<br />
conversation)
Structured Reports – Rituals / IDV<br />
Paris, France<br />
Jeden Morgen, gegen 10:30 Uhr g<strong>in</strong>gen me<strong>in</strong> Chef und ich <strong>in</strong>die Kaffeeküche um bei e<strong>in</strong>em<br />
Becher Nespresso den Stand der D<strong>in</strong>ge zu besprechen. Anfangs unterschätzte ich die<br />
Bedeutung dieses morgendlichen Kaffee-Rituals e<strong>in</strong> wenig. Gelegentlich war mir nicht nach<br />
Kaffee, daher lehnte ich dankend ab, als mir e<strong>in</strong>er angeboten wurde. Aber bald begriff ich<br />
dass es eigentlich nicht um den Kaffee an sich g<strong>in</strong>g, da wir <strong>in</strong> der Kaffeeküche Teammitglieder<br />
trafen, die <strong>in</strong> anderen Büros s<strong>in</strong>d, und wir uns daher dort gegenseitig am Laufenden hielten.<br />
Every morn<strong>in</strong>g at 10:30 my boss and I went to the cafeteria to<br />
discuss the current status of th<strong>in</strong>gs. Initially I underestimated<br />
the relevance of this morn<strong>in</strong>g ritual and I sometimes even<br />
refused the <strong>in</strong>vitation as I didn‘t really want a coffee until I<br />
realized it was not the coffee that was relevant but the <strong>in</strong>formal<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation exchange with colleagues from other offices.
Structured Report - PDI<br />
Munich, Germany<br />
Jedenfalls ist die Struktur und die Verhaltensweise im Umgang untypisch für mitteleuropäische<br />
Verhältnisse und ganz besonders konträr zu den Verhältnissen <strong>in</strong> Deutschland. Am ersten<br />
Arbeitstag lernten wir den Chef für Central Europe kennen. Er war völlig untypisch mit Bermudas,<br />
T-Shirt und Turnschuhen gekleidet, immerh<strong>in</strong> ist er Vorgesetzter von rund 200 Mitarbeitern.<br />
Das DU mit dem obersten Chef wie auch mitallen Anderen im Unternehmen war zu Beg<strong>in</strong>n<br />
also sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig. Bei me<strong>in</strong>en bisherigen Erfahrungen <strong>in</strong> Firmen war ich nur<br />
mit den engsten Kollegen per DU, nie aber mit dem Chef.<br />
By all means is the structure and the behaviour <strong>in</strong> the company<br />
not typical of Central Europeand especially contratry to<br />
Germany. On my first day of work I met the boss for Central<br />
Europe. He was dressed <strong>in</strong> shorts and sneakers, he is the<br />
superior of 200 employees. Us<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>formal „Du“ with the<br />
boss and everybody else was <strong>in</strong>itially very awkward. From my<br />
experience so far I sometimes used „Du“ for my immediate<br />
colleagues but never with the boss.
Structured Report – Mascul<strong>in</strong>ity /UAI<br />
Spa<strong>in</strong>, Madrid<br />
Die FRAUEN wurden (vielleicht weil sie zahlenmäßig nur e<strong>in</strong>en Bruchteil der Besetzung<br />
ausmachten,?) etwas mehr mit „Samthandschuhen angefasst“. Wenn Kritik geäußert wurde,<br />
dann sehr vorsichtig, so als würden Frauen Kritik schlechter vertragen. Die Kommunikation<br />
der Frauen war genauso offen und direkt wie die der MÄNNER, hier war ke<strong>in</strong>erlei Unterschied<br />
festzustellen.<br />
Dieser Kommunikationsstil ist im Angesicht des Hofsted´schen UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE INDEX<br />
folgendermaßen e<strong>in</strong>zuordnen: die sogenannte Risikobereitschaft und Unsicherheitsvermeidung<br />
(wie hoch ist die Bereitschaft Risiken e<strong>in</strong>zugehen und ohne direkte Sicherheit zu leben)<br />
ist ebenfalls ger<strong>in</strong>g. Jeder hat zwar künstlerische Freiheit, doch bei größeren Entscheidungen<br />
werden immer mehrere Personen mite<strong>in</strong>bezogen.<br />
Unlike the men, the women were not forthrightly criticized but more<br />
<strong>in</strong>directly as if they were not able to bear the criticism.<br />
The communication itself was equally straightforward, there<br />
was no difference to be found <strong>in</strong> that respect.<br />
…UAI is low. There is artistic freedom but whenever more important<br />
decisions are made, a number of people are <strong>in</strong>volved.
Structured Report – Rituals / IDV<br />
Paris, France:<br />
Da ich im 27. Stockwerk arbeitete, stiegen jeden Morgen im Aufzug e<strong>in</strong>ige Leute vor mir aus.<br />
Dabei gibt es e<strong>in</strong> Ritual: Jeder der aussteigt, sagt immer brav beim Verlassen des Aufzuges:<br />
„Bonne journée!“ Und alle im Lift Verbleibenden antworten: „Merci, à vous aussi!“ Und nach dem<br />
Mittagessen, wenn alle wieder mit dem Lift <strong>in</strong> ihre Stockwerke zurückkehren – das selbe wieder,<br />
nur der Wortlaut ist anders: „Bon aprèsmidi!“ ... „Merci, à vous aussi!“<br />
As I worked on the 27th floor, a number of people exited<br />
the lift before me. This <strong>in</strong>volves a ritual: Everyone who leaves<br />
the elevator, says „Bonne journée!“ which is met with<br />
„Merci, à vous aussi!“ After lunch when everybody is retutn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to their respective floors – the same ritual slightly modified<br />
„Bon aprèsmidi!“... „Merci, à vous aussi!“
Résumé / Outlook<br />
Some blogs not serious enough<br />
Some reports not focussed enough<br />
Supports <strong>in</strong>tercultural learn<strong>in</strong>g curve and adaptation<br />
Comb<strong>in</strong>ation of free-flow<strong>in</strong>g blogs and structured reports<br />
enhances awareness and reflection<br />
Clear differentiation between company culture and culture of<br />
host country<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ued with Erasmus placements through Extended EUC
The pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of surviv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a multicultural world is that<br />
one does not need to th<strong>in</strong>k, feel, and act <strong>in</strong> the same way<br />
<strong>in</strong> order to agree on practical issues and to cooperate.<br />
Geert Hofstede