Intercultural competence as an aspect of the communicative ...

We talked about that in Sociology of work. Here it’s seen as an obligation
to hire one’s cousin. (I8)
Another critical incident with a new, foreign boss was aimed at the power distance
(Hofstede 1997) between people, as well as the expectations of a masculine culture, in
terms of social roles and seniority. The problem here was not perceived as that of power
distance, but more of an outsider in an already formed group. Seniority was not stressed
by the interviewees, and only one mentioned it as a possible problem for other coworkers.
Table 4.35 Critical incident 6 codes
Codes
No. of references
individual 4
distance 4
comparison [us] 3
contact [negative] 1
comparing cultures 1
different expectations 1
bridging 1
The attributions were mostly critical of our culture, where the interviewees
pointed to a distrust or open xenophobia towards a foreign newcomer.
The problem is in our workers, in a distrust of foreigners, and not only
foreigners, if there’s a new worker in the firm on a high position, well
educated, there’s some inborn distrust or envy. (I10)
I think we are distrustful of each other, when someone would come from
‘outside’, maybe they’re afraid, maybe he never used to work with those
machines. (I3)
So a new American arrived, a culture we generally have a low opinion of,
and now he is to order Serbs around. (I2)
I just think they’re xenophobic and have a problem with accepting
someone foreign. (I9)
Several attributions referred to individual characteristics, but even then referring
to some local cultural practices:
Maybe they got used to the former boss. (I10)
Probably those workers are not used to many obligations, that tempo that
he insist on, so they want to cut corners. (I12)
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