Teri Tosspon, meeting 2

Thought Question:

What is culture?

Agenda:•Defining Culture •Cultural dimensions•Exploring dimensions

Culture Shock

Activity: Say Hello to Your Friend • Warm up: We are going to do some ACTING. So stand up and stretch, hop up

and down, stick tongue out, growl like a bear, touch toes. Get ready! • Each person take one sheet and read about this style of greeting. Take 2

minutes to read, get into character and prepare to act. • Walk around and greet each other. Start a very short small talk. • When I say CHANGE, move around and greet a new person. • Repeat 2-3 times.

Debrief• Tell the group about your experience… • What did you see? • What were different people doing with their bodies, faces? • How did you feel? • What were some of your emotions? • How did you respond to various people? • How did you respond to someone with your same style? • Did you ever change to another person’s style? Why? • Was it easy or difficult to be a different character? Why? • What was your character’s motivation for their actions? • Which one was “normal”? “Correct”? Why? • What would you advise someone in a situation like this? What are

some strategies?

What is CULTURE?

“Culture to me is the traditions, values and beliefs of a group of people that travels through generations.”

Mona Mughram Al-Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia):

Kate (UK):

“Your culture is the way you are raised. It can be different between people of the same nationality.”

Aisha Al-Kharusi (Oman):“Culture is shaped by our tradition, history and religion. You carry it with you to influence others and for it to be influenced by other cultures.”

Alia Al-Lawati (Oman):“Culture is based on our history and ancestors. It creates our initial personalities but does not necessarily need to act as our finale.”How do you respond to these definitions?

If these are true, how should we think about our interaction with culture?Do organizations have culture? Do families? Explain. What makes you say that? Why is culture important?

The Iceberg

How might this image relate to culture?

When you enter a new country, organization, or family, what are some “differences” that are easy to notice?Above the water, list some things that are obvious and easy to see about culture.

What are some things that might affect or influence those differences?Where do those differences come from?Below the water, list some things that are hidden about culture. Be specific!

Click icon to add picture

Food

ArtGames

Holiday Customs

Dress

Music

Nature of Friendship

Values

Etiquette

Expectations

Rules

Leadership Styles

Gender RolesNotions of

Self

Modesty

Views on Raising Children

Notions of TIME

Notions of Cleanliness

Cross Cultural TIPS!You probably know what is normal for your own culture,

but what about for.. Brazil? Norway?

The Congo?Homework!

pay attention to situations in your

daily life in Omaha where you feel

uncertain, anxious, frustrated,

surprised, or puzzled. Try to use 2 of the different

strategies we discussed today and

be prepared to share about it.

When dealing with culture, the best things we can do are:

ListenSuspend JudgmentBe Curious

TIPS! 1. Know yourself2. Know your biases & stereotypes3. Know your workforce & market4. Do NOT presume to know an individual’s culture or presume

that you share cultures with someone

More tips on the optional reading: Tip sheet for effective cross-cultural communication.

How do we deal with culture?

Dimensions of Culture – topic for next class meetings!

https://hbr.org/web/assessment/2014/08/whats-your-cultural-profile

•3 primary researchers, all with different definitions

•Trompenaars: 7 ways•Hofstede: 5 ways•Edward Hall: 2-4 ways

What adjectives describe a coconut?

What adjectives would you use to describe a peach?

Peach & CoconutWhich fruit are you? A peach or a coconut? Why?

Soft. Fuzzy. Colorful. Juicy. Sweet. Hard centered. solid

Hard. Hairy. Brown. Ugly. Crunch/chewy, liquid

center, hollow

If you had to think of yourself as a coconut or a peach, which would you be? Line up in a spectrum between the two. Work with the group you identify with the most: Peach or Coconut. Define, as a group, what are “Peach” people like? What are “Coconut” people like?

Positives: emotional, friendly on the surface, low taboos but hard internal boundaries, keep

parts of life compartmentalized, respectful boundaries, easy to get along

with, funny

Positives: reserved, cautious, needs time to open, very loyal, once trusting they let people in

to ALL parts o flife, reliable, tough

Negatives: over sensitive, emotional, talk too much,

waste time

Negatives: rude, don’t listen, rigid

Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions• Individualistic / Collectivistic

– This parameter delineates how personal needs and goals are prioritized vs. the needs and goals of the group/clan/organization.

• Masculine /Feminine– Masculine societies have different rules for men and women, less so in feminine cultures.

• Uncertainty Avoidance– This parameter measures if people are comfortable with taking risks, ready to change the

way they work or live (low UA) or if people prefer the known systems (high UA).• Power Distance

– The degree people are comfortable with influencing upwards. In high PD societies there is accept of inequality in distribution on power in society. Ex. employees will not readily give suggestions and feedback to their superiors

• Time Perspective– Long-term perspective, planning for future, perseverance values vs. short time past and

present oriented.

In 2012 a sixth dimension was added.• Indulgence vs. Restraint

– Gratification of human drives related to enjoying life and having fun vs. regulating and suppressing these needs by means of strict social norms.

Peach & CoconutHow do people from these cultures build trust and positive relationships with each

other??

With peaches, a coconut can: Start with friendliness, sincerely appreciate, smile, let them talk, explain feelings and impact.

With coconuts, peaches can: Prepare more, give facts, be logical, be brief, give time to think, and don’t take criticism personally.

Cultural dimensions represented: Emotional vs NeutralSpecific vs Diffuse, High vs Low individualism

Affective (emotional) Vs Neutral

Affective/EmotionalPeople want to find ways to express their emotions. It’s welcome and accepted to respond emotionally first. Strong emotion indicates strong conviction & passion

Neutral People make an effort to control their emotions and respond intellectually first. People hesitate to reveal what they’re thinking or how they are feeling. Steady tone indicates seriousness.

How do we express

ourselves

Positive code words: expressive, spontaneous, candid,

extroverted, bold, dramatic, forceful

Positive code words: restrained, discreet, moderate, diplomatic,

reasonable, reserved

Negative code words: blunt, rude, uncontrolled, impulsive

Negative code words: uptight, stiff, cold

Strong countries: Kuwait, Egypt, Poland, Italy, Spain,

France, Ireland, Latin American, Venezuela

Strong countries: Japan, China, Korea, Singapore,

Taiwan, Sweden, Netherlands

Affective vs NeutralWork Strategies

•Don’t judge or assume!• Expect interruptions. They indicate interest•Use emotion and enthusiasm to communicate

objectives• Learn to manage conflict before it becomes

personal•Use body language to mirror emotions of

others. Be careful your body language isn’t too “cool”•Don’t be intimidated by big reactions•Don’t assume that a big positive or negative

reaction equals a final decision. It is jut part of the process.

•Don’t judge or assume!• Expect silence. It indicates respect.• Try to communicate objectives logically

and with facts. “stick to the point!” •Monitor your voice and body language.

Stay calm to appear professional.•Don’t assume lack of expression equals

lack of interest. It is demonstrating the gravity of the topic.•Ask questions to clarify your partner’s

decision.

Examples: do people talk over each other and interrupt or leave space for silence and taking turns? Is it acceptable to argue in meetings? Is it common to hug or pat a colleague on the back? How about a client? Does advertising strongly appeal to

emotion or humor? Or is it more subtle and dignified? What are the expectations for customer service?

Universal vs Particular

Important questions

How do we make decisions?What is more important – rules or relationships?

Dimension Universal Particular

Explanation Decisions are based on rules that are the same for everyone, in all situations. They believe exceptions to the rules leads to corruption

Decisions are based on the particular details of the situation and people involved. They believe rules should be interpreted in context.

Positive Code Words

Principled, ethical, moral, fair, just, honest

Loyal, flexible, nuanced, concerned, discerning

Negative Code Words

Rigid, naïve, harsh, inflexible, dogmatic, legalistic, disloyal

Indulgent, biased, nepotistic, corrupt, unpredictable

Strong countries

USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland

Russia, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Latin America, Italy, Spain, France.

• Expect focus on business and “getting work done” (don’t’ see it as rude). • Keep promises and be

consistent• Explain decisions using an

objective process• Contracts are final and VERY

important; expect to work with a legal team. •Avoid flashy gifts or showing

favoritism.

• Expect to invest time on building personal relationships (don’t see it as “just” small talk)•Demonstrate flexibility and

loyalty when things change•Understand your partners’

needs and consider them in decisions• Contracts are a guideline;

lawyers imply a weak working relationship• If a rule is very important,

make sure it is very clearly discussed and understood.

Examples: Who has the final word… the company’s global policy or the experienced local manager? Are rewards and promotions based on performance system or supervisor’s discretion? Is a contract necessary for an agreement? Is a lawyer

necessary for a contract? Is it okay to give gifts to a business partner or client? Is it okay to hire a friend or family member? If your friend had made a lot of mistakes

that could get him fired, and his boss asked you, what would you say?

Diffuse vs Specific

Important questions

How much to we allow professional contacts into our personal life?

Dimension Specific Diffuse

Explanation People keep parts of their lives VERY separate. Relationships are valuable, but not necessary for good business. Task-focused. People may have a very different identity outside work.

There is overlap between work and personal life. Good relationships are vital to good business. Authority at work gives you authority in society. Relationship-focused

Positive Code Words

Boundaries, privacy, priorities, respectful

Integrated, connected, holistic, sharing

Negative Code Words

Distant, cold, unfriendly, selfish Invasive, presumptuous, nosy

Strong countries

Sweden, Denmark, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Netherlands

China, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Venezuela, Belgium, Germany, Kuwait, Egypt, Greece, India

• Expect directness, precision, and bluntness•Don’t use titles if not

necessary to the work, avoid flattery• Try to “get to the point” in

meetings and focus on goals… stick to the agenda• “friendliness” is just being

polite; do not expect real friendships with work colleagues.

• Expect indirectness, suggestions, and stories.• Respect a person’s title, age,

history, and connections• Stay flexible with a meeting’s

agenda and allow time for personal conversations• It may take time to build

good relationships, but then you will be a friend in and out of work.

Examples: Will you invite a client to your home? Would your boss ask you to help paint his house?

Do you expect to go out for a drink with colleagues after work?What are appropriate small talk topics?

Do employees tend to stay with a company and change roles? Or change to a new company?

Is it a good idea for a company to offer free housing to employees?

Homework

1. Cultural Self-Assessment print or save as PDF and email.

2. Continue to pay attention and note situations in your daily life in Omaha where you feel uncertain, anxious, frustrated, surprised, or puzzled.

Write about one of three types of “shocking” changes you have already had in Omaha: a change in your routine, an unexpected reaction, or an uncomfortable role. How do you feel, and how can you respond?

3. Optional: Read the R’s of Culture Change

I prefer typed and printed (or emailed) responses

Due at the beginning of next class meeting