Cross Culture Competence
Overview
Think about living in a homogenous society – all of us doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts, all things the same. Would it have been a lot more peaceful that way? Well, it would have probably been, but what would be the spice of life in that case? Zero. We can only be thankful if we were all born unique and different from each other as much as we are grateful to Pandora for opening that forbidden box for bringing out chaos and all negativities of life. These challenges and problems bring balance to our lives. The concept is exactly the same with culture – our set of values, behaviors, and perceptions.
It is hard to imagine an individual who is not molded into a culture because we all are. And it is probably harder to think that every human being on Earth is born on just a single set of cultural traits. Culture is naturally diverse, dynamic, and evolving over time. It is a heritage that people pass on from one generation to another. We have to deal with these diversities for us to survive. And beyond surviving, we need to compete with other cultures.
This set of tutorials will aid us in finding out what it means to be culturally competent, more specifically, across cultures. When we speak of competence, we are talking of skills that are not learned overnight. Cultural competence is developed over a commitment to be fully equipped with the much-needed requirements in our interaction with other people. Just go through each article and learn a lot of insightful information, which can make you a culturally competent individual.
Culture is not just an attribute of an individual. Culture is a shared set of values, norms, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of a group that share these similarities. Although variations can be seen between or among different groups, it can also exist within a group. More often, we associate culture with a larger group such as a country, yet culture also exists in ethnic groups, tribes, and organizations. We often refer to them as a subculture. Dealing with a group of people from another culture or ethnicity is what we commonly refer to as cross-culture. Cross-culture binds together fields which are…
An individual or an organization that is able to interact with other cultures effectively is known to possess the skills of cross-cultural competence. These skills are said to be on a higher form or higher level of human or group ability since the interaction takes place in a global scope. Cross-cultural competence is a set of behaviors, values, and policies that may be developed at an individual level, in a system, or organizational level with the ability to constructively interact and work effectively across cultures and in diverse cultural situations. At an individual level, cultural competence requires three crucial concepts:…
One of the outcomes of a variety of cultures and subcultures is that minority groups tend to be controlled by the dominant cultures because the latter has the power and uses affluence to take over the smaller cultural societies. With a diverse culture, an exchange and sharing of cultural values and attitudes take place. Some cultures may adapt certain cultural beliefs from other groups and modify them to embed it in their own cultural orientation. Some cultures retain their cultural identity despite the exposure and immersion with other cultures. These are a few of the effects of dynamism of culture…
The term cross-cultural understanding covers a wide scope in the aspect of culture with a focus on the business field. It involves concepts such as cross-cultural awareness and knowledge, cross-cultural sensitivity, and cross-cultural competence. These terms have significant impacts in learning the concept of cross-cultural understanding within the business aspect. Cross-cultural understanding pertains to the ability of individuals in recognizing, interpreting, and reacting appropriately to people and situations that are open to possible conflicts and misunderstandings due to differences in cultures. In most businesses, especially those that recognize the increasing importance of cross-cultural interaction with clients and partners globally, invest…
Cultural homogeneity is no longer the trend in organizations. Many researchers and company management have noticed the restrictions of traditional management approaches and theories that assume individuality. They want to try embracing other cultures and not just rely on their own cultural orientation. Managers are experimenting new methods of organizing and handling groups that can address the diversity of employees. It is not easy welcoming new ideas and approaches especially if it is for an overall modification or transformation. The company management has questions about incorporating these new ideas and new approaches. How can managers go about maintaining leadership that…
Cross-cultural competence pertains to the ability of individuals or groups to interact effectively with those of different ethnical backgrounds and cultural orientations, or in a situation where cultural diversity exists. It incorporates the capacity to understand and recognize another culture’s language, behaviors, values, and policies, and adapt to these variations. Cultural competence is not something that we can acquire overnight. Having this higher level of human ability is a developmental process which involves a long-term commitment. It is not some kind of training with a specific timeframe of completion; rather it is an interactive and gradual process of learning and…
When we speak of collaboration, we are referring to teamwork, partnership, or an alliance of two or more groups. Collaboration is a process of working hand in hand with others. Collaboration does not mean that individuals have got rid of differences from one another. It involves more of discussing the differences and working out these differences as a group. Understanding Cross-Cultural Collaboration Individuals with varying cultural backgrounds working together are doing a cross-cultural collaboration. By this, we mean an alliance across cultures. So cross-cultural collaboration is a process where a group of individuals with different cultures work jointly with each…
The advent of globalization in international businesses has prompted business establishments to expand its network across cultures in order to keep up being culturally aware and more importantly, for businesses to increase cross-cultural competence. The value of cross-cultural competence skill is becoming increasingly important for many international companies. Often, Business establishments take on a perspective that cross-cultural competence is the silver lining between surviving and perishing in the modern global economy. Companies grow their business outside the country of origin when the business is expanding and is ready to take on a larger scope. In the field of international business,…
Globally, organizations work in culturally diverse environments. They interact regardless of age, gender, race, language, and nationality. It is but natural for conflicts to arise out of these diversities. Apart from these differences, an organization may have deeper and more serious differences that may affect certain cross-cultural issues and the way conflict is dealt with. Cross-Cultural Issues and Dimensions Let us identify some of the cross-cultural issues that exist between Western and Asian cultures and their perspectives. Language seems to be a very common issue. Asians think that foreigners pay respect and must take efforts to learn the language. According…
Have you ever experienced interacting with a person coming from another country? Or being in a team of different races and nationalities? What did you think and feel during such interaction? Were there any feelings of apprehension and uncertainty dealing with foreign people? Did you find it easy mingling with them or was it hard for you to relate to them? All these questions and many more will cloud your mind especially if it is your first interaction with individuals of foreign race or nationality. Experts have coined a shared set of values, behaviors, beliefs, and perceptions as ‘culture’ and…
