Self Reflection on Culture

 

Tasks

This assignment requires you to analyze versus summarize. In order to succeed on this assignment it is important that you review and understand the difference between analyzing and summarizing. For more information on this distinction please see Guide | Analyzing versus Summarizing .

Think of a culture different than your own that you will likely have frequent interaction within the career you choose during the next one to five years. Do not choose a culture that you would prefer to have interaction with. Rather, choose a culture that you will have interaction with.

In a 3-4 page double-spaced response with 1″ margins using size 12 font (times new roman or similar), address each of the following questions:

STEP 1. Identify three value dimensions of this culture that are different from your own culture. Think about values and behaviors and business protocol. Explain.

Here are a few sources to help you learn more about the culture:

Go to Hofstede Compare Countries

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/ to compare Hofstede’s value dimensions of different countries. Begin by selecting a country and then select a comparison country. Please keep in mind that Hofstede’s research is limited and is not intended to tell the whole story of any culture. We are more than our culture, and Hofstede would agree. The cultural patterns Hofstede identifies are meant to provide a very simple snap shot (a glimpse) of a culture. These snap shots are not a complete picture. There will always be exceptions. This research is shared to help you identify possible differences and think about ways to adjust and be flexible to people different than yourself.

Culture Crossing

http://guide.culturecrossing.net/

There’s an explanation of the six cultural (value) dimensions on the Hofstede site: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/models/national-culture/

After reading about them and identifying the culture you’d like to compare your own to, feel free to use the link provided on the assignment: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/

These articles might also be helpful:

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/season-11-episode-18/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKViQSnW-UA

If you choose to explore generational differences, here is a resource that may help: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/education-partnerships/generational-workforce-differences-infographic/

STEP 2. Identify two biases you hold about this culture . Be specific. Explain.

Please note, there is a difference between biases and opinions. Here is some explanation:

Bias

· A bias is the tendency to think in a certain way based on a person’s learned worldview.

· A bias is an inclination, slant or prejudice toward a certain group, thing, or topic.

· Bias is a judgement often uncorrelated with data. It tends to restrict the acknowledgement or the acceptance of different viewpoints and is not likely to change even if new information is presented.

· A bias can be an unconscious, cognitive process that we are often not aware of.

· Once we identify a bias we hold, we often are not eager to share it freely with others.

 

Opinion

· Opinion is one’s interpretation of data or information. There could be alternative opinions about the same event based on different interpretations.

· An opinion is a viewpoint that can be neutral or biased.

· Opinions are something we are consciously aware of and often share freely with others.

· Unlike biases, opinions might easily change in light of new information.

Your task in this assignment is to identify biases .

STEP 3. What are three important ways in which you will become more flexible in order to promote intercultural competence with a person from this culture? How will you go about monitoring your ethnocentrism with this culture? Explain. Be specific. Provide an example.

Feel free to use any suggestions made by the following resources:

Valerie Alexander’s TED Talk – How to Outsmart Your Own Unconscious Bias

The Forbes article How to Succeed in a Cross-Cultural Workplace

Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s TED Talk

Valerie Hoek’s TED Talk

The Danger of a Single Story TED Talk

The Power of Outrospection – RSA Animate video

Use first person: Since this paper requires you to explore aspects of you, it is appropriate to use first person throughout.

Criteria

· Completeness – worth 30 Points and based on: a.) every question in the Task section of the assignment is addressed, b.) reflection demonstrates analysis (as opposed to summarizing), c.) reflection shows adequate depth and thoughtfulness.

· Appropriate Application of Course Concepts and Terms – worth 30 Points: use of course terminology and concepts demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

· College Level Writing – worth 15 Points: Self-reflection is carefully proofread, organized, free of spelling errors, typos, run-on sentences, and fragments and follows capitalization conventions.