Module- Case Assignment: DIMENSIONS OF CULTURE
Overview
In this module you will propose a plan for your intercultural experience and have it approved by your professor. A "pre-experience outline" is provided to assist you in your planning. This is what your professor will use in assuring that your proposal meets the training parameters for this Case.
Case Assignment
Submit a 2- to 3-page proposal describing your cultural experience. Your proposal should address the following questions:
1. Intended contact culture group
a. What is the identified culture group with which you are planning to have contact? Be specific.
b. Provide a brief description of any contact you have previously had with this group.
c. Briefly explain why this target group qualifies as a culture group.
2. Intended new cultural activity
a. Briefly describe your new cultural activity.
b. Does your intended activity meet all requirements of the assignment (see expectations below)? Provide some details to justify your answer.
c. Will this activity allow you to have meaningful contact with members of the intended target culture group? Briefly explain.
d. What is the planned date, time and approximate duration of the activity?
3. General
a. Have you selected a secondary contact group and cultural activity as a backup? Please describe briefly.
b. Do you have any questions about the project? Please describe.
Assignment Expectations
Here are the requirements-or parameters-of the exercise:
1. Provides information concerning the date(s) and place where this experience will take place.
2. The selected experience should be novel. The intent of this case is to provide a kind of "lab" where you can apply your learning in a new setting.
3. The experience must be with a group or culture that is largely unfamiliar to you.
4. You should not be in a position of authority or dominance vis-à-vis the target group. For example, you should not be a customer in a restaurant, or interacting with individuals who have lower rank than you in an organizational setting. Power can influence behavior, and we want to keep power relationships in check to provide the most meaningful type of interaction.
5. The experience should allow for meaningful one-on-one contact with members of the target group. Thus it is recommended that you do not choose an impersonal spectator event such as a large festival, parade, or sporting event.
6. The experience must be a minimum of 2 hours in length to provide you with enough material for analysis.
7. The experience must not be illegal or place you at unreasonable physical or psychological risk.
8. You need to be able to provide evidence of the experience (such as photographs or a video).
9. Have a second choice experience in mind in case your first choice does not meet the above parameters and is not approved.
I did a humanitarian assignment in Somalia for 8 months
Module- SLP: DIMENSIONS OF CULTURE
In this module, you will be measuring your personal cultural values and comparing it to Hofstede's dimensions of culture for the culture in which you live. Please start by filling out the following instrument: CVSCALE: The Five-Dimensional Measure of Personal Cultural Values. Then in your weekly journal, reflect on the following questions:
1. What did the CVSCALE reveal about your cultural values?
2. How does this compare to your own country's values according to Hofstede's research?
3. What other insights about cultural values have you gained from this questionnaire, the readings, and other aspects of the course so far that will be valuable to you in leading across different cultures?
The following article may be helpful to you in interpreting your results and reflecting on the insights from this assessment on leadership:
Yoo, B., Naveen D., &Lenartowicz, T. (2011). "Measuring Hofstede's Five Dimensions of Cultural Values at the Individual Level: Development and Validation of CVSCALE," Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 23 (3/4), 193-210.
SLP Assignment Expectations
• The journal is a cumulative document-you turn in all previous entries with each module,
• Include the results from the assessment in your journal.
• Each module should add 2-3 pages.
• The journal should be thoughtful and insightful, integrating learnings from the assessment with other activities in the module and course.
• The format for the journal is less formal than an academic papers (e.g. you can use the 1st person), but you should use headings to organize your thoughts and guide the reader and cite any sources where you are using information, data, or text from an outside source.
• Your journal should be edited and error-free.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
Required Reading
Earley, P., & Gibson, C. B. (1998). Taking Stock in Our Progress on Individualism-Collectivism: 100 Years of Solidarity and Community. Journal Of Management, 24(3): 265-304.
Gannon, M. J. &Rajnandini K. P. (2013). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 31 Nations, Clusters of Nations, Continents, and Diversity. Sage: Thousand Oaks, California. Chapter 1: Understanding Cultural Metaphors.
Gill, C. (2017, March 23). Hofstede's cultural dimensions and differences across cultures. Oxford University Press Blog.
Hofstede, G. (2013). Geert Hofstede-Recent Discoveries about Cultural Differences Key Note Speech for the 2nd Hofstede Symposium, January 2013.
Hofstede, G. (n.d). National culture. Geert Hofstede.
Ramping up your skills for cross-cultural negotiation. (2010). Leader to Leader, (56): 60-61.
Vernon-Wortzel, H., &Shrivastava, P. (1996). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 17 Countries. Academy Of Management Review, 21(1), 288-291.
Yoo, B., Naveen D., &Lenartowicz, T. (2011). "Measuring Hofstede's Five Dimensions of Cultural Values at the Individual Level: Development and Validation of CVSCALE," Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 23 (3/4), 193-210.