1 Name: Video Notes – “Understanding and Respecting Diversity” VIDEO #1 What is Culture? A collection of values and assumptions that shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to their environment. We understand culture through behavior. “Culture is EVERYTHING.” Above surface Culture (Big “C”)Music, Literature, Heroes, Painting, Dance, Architecture, Food, Drink, Clothing Below Surface Culture (Little “c”)Concept of self, truth, friendship, fairness, approaches to work, concept of time, communication preferences, tolerance for risk Challenge: A common mistake is to assume sameness and misread behaviors. Result: Cultural incidents occur which cause unnecessary misunderstanding and conflict. Understanding “the other”minimizes risk. How people think = Worldview How thinking informs behavior = Culture Interpreting Behaviors Universal Eating, sleeping, speaking mother tongueCulturalDios de los Muertos, ThanksgivingIndividualSleeping with bedroom window open, wearing UT orange suit to work DANGER: Misreading behaviors leads to stereotypes: “A commonly-held, often accusatory assumptions about a group of people.”Stereotyping reduces communication effectiveness. VIDEO #2 Building Blocks of Culture #1 Individualism and Collectivism Individualism People identify primarily with self, not group.The needs of the individual are met before the group.Group membership is not essential to one’s identity, survival, success.Independence and self-reliance are greatly valued and is goal of parenting.People are judged by individual achievement and not the group they belong to. Collectivism Who you are is a function of the group (e.g. the family, the work team)The immediate family is the smallest unit of survival“The nail that sticks up must be hammered down.”Harmony and interdependence of group members are stressed and valued. Short Essay Question #1 – Are you more individualistic or collectivist in terms of how you view yourself and your responsibility to others? Type your answer here: Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your answer. VIDEO #3 #2 Monochronism vs. Polychronism Monochronism Time is limited.Deadlines and schedules are sacred.Plans are not easily changed.People may be too busy to see you.Needs of people are subservient to demands of time.People expect undivided attention.Interruptions are to be avoided.To be late, to be kept waiting is rude.People stand in line!The goal is to stick to the schedule.PolychronismTime is bent to meet needs of peopleThere is always more time!Schedules and deadlines are easily changed.Plans are fluid.People always have time to see you.People may do several things at once and split time between several people/tasks.Interruptions are normal part of life. The goal is to enjoy life.People don’t stand in line!To be late or kept waiting is O.K. Short Essay Question #2– Are you more monochronic or polychronic ...

1. 1
Name:
Video Notes – “Understanding and Respecting Diversity”
VIDEO #1
What is Culture?
A collection of values and assumptions that shape the way a
group of people perceive and relate to their environment.
We understand culture through behavior. “Culture is
EVERYTHING.”
Above surface Culture (Big “C”)Music, Literature, Heroes,
Painting, Dance, Architecture, Food, Drink, Clothing
Below Surface Culture (Little “c”)Concept of self, truth,
friendship, fairness, approaches to work, concept of time,
communication preferences, tolerance for risk
Challenge: A common mistake is to assume sameness and
misread behaviors.
Result: Cultural incidents occur which cause unnecessary
misunderstanding and conflict.
Understanding “the other”minimizes risk.
How people think = Worldview
How thinking informs behavior = Culture
Interpreting Behaviors
Universal
Eating, sleeping, speaking mother tongueCulturalDios de los
Muertos, ThanksgivingIndividualSleeping with bedroom
window open, wearing UT orange suit to work
DANGER:
Misreading behaviors leads to stereotypes: “A commonly-held,
often accusatory assumptions about a group of
people.”Stereotyping reduces communication effectiveness.

2. VIDEO #2
Building Blocks of Culture
#1 Individualism and Collectivism
Individualism
People identify primarily with self, not group.The needs of the
individual are met before the group.Group membership is not
essential to one’s identity, survival, success.Independence and
self-reliance are greatly valued and is goal of parenting.People
are judged by individual achievement and not the group they
belong to.
Collectivism
Who you are is a function of the group (e.g. the family, the
work team)The immediate family is the smallest unit of
survival“The nail that sticks up must be hammered
down.”Harmony and interdependence of group members are
stressed and valued.
Short Essay Question #1 –
Are you more individualistic or collectivist in terms of how you
view yourself and your responsibility to others?
Type your answer here:
Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full
sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your
answer.

3. VIDEO #3
#2 Monochronism vs. Polychronism
Monochronism
Time is limited.Deadlines and schedules are sacred.Plans are
not easily changed.People may be too busy to see you.Needs of
people are subservient to demands of time.People expect
undivided attention.Interruptions are to be avoided.To be late,
to be kept waiting is rude.People stand in line!The goal is to
stick to the schedule.PolychronismTime is bent to meet needs of
peopleThere is always more time!Schedules and deadlines are
easily changed.Plans are fluid.People always have time to see
you.People may do several things at once and split time between
several people/tasks.Interruptions are normal part of life. The
goal is to enjoy life.People don’t stand in line!To be late or kept
waiting is O.K.
Short Essay Question #2–
Are you more monochronic or polychronic in terms of how you
understand and manage time?
Type your answer here:
Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full
sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your
answer.
VIDEO #4

4. #3 Direct vs. Indirect Talk
Concept of giving Face
Directness
People “say what they mean and mean what they say.”There is
no need to read behind the lines.It is best to “tell it like it
is.”People are less likely to imply and say exactly what they are
thinking.Yes means Yes! IndirectPeople don’t always say what
they mean.One must read between the lines.People are more
likely to suggest or imply than to come out and say what they
think.One cannot always tell it like it is.Yes may mean “maybe”
or even “no” The importance of “face”To give face to another
person to preserve dignity and respectability of another
To lose face to feel embarrassment or to have self-worth
questionedFace less ImportantTelling the truth is more
important than sparing someone’s feelings.Honest is the best
policy.It is o.k. to say no and to confront people.Getting/giving
information is primary goal of the communication
exchange.Face is more ImportantPreserving harmony and saving
face are key concerns,Truth should be adjusted when it
threatens someone’s face.One says what one thinks the other
person wants to hear so as not to disappoint.It is not always
proper to say no, disagree, or confrontPreserving personal bond
is goal of communication exchange.
Short Essay Question #3 –
Are you more direct or indirect in terms of how you
communicate with others? Are you sensitive to the concept of
face-giving and face-saving when communicating with someone
who is older or of higher status?
Type your answer here:
Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full

5. sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your
answer.
VIDEO #5
#4Locus of Control
Internal or External
The view of self and one’s place vis-à-vis the external world“Is
life what happens to you?” (External)“Is life what you make of
it?” (Internal) Locus of Control-Internal
Life what you make of it.There are no limits to what one can do
or become.Your success is your own achievement.You are
responsible for what happens to you. Life is what you DO (a
more activist culture) Locus of Control-ExternalLife is largely
predetermined – control external to the individual.There are
limits to what one can do or become.Your success is
combination of effort and good luck.Life in large part is what
happens to you.Fatalistic view = “It wasn’t meant to be.”
Short Essay Question #4 –
Do you relate more to the Internal Locus of Control of External
Locus of Control (who is in control of your life?)
Type your answer here:
Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full
sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your
answer.
VIDEO #6
#5 Power Distance

6. How a society deals with inequality between people.The
distinctions between people in their access to power and their
level of status High Power Distance
Corporate structures are authoritarian; power is centralized.One
defers to authority.Managers hold on to power.Subordinates do
not take initiative but wait for explicit instructions.Rank has
privileges.Manager/subordinate relations are formal.Decisions
are made at the top.One does not openly disagree with/say no to
the boss. Low Power Distance
Democratic management styleManagers share some power with
subordinates.Subordinates do not like to be
micromanaged.Decision making tends to be consultative.Rank
has few privileges. Manager/subordinate relations are fairly
informal.It is o.k. to disagree with/say no to the boss.
Cross Cultural Lessons
Most people behave rationally. What is rational in one culture
may not be in another.One should try to understand a behavior
even if they don’t like it.Not all behavior is tied to culture.Be
willing to ask for clarification when YOU don’t understand.
Don’t assume sameness.Be willing to listen and suspend
judgment.
Short Essay Question #35–
Are you more comfortable with a High Power Distance or Low
Power Distance orientation when interacting with other people?
Type your answer here:
Worth 5 points; Your answer should be a minimum of 4 full
sentences. You must give at least two examples to support your
answer.