This document provides an introduction to cross-cultural understanding (CCU). It defines CCU as dealing with understanding the similarities and differences between cultures, and how people from different cultures communicate and share values. It discusses why understanding cultural differences is important to avoid judgment and perceiving others based only on our own perspective. The document also outlines key dimensions of diversity, and explains why CCU is increasingly important due to trends in globalization, changing demographics, and rising numbers of expatriates. It concludes by outlining steps to develop diversity competence, including increasing awareness, knowledge, skills, and taking action to be more inclusive of other cultures.

1. CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING;
AN INTRODUCTION
NAILIL MUNA
EBT. Sultan Agung English Club. 2011

2. What is CCU?
 CCU deals with understanding the similarity and
differences of culture between and among
people
 Its core is to establish and understand how
people from different culture communicate with
each other and comprises the shared values,
understandings, assumptions, and goals
 Check this example out.

3. Why we need to be concerned about Cultural
Differences
Compromising their uniqueness to “fit in.”
 Judgmental; you are what I see, you are how I
perceive you are
?

4. Dimensions of Diversity
 Gender Religious beliefs
 Race Marital status
 Ethnicity Parental status
 Age Education
 Physical and mental ability Income
 Sexual orientation Occupation
 Language
 Geographic location

5. Why CCU Matters?
 Global Market

6. Why CCU Matters?
 Changing Demographics
1.International Citizenship
In 2008: 15.205 expatriates live in Indonesia
In 2011: 83.000 expatriates live in Indonesia
2.Trends of Global Changes; independency vs.
dependency
Lifestyle
Ideology
Cultural, political view

7. Developing Diversity
Competence
 Awareness
 Recognize differences
 Respect the benefits of diverse values
 Accept that each culture finds some values more
important and some behaviors more desirable than
others
 Understand the effect of distrust
 Have a clear sense of your individual culture
 Recognize your own ethnocentricity
 Understand how the culture of your organization
affects those whose culture is different


8. Developing Diversity
Competence
 Knowledge
 Learn factual information about other cultures
 Engaged in cultural activities
 Learn a new language
 Make friends with people of different culture
 Explore your history and background.

9. Developing Diversity
Competence
 Skill
 Take personal responsibility for the way you respond
to difference.
 Make continued and sincere attempts to understand
 the world from others’ points of view.
 Develop skills in cross-cultural communication.
 Develop problem-solving skills.
 Develop skills in conflict management.
 Look for ways to work effectively with diverse groups
of people.

10. Developing Diversity
Competence
 Action/Behavior
 Teach others about cultural differences.
 Develop a mentoring relationship with
someone from a different culture or identity
group.
 Show more patience when working and
interacting with people who have different
learning styles than you.
 Develop a personal plan for continued learning
toward diversity competency

11. The Challenge of Diversity
 Diversity is an inside job, meaning that diversity is
not about “them.”
 Diversity goes beyond race and gender.
 No one is the target of blame for current or past
inequities.
 Human beings are ethnocentric, seeing the world
through their own narrow view and judging the
world by their familiar yardstick
 Human beings find comfort and trust in likeness
 It is difficult for people to share power

12. FINAL QUESTION
WOULD YOU TAKE THE CHALLANGE?