Managing cultural differences 8th day

Friday 23rd  September 2016

I was not able to commit to my Thursday activity as I had a work commitment and as a result I gathered my friends who participated in this exercise with me to decompress and discuss what we had been doing. There was a general consensus that the group discussion that replaced the morning tea was the best activity and they learned the most about each other's culture and how they can respect it.


I learned a lot through this exercise but I think the the biggest takeaway is that meaningful relationships and trust require more than a friendly face. To build relationships you need cultural intelligence which is that ability to approach a conversation with a strategy and tact.

Managing cultural differences 7th day

Monday 19th September 2016

I watched another video on cultural intelligence just to gain more perspectives on the topic. I feel there is a general consensus that this model is the most effective in managing cultural differences.

I then had another morning tea with my friends although there was a complication. My friends weren't able to bring food like before so instead we converted the activity into a group discussion by forming a circle. We treated like a "speed learning" activity however the group method seems to work better as everyone was more comfortable with each other.

Managing cultural differences 6th day

Friday 16th September 2016

I completed a cultural intelligence (CQ) quiz and I apparently have low CQ. This was disappointing to find considering all the learning i've done.

I also gathered my friends for another "speed learning" activity and yet again it didn't seem to go over too well. I recognise it is an uncomfortable activity so perhaps it wasn't the best idea to try it again.

Managing cultural differences 5th day

Thursday 15th September 2016

Today I watched a Ted talk on cultural intelligence and I am amazed at how powerful it can be. It seems that cultural intelligence is a good tool for building trust which I find fascinating. I assumed having a cultural intelligence just meant not to call someone out for their race or nationality. It seems that if you can become more flexible (not too flexible) on ideas, people will trust you more.

I then went to my workplace and did a survey of my colleagues on how they were being treated. Given what I had watched prior to conducting these interviews, I was surprised to find that everyone was quite comfortable and were experiencing no major quarrels with each other. It seems the ability to concede and be flexible to others has its benefits in a professional environment, despite how it makes one look. I was a little more surprised to find that culture wasn't a talking point in any of the interviews I conducted. I would've addressed it as one of my questions however I was more interested in if they employees were happy. If they were quarrelling, I probably would've asked if it was culture related and as a result, the topic of managing different cultures never came up.

Managing cultural differences 4th day

Monday 12th September 2016

I completed a quick test in the form of a video on YouTube. Within the literature, I've been reading about cultural intelligence and how I should think strategically when approaching a conversation. I wanted to see if what I read, combined with my experiences from the first week had made any impact on my cultural difference management skills. The test was easier than I thought. After that I had the idea to gather my friends for a meal and I asked them to bring some food from their culture as something fun. Reading what I've read and knowing how well my jokes were received, I am slightly hesitant to speak to my friends which is uncharacteristic. I think I need to find the right balance when it comes to being sensitive, after all, they are my friends and the literature refers more to the workplace.

Managing cultural differences 3rd day

Friday 9th September 2016

Today I tried an activity similar to speed dating where my peers and I go from person to person and exchange their culture and values with each other. My Italian friend and I spoke about what I said and from what I understood, he was just taken back by how my opinion of him changed after learning about his upbringing. Although I was making a joke, this one line turned into a one week ordeal. Apart from this revelation, the activity didn't seem to go over too well. I think everyone was a little too hesitant to engage they don't know each other too well.

Managing cultural differences 2nd day

Thursday 8th September 2016

I've had 2 days from doing this due to work commitments however I am still thinking about that  interaction I had with my friend Frank. I have completed culture tests that challenged my knowledge about different countries. I am genuinely surprised by my scores, not in a good way. I also tried to do the Mexican quiz however I believe it is broken on the website




Italian culture quiz

Italians only shake hands when meeting.	-
What is the most practised religion in Italy?	-
Which of these is true?	-
Which of these best describes the Italian attitude towards punctuality	-
What is the best way to initiate a business relationship?	-
Which month should you avoid booking meetings in?	-
What should you do at the beginning of meetings or negotiations?	-
Demonstrating urgency when negotiating with Italians is a sign of sincerity.	-
Which of these qualities will be most beneficial when negotiating with Italians?	-
Which of these is good etiquette at the dining table?	-

Japanese culture quiz

Which three words best sum up Japanese society?	-
The hierarchical nature of Japanese society has its roots in which religion?	-
Foreigners are expected to bow when meeting people.	-
When introducing yourself in Japan, what should follow your name?	-
Which of these should you NOT do with a business card in Japan?	-
When receiving business cards you should do so using which hand(s)?	-
What three qualities is essential for the building of a good business relationship?	-
Japanese communication style is...	-
Who should you greet first when entering a meeting room?	-
Where at a table does the most senior member of a Japanese team sit?	-
During a period of silence in a meeting you should...	-
Confrontation is acceptable during negotiations.	-
During negotiations, when is the best time to make concessions?	-
Who makes decisions in Japanese companies?	-
Gift giving is unacceptable in business relationships in Japan.	-

Chinese culture quiz

The Chinese prefer business communication by which of these methods?	-
A handshake in China should be ...	-
Which of these should you try and have on your business cards?	-
How should one receive business cards?	-
Gifts within the business context are seen as bribes?	-
Which of these should you not do during a business meeting?	-
It is acceptable to answer phone calls in meetings.	-
Which of these should you do when negotiating in China?	-
Aggressive negotiation tactics are recommended.	-
Who would you expect to make decisions from negotiations and meetings?	-

Managing cultural differences 1st day

Monday 5th  September 2016

I have started my 3 week activity exercise in order to learn more about managing cultural differences. I have begun by asking my friends what their cultural background is. I stuck to the criteria of ethnicity, nationality and religion if they were willing to provide it. I was surprised to find a lot of my friends were part Italian. I noticed when I made a joke about Italians arguing one of my friends got very quiet.