When cultures meet : Test your cross-cultural knowledge

In Cross Cultural Psychology there are many sample cases for cross-cultural difficulties and misunderstandings, some of which have become classics. Last week I participated in Dr. Sagiv’s simulation about the some of those classics testing our cross-cultural knowledge and openness.

First, we were separated into two groups, each group with its own different ‘culture’ for performing a quiz, and each group had to come up with a name and a symbol that represents it. In one group everybody was equal and all decisions had to be agreed upon with all members and no one can become a leader. In the other group a group leader has been appointed who had to control the interaction where no one was allowed to speak or act without the leader’s permission. When someone would disobey they would receive a social punishment where everybody would quietly stare at them for 30 seconds.

Then, the groups were instructed to test their cross-cultural knowledge by answering together a cross-culture interaction quiz with classic sample cases on a time limit. In mid-session, one member from each group would leave his group and change to the other group.

Members of the second group felt a bit uneasy with the rules, and have followed the rules unwillingly in a somewhat inefficient way, although literature suggests that this is the faster way to do this exercise. Naturally, members of the first group – which I was part of – laughed through the whole quiz. The person moving from the first ‘culture’ to the second was very silent at first, but after acknowledging that it seems like everybody can say whatever they want – she cautiously joined in, yet the person moving from the second ‘culture’ to the first has been punished 2 times before realizing what was going on, which has resulted in bad emotions.

Is this what happens when we are faced with a culture different then our own?

Here, take the first part of the quiz , try to answer the following questions (comments and emails with answers are most welcome) :

1. You’re working as a financial manager in a mid-size US firm. The company has a strict dress code which states that everybody should wear suits, except for "Casual Friday". What would you wear on Friday?
2. The company you’re working for is negotiating with a South-Korean firm. You’re invited to Korea for the final discussions before the deal is signed. After the initial introductions you’re ready to start negotiations, but the hosts invite you to play golf. What are you thoughts regarding their intentions towards the deal?
3. You’re in Japan for negotiating between your firm and a Japanese firm. After a few months of organized work there’s a meeting about your written proposal. During the meeting you suddenly realize that you forgot to add a crucial point about Quality Control. What will you do?
4. You’re working in a Dutch firm in Holland. You really like your Dutch colleague who’s working with you on the same project and feel that you’ve become friends. You suggest that s/he comes over to your place for dinner and a movie. S/he responds enthusiastically, opens the diary and suggests to set an appointment for Thursday night at 19:30 two weeks from now. What does this behavior mean?
5. You run a department in a South-Korean firm in South-Korea. One of your staff members has made a serious mistake which has resulted in the firm losing an important deal. It’s important for you that both him and the entire staff realize the mistake done and to make sure this wouldn’t happen again. What will you do?

Seems easy? on most items the two groups achieved different conclusions, which were then usually both corrected by Dr. Sagiv.

(Oh, and here’s a short something I just saw through Holesinthenet.

A short bonus quiz – what happens when East meets West ?)