| IntroductionIn 21st Century and in the era of | | | | third level of intercultural sensitivity is to learn more |
| Knowledge Based Industry when global market in | | | | about our own culture and to avoid projecting that |
| shrinking cross culture adaptation is not only a MUST | | | | culture onto other people's experience.This stage is |
| but is only a mantra to succeed. In my previous two | | | | particularly difficult to pass through when one cultural |
| employments, we had 15 and 24 nationals respectively | | | | group has vast and unrecognized privileges when |
| from different countries and many of our people from | | | | compared to other groups. This problem is so invisible |
| India go on Deputation to other countries and many of | | | | that persons in mainstream agencies are often |
| them face challenges to cope-up with the cultural | | | | mystified when representatives of ethnic minorities |
| change...behavioral change.Understanding Intercultural | | | | consistently withdraw from collaborative activities.4. A |
| SensitivityWhy you need to go out, India is a country | | | | reasonable goal for many mainstream agencies is to |
| with "Diversity in Culture". This diversity is the result of | | | | ensure that all staff achieve at least the fourth |
| the coexistence of a number of religions as well as | | | | developmental level in intercultural sensitivity. The fourth |
| local traditions.The beautiful temples of south India, | | | | stage in Bennett's model requires us to be able to shift |
| easily identifiable by their ornately sculptured surface, in | | | | perspective, while still maintaining our commitments to |
| the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, the | | | | values. The task in this stage is to understand that the |
| local folk pit themselves against the awesome forces | | | | same behavior can have different meanings in |
| of nature, in the extreme north is the high altitude | | | | different cultures. The comparisons that follow in the |
| desert of Ladakh, Local culture is visibly shaped by the | | | | Toolkit can be particularly helpful for staff of |
| faith - Buddhism - as well as by the harsh terrain.With | | | | mainstream agencies to improve their intercultural |
| over one billion citizens, India is the second most | | | | sensitivity in this stage of development. In order for |
| populous nation in the world. It is impossible to speak of | | | | collaboration to be successful long-term, this stage of |
| any one Indian culture, although there are deep cultural | | | | intercultural sensitivity must be reached by the |
| continuities that tie its people together.In its quest for | | | | participants of the collaborative process. Bennett calls |
| modernization, India has preserved its ancient civilization | | | | this stage "acceptance."5. The fifth stage of |
| and never lost sight of the ideals that gave her | | | | intercultural sensitivity, adaptation, may allow the person |
| strength through countless centuries. Science and | | | | to function in a bicultural capacity. In this stage, a |
| technology has been steadily raising the living standard | | | | person is able to take the perspective of another |
| and prosperity of its people, but the nation of more | | | | culture and operate successfully within that culture. |
| than one billion people - one sixth of humanity - | | | | This ability usually develops in a two-part sequence. It |
| continues to live with some of its traditional values that | | | | requires that the person know enough about his or her |
| go back 4,000 years and more. See this synthesis of | | | | own culture and a second culture to allow a mental |
| tradition and modernity on your India Travel | | | | Shift into the value scheme of the other culture, and an |
| itinerary.Developmental Model of Intercultural | | | | evaluation of behavior based on its norms, not the |
| Sensitivity"Global diversity is the recognition and | | | | norms of the first individual culture of origin. This is |
| development of skills to deal with differences on both | | | | referred to as "cognitive adaptation." The more |
| international and domestic fronts." -Dr. Milton | | | | advanced form of adaptation is "behavioral |
| BennettHow can we help employees in our | | | | adaptation," in which the person can produce behaviors |
| organizations succeed in an increasingly complex | | | | appropriate to the norms of the second culture. |
| workplace? Our function is to clarify what cultural | | | | Persons serving as liaisons between a mainstream |
| competence is and why it is needed, and to help | | | | agency and an ethnic minority group need to be at this |
| employees enhance understanding of their own culture, | | | | level of intercultural sensitivity.6. In the sixth stage, the |
| and increase their intercultural sensitivity and | | | | person can shift perspectives and frames of |
| competence. | | | | reference from one culture to another in a natural |
| In 1986, Bennett created the Developmental Model of | | | | way. They become adept at evaluating any situation |
| Intercultural Sensitivity, which shows a progression of | | | | from multiple frames of reference. Some |
| stages people may go through in developing | | | | representatives in cross-cultural collaboration may |
| intercultural competency. Since then, he has partnered | | | | reach this level, but most probably will not.Stage six |
| with Dr. Mitch Hammer of American University to | | | | requires in-depth knowledge of at least two cultures |
| develop the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). | | | | (one's own and another), and the ability to shift easily |
| (The inventory is a set of statements that allows an | | | | into the other cultural frame of reference. The task at |
| individual to assess his/her developmental stage of | | | | this level of development is to handle the identity issues |
| intercultural sensitivity according to the DMIS. This tool | | | | that emerge from this cultural flexibility. Bennett calls |
| is valuable because it measures people's ability to | | | | this final stage of intercultural sensitivity |
| experience difference in relatively complex ways).Why | | | | "integration."Building Intercultural Development Inventory |
| there is Resistance...Tool to understand | | | | (IDI), a tool to build individual and team |
| resistanceDevelopment of intercultural competence | | | | effectivenessThe ability to communicate effectively |
| does not come without a struggle; some employees | | | | with people of different backgrounds, cultures, or |
| will protest these efforts. Bennett's model helps us | | | | perspectives is essential to creating an inclusive, |
| understand that the basic form of resistance is a | | | | productive, and innovative work environment. This is |
| defense response. People who respond to diversity | | | | the basis for leveraging peoples' inputs to improve |
| efforts in this way are often moving from the model's | | | | business results.Each member of a team or an |
| first stage of intercultural sensitivity, denial (a failure to | | | | organization must build this competence to a degree |
| recognize that cultural differences exist) into the | | | | consistent with their responsibilities and work. It is |
| second stage, defense (recognition of differences). | | | | therefore important to be able to measure intercultural |
| Often, people at this stage may express concern | | | | sensitivity and guide development for individuals, teams, |
| about reverse discrimination. "Recognition of the fact | | | | and organizations.The Intercultural Development |
| that differences do exist carries a threat," he says. | | | | Inventory, developed by Dr. Mitchell Hammer and Dr. |
| The reaction is to defend one's self. Bennett | | | | Milton Bennett, is a 50-item, theory-based paper and |
| recommends listening carefully to the person's fears | | | | pencil or web-based instrument that measures |
| and to help them understand how the organization will | | | | intercultural sensitivity as conceptualized in Dr. Bennett's |
| continue to extend opportunities to this person's cultural | | | | Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity |
| group, even as efforts expand to include other cultural | | | | (DMIS).The DMIS is a framework for explaining the |
| groups.The model predicts that as time goes by, | | | | reactions of people to cultural differences. The |
| people can move from defense (stage two) into | | | | underlying assumption of the model is that as one's |
| minimization (stage three). "With minimization, there's | | | | experience of cultural differences becomes more |
| more recognition that we're dealing with people that | | | | complex, one's potential competence in intercultural |
| are different, but there's still resistance to that idea," | | | | interactions increases. Dr. Bennett has identified a set |
| Bennett explains. "The belief is that somehow if we | | | | of fundamental cognitive structures (or "worldviews") |
| are more open in making sure that equal opportunity | | | | that act as orientations to cultural difference.The |
| exists, everyone should be grateful and follow a set of | | | | worldviews vary from more ethnocentric to more |
| rules." Someone in this stage may say, "Why can't we | | | | ethnorelative. According to the DMIS theory, more |
| all just be Americans?" A person at this stage hopes | | | | ethnorelative worldviews have more potential to |
| that we will all converge into a single cultural position. | | | | generate the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior that |
| Of course, this position assumes people are able and | | | | constitute intercultural competence.The IDI measures |
| willing to shed their culture and take on American | | | | an individual's and/or group's fundamental worldview |
| culture.How to address backlashBennett recommends | | | | orientation to cultural difference, and thus the individual |
| several approaches to addressing backlash:· | | | | or group capacity for intercultural competence. As a |
| Cultural Self-Awareness: Help employees develop | | | | theory-based test, the IDI meets the standard scientific |
| cultural awareness, including (if applicable) identification | | | | criteria for a valid and reliable psychometric |
| of European American ethnicity versus stopping at a | | | | instrument.Key Characteristics of the IDIThe IDI is |
| more specific cultural self-awareness (such as Italian | | | | currently administered as a paper and pencil instrument |
| or Irish).· Recognition of Cultural Capital: Prepare | | | | composed of 50 questions that are designed to |
| employees to deal with issues of privilege in a | | | | measure an individual's sensitivity to and awareness of |
| non-threatening way. Help them to identify their own | | | | cultural differences. The survey consists of statements |
| cultural capital (what it means to belong to their own | | | | reflecting attitudes toward cultural difference, and |
| group and how that translates into institutional | | | | responses are scored on a five-point Likert-type scale. |
| privilege).· Establishing a Cultural Core: Facilitate an | | | | The instrument takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes |
| exploration of value commitment in the context of | | | | to complete. The results are compiled and a graphic |
| intercultural relativity.In other words, we need to | | | | profile of an individual or group's predominant stage of |
| recognize that our values are culturally based. Then, | | | | intercultural development is generated. In addition, IDI |
| we must develop the capability of working effectively | | | | results provide a textual interpretation of an individual |
| with people with different values without feeling the | | | | or group's stage of development and associated |
| need to give up our own values system. "I find that | | | | transition issues. Administration of the IDI is often |
| most diversity practitioners don't have the ability to deal | | | | accompanied by a pre-interview, in which respondents |
| with this," He says. "[The tendency is to think] if there | | | | are asked about their backgrounds and prior |
| aren't any basic values, which by the way are mine, | | | | experiences with different cultures. In addition, |
| how do we work and live ethically?"Bennett envisions | | | | individuals and groups are provided with their IDI results |
| this model extending beyond domestic to international | | | | in conjunction with a mandatory debriefing session that |
| diversity efforts. "Global diversity is the recognition and | | | | is facilitated by a trained and certified IDI |
| development of skills to deal with differences on both | | | | administrator.The IDI is a proprietary instrument that |
| international and domestic fronts," says Bennett.Many | | | | may only be administered by individuals who receive |
| organizations realize that diversity efforts involve | | | | certification from the Intercultural Communication |
| on-going change strategies rather than one-time | | | | Institute (ICI).ConclusionToday, the importance of |
| training events.There is also a move toward coupling | | | | intercultural competence in both global and domestic |
| international and domestic diversity, and aligning | | | | contexts is well recognized. Bennett (1986, 1993b) |
| intercultural competence with leadership development. | | | | posited a framework for conceptualizing dimensions of |
| "The danger [in these trends] of course is that | | | | intercultural competence in his developmental model of |
| international issues may be seen as diffusing other | | | | intercultural sensitivity (DMIS). The DMIS constitutes a |
| important [domestic diversity] issues," Bennett cautions. | | | | progression of worldview "orientations toward cultural |
| Our challenge, then, is to maintain the emphasis on | | | | difference" that comprise the potential for increasingly |
| domestic issues within the context of the larger global | | | | more sophisticated intercultural experiences. Three |
| diversity effort.Stages of Intercultural SensitivityIn the | | | | ethnocentric orientations, where one's culture is |
| '80's and 90's organizations have attempted to go | | | | experienced as central to reality (Denial, Defense, |
| beyond mere discrimination issues and even to | | | | Minimization), and three ethnorelative orientations, |
| "celebrate diversity." However, celebration of diversity | | | | where one's culture is experienced in the context of |
| falls far short of what is needed for effective | | | | other cultures (Acceptance, Adaptation, Integration), |
| collaboration between mainstream agencies and ethnic | | | | are identified in the DMIS.References1. Bennett, M.J. |
| minority communities. For organizations or individuals to | | | | (1986). Towards ethnorelativism: A developmental |
| move beyond "celebration" to a real ability to work | | | | model of intercultural sensitivity. In R.M. Paige (Ed.) |
| appropriately with cultural difference requires a planned | | | | Cross-cultural orientation: New conceptualizations and |
| sequence of development.Bennett describes six | | | | applications (pp. 27-70). New York: University Press of |
| stages of development in intercultural sensitivity. The | | | | America.2. Bennett, M.J. (1993). Towards |
| stages provide a good framework for determining | | | | ethnorelativism: A developmental model of intercultural |
| how to work with and improve the capacity for | | | | sensitivity. In R. M. Paige (Ed.), Education for the |
| intercultural sensitivity and collaboration. Some of his | | | | intercultural experience (pp. 21-71). Yarmouth, ME: |
| stages of "cultural sensitivity" include behaviors or | | | | Intercultural Press.3. Bennett, M.J. & Hammer, M. |
| adaptations the authors include under the definition of | | | | (1998).4. Bikson, T.K., & Law, S.A. (1994). Global |
| "cultural competence."1. Bennett refers to the first | | | | preparedness and human resources. Santa Monica, |
| stage of the model as "denial." It means that people in | | | | CA: Rand Institute.5. Dougherty, D., Lynch, R.A., & Ohles, |
| this stage are very unaware of cultural difference. If | | | | F. (2003). Review of the Intercultural Development |
| mainstream agency staff are in this stage of | | | | Inventory (IDI) for assessing outcomes of a liberal arts |
| intercultural sensitivity, a huge problem can be | | | | education. Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts: Wabash, |
| expected in the delivery of education, health, and social | | | | IN.6. Endicott, L., Bock, T., & Narvaez, D. (2002, April). |
| services for ethnic minorities, a gap that does currently | | | | Learning processes at the intersection of ethical and |
| exist when these groups are compared to Anglo | | | | intercultural education. Paper presented at the Annual |
| Americans. The task for staff at this first stage of | | | | Meeting of the American Educational Research |
| intercultural sensitivity is to recognize cultural | | | | Association, New Orleans.7. Paige, R., Jacobs-Cassuto, |
| differences that are escaping their notice.2. Whereas in | | | | M., Yershova, Y.A., & DeJaeghere, J. (2003). Assessing |
| the first stage we do not "see" cultural differences, in | | | | intercultural sensitivity: An empirical analysis of Hammer |
| the second stage of cultural competence we do | | | | and Bennett's Intercultural Development Inventory. |
| perceive cultural differences; however, differences | | | | International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27: |
| from ourselves or the norms of our group are labeled | | | | 467-486.About Author |
| very negatively. They are experienced as a threat to | | | | Sanjeev Himachali |
| the centrality and "rightness" of our own value system. | | | | E-mail: , Blog: can read my ITES-BPO related articles |
| Bennett calls this stage "defense."3. In the third stage | | | | at and (Himachali) Sharma, is a 29 yrs of age from |
| of intercultural sensitivity, minimization, we try to avoid | | | | India, having six years of experience in "Human |
| stereotypes and even appreciate differences in | | | | Resource Development". By qualification, he is |
| language and culture. However, we still view many of | | | | Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business |
| our own values as universal, rather than viewing them | | | | Administration. He is also a Motivational and Inspirational |
| simply as part of our own ethnicity. The task at the | | | | writer and speaker. |