I.          Assessment Recap 

1/ Introduction (suggested 100 words)

2/ Reflection (suggested 350 words)

3/ Interpretation (suggested 350 words)

4/ Action Plan (suggested 300 words)

5/ Conclusion (suggested 100 words)

6/ References and Appendices (if applicable)

  II.          Definition/ Slide summary

1.     Cross-Cultural Management: The study and application of management practices in a multicultural environment, focusing on understanding and managing cultural differences in international business settings.

2.     Multicultural Team: A group of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds working together towards common organizational goals.

3.     Cultural Intelligence (CQ): The ability to relate and work effectively across cultures, encompassing knowledge, mindfulness, and behavioral skills.

4.     Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, and practices that characterize an organization and influence its members' behavior.

5.     Expatriate Management: The process of managing employees who are sent by their companies to work in a foreign country.

6.     Communication Styles: Diverse ways of expressing oneself which vary significantly across different cultures, impacting how messages are conveyed and interpreted.

7.     Cultural Misunderstandings: Situations where cultural differences lead to misinterpretation or conflict in communication and interaction.

8.     Leadership Styles in Multicultural Environments: Different approaches to leadership that must be adapted to effectively manage and motivate a culturally diverse workforce.

9.     Team Cohesion: The degree to which team members are united and motivated to achieve common goals, especially important in diverse teams.

10. Trust in Multicultural Teams: The reliance on the integrity, strength, and ability of team members, which can be challenging to establish across different cultural backgrounds.

11. Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Settings: Techniques and approaches used to resolve disagreements in a way that respects cultural differences.

12. Cultural Adaptation: The process through which individuals learn to adjust and adapt their behavior in a new cultural context.

13. Global Mindset: The ability to appreciate and adapt to different cultural contexts, including understanding global trends and how they impact local practices.

14. Cultural Diversity: The presence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society or organization.

15. International Business Etiquette: The accepted manners and practices in international business settings, which vary widely across cultures.

III.          Detailed Outline    

Hint

The flow you should follow: Description of Specific Instances → Personal Attitudes and Behaviors →  Cultural Impact Analysis → Initial Self-Assessment

●      Detailed Description of Specific Instances

○      Event Selection: Choose incidents that vividly showcase intercultural challenges or miscommunications.

○      Contextual Detailing: Describe the setting, background, and events leading up to the interaction, including any relevant cultural or social context.

○      Interaction Dynamics: Detail the communication styles, body language, and responses of all parties involved, focusing on moments of cultural clash or misunderstanding.

●      In-depth Personal Attitudes and Behaviors Analysis

○      Self-Reflection on Mindset: Examine your emotional state during these interactions (e.g., frustration, curiosity).

○      Bias and Preconception Exploration: Identify specific stereotypes or assumptions you held and how they influenced your perception and behavior.

○      Response Evaluation: Critically assess how your actions and reactions either mitigated or exacerbated the intercultural challenges.

●      Thorough Cultural Impact Analysis

○      Cultural Contrast: Highlight specific cultural norms or practices that were different and influenced the interaction.

○      Impact on Interaction: Analyze how these cultural differences led to communication barriers or misunderstandings.

○      Insight into Other Cultures: Offer reflections on what you learned or misunderstood about the other culture’s communication style or values.

●      Comprehensive Initial Self-Assessment

○      Skill Evaluation: Gauge your intercultural communication skills, awareness of cultural differences, and ability to adapt to new cultural contexts.

○      Critical Honesty: Acknowledge areas of ignorance or misunderstanding about the other culture that affected the interaction.

●      Integration of Theory and Practice

○      Theoretical Connections: Correlate your experiences with intercultural communication theories or models.

○      Practical Application: Demonstrate how understanding these theories could have changed or improved the interaction.

Example

In a group project with diverse cultural backgrounds (Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, India), my direct Vietnamese communication style clashed with the indirect approach of Brazilian and Indian team members. This led to misunderstandings, highlighting the importance of adapting to various communication norms. Reflecting on this, I recognize my initial underestimation of cultural communication differences. Applying Hall's high-context and low-context communication theory (Hall, 1976) would have improved understanding and team dynamics, emphasizing the need for adaptability in intercultural interactions.