1. Intercultural Teams
Understanding
and
Stages of Development
21-10-2013
Amrita Gandikota
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2. Contents
• Introduction
Culture
• Cultural Iceberg Model
• Intercultural Teams
Salad Bowl Theory
Advantages
Challenges
• Intercultural Competence
Basic Characteristics
Stages of Intercultural Development in Teams
• Conclusion
• Sources
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3. What is Culture?
Culture is the collective programming of the
mind which distinguishes the members belonging
to one group from another often rising the
question – (Geert Hofstede)
‘Why do I act, the way I do?’
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4. Cultural Iceberg Model
Developed by Edward T. Hall
in 1976
The external tip of the
iceberg is the conscious
surface of a culture
The vast part of the iceberg
that is hidden, is the
subconscious aspect of a
culture
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5. Intercultural Teams
Salad Bowl Theory
In intercultural
teams, individuals
from exclusive
cultures integrate yet
retain their
uniqueness, thereby
enhancing the value
of the team.
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6. Advantages
• Exchange of innovative ideas
• Understanding varied experiences
• 24 hour work rotations
• Chance to work globally
• Diverse problem solving techniques
• Cost benefits
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7. Challenges
• Cultural differences
• Language
• Virtual teams
• Technology and IT
• Lack of trust
• Business practices
• High and Low Context Cultures
• Difference in communication, working styles and
quality of work
• Collectivistic and Individualistic Cultures
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8. Intercultural Competence
• Intercultural competence is learning and
understanding the values and beliefs behind
the behavior and reconciling them with your
own.
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9. Basic Characteristics - Intercultural Competence
• Empathy
• Self Confidence
• Cultural identity
• Tolerance
• Respect for cultures
• Avoid stereotypes
• Knowledge, interest in culture of host country
• Sense of humor
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10. Intercultural Development in Teams
Stages
Milton J. Bennett`s (1993) Development Model
• Denial of Difference
• Defense against the Differences
• Minimization of Differences
• Acceptance of Differences
• Adaptation to Differences
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11. Conclusion
As one inter-cultural team member said -
I had to get over myself, realize that I was part of the
system, and I learnt to stick around and observe the
impact of my behavior—not always a pretty sight.
Gradually I adopted a bit of cultural
fingerspitzengefühl [awareness] as the Germans say,
which saved the day and the project.
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12. http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=9-wxCH287Ws
http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=ryqNQnzAmBs
• Videos on Intercultural Issues
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13. Sources
• Anne Rod – Working with Intercultural Teams
• http://www.slideshare.net/AndreaLelovics/lelovics-
intercultural-teams-presentationv3
• https://ag.purdue.edu/ipia/iec/Shared%20Document
s/Module%201/1.6.S6.pdf
• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-
services/articles-intercultural.html
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14. Thank You
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