PhD DEFENSESchool of Business and Economics – 17 February 2010Nantawan Noi Kwanjai –

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A tale of the UnDutchablesin the land of 1001 smiles

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My version of acknowledgements

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My supervisor’s preferred version

I thank the whole world.

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XCQ amid intricate cultural webs

intractably complexnon-deterministic

capability & strategy countless identities constant flux interacting forces

condition & context

Intricate cultural webs

know-how tacit embedded in practice bounded by context

(un)learning-by-doingrecursive-reflexive

XCQdefinition

cross-cultural heuristic

cultivation & assessment of XCQ

to operate & function in …

implications

properties

consequence

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1) Culture is NOT only about “nation”.

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Cultural groups

incidental

biologicalfamilial/clan

ethnicspiritual

social classprofessional

‘community of practice’clique

social ~ labyrinthformalized

globalregional (continental)

nationalregional (provincial)

sectoralindustrial

organizationaldepartmental

team

formal ~ hierarchy

cultural groups

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www.creativethailand.org

2) Content/component v. context/interaction

www.mikkilineni.wordpress.comwww.yokogomi.com

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3) Heuristic to balance formulaic approach

Survey the situation.key competing & congruent meanings,crossing modes & dominant context.

Set situational anchorage.vis-à-vis dominant context,desired crossing mode & resolution.

Apply instrument(s).directing controller,synchronizing mediator,fusing hybridizer,accommodating adaptor

Invoke negative capability.suspension of self & assumptions,deferred judgment & belief/disbelief.

open mind

understanding

benchmark

mechanism

Examples of formulaic approach courtesy of Ramsey et. al (2011)

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4) Two views of cross cultural life*

as a war (~dominant)

Fixated on incompatible differences Fraught with conflicts “Cross” at the fault lines Participants are seen as

opponents, and the goal is to win the battle in the most favourable manner to one side only.

as a dance (~possible?)

Looking for viable complements Aiming at unison “Cross” at the contact lines. Participants are seen as

performers, and the goal is to perform together in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing way.

* Metaphorical analysis based on concept in Lackoff & Jonhson (1980).

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Beyond clashing:

dominant catalyst

predominant interaction

key instrument

steady state resolution

mathematical analogy

difference

conflict

controller

separation, division or

assimilation

1+1 = 1, ½ or 0

mutuality

exchange

mediator

aggregate

1+1 = 2

affinity

hybridization

hybridizer

hybrid

1+1 > 2

empathy

adaptive response

adaptor

chameleon

1+1 = ∞

Modes Of Cross-Cultural Conditionclash reciprocal unification variationKey properties

taxonomy of cultural crossing

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Shall we dance?

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