Module 7Cultural Awareness

Learning Outcomes

7.1 Identify the perceived traits of your own culture

7.2 Understand cultural differences and practices in the

workplace

7.3 Recognise the benefits of living and working in a multi-

cultural society

Culture Iceberg

Like an iceberg, only a

fraction of culture is visible,

noticeable through

customs, language,

physical appearance. The

majority of culture is

hidden from view and

expressed completely,

through deep-held values

and preferences.

Explicit Culture

Behaviours

Attitudes / Beliefs

Values

Implicit Culture

Culture Definition

The ideas, customs, and

social behaviour of a

particular people or

society.

The attitudes and

behaviour characteristic of

a particular social group.

Multi-cultural Definition

Relating to or containing

several cultural or ethnic

groups within a society.

Simulation Activity

Introduction and Orientation

These cultural qualities will be your identity for the rest of the simulation.

How do these rules feel? How do they fit you? How are you going to “act”

them? How different is the real me from this culture? What does it mean

for me to be Red/ Blue/ Green for the next hour? How do I fit in this

culture? Jot down your reflection if you’d like.

As a group discuss and agree on how you will enact your traits and how

you will display the more visible elements of your culture.

Create the story that binds you together as Blues, or Reds or Greens.

This could take the form of a saying, a symbol, a picture, a dialect, a

song, a flag (…) that will be presented later to the rest of the group to

explain your cultural identity.

Debriefing

Present your Culture

What were those cultures? Who are you? Who were you?

Present to the larger group. Report myths, legends, or anthem

etc. (3 minutes per culture)

Mono-cultural Debriefing

What happened in your mono-cultural group?

How did it feel? What did you first talk about?

How far did you get into the task? How well did you do? Did you feel

good about the processes? Did you feel good about the team-building

efforts?

Were any of your norms facilitating problem solving? Others hindering?

What strategies did you use in the problem-solving process? Any leader

emerged? Why him/her?

What worked? What did not work?

How did the rules of your culture help or hinder the problem solving

process?

Any comfort or frustration from being in a group of similar people?

Is this similar to a real-life situation?

Multicultural Debriefing

What were you thoughts and feelings as you changed cultures/ or

as newcomers arrived? How did it feel to join the new group?

How did you feel during the multicultural problem-solving process

and why?

Did you feel accepted / respected in this new group?

Any awareness / new understanding on your own lenses?

On the Challenges of crossing cultures, on negotiating across

cultures? Is it easier in mono-cultural groups? Is it richer in

multicultural groups?

Learning Outcomes

7.1 Identify the perceived traits of your own culture

7.2 Understand cultural differences and practices in the

workplace

7.3 Recognise the benefits of living and working in a multi-

cultural society