Globalization & Diversification

One of the dominant challenges of modern organizations is the rapid rate of globalization and its impact on workforce diversification.  The workplace is becoming more and more diverse as technology makes the world smaller and smaller.  Diversity brings with it the potential for cultural change.  Some organizations have already put in place cultural awareness training and other programs that help a previously homogeneous workforce better understand and communicate in a heterogeneous environment.

The Canadian International Development Agency’s pre-departure program (as cited in Conrad and Poole, 2005, p.389) touches on some excellent points that may be of great benefit in diversity/cultural training:

·         Communicating respect (in the language/behavior of the host society)

·         Being nonjudgmental (of others’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors)

·         Recognizing the influence of one’s own perceptions and knowledge

·         Being empathetic (trying to understand the other’s point of view and life situation)

·         Being flexible (being able to accomplish a task in a manner and time frame that is appropriate to the host culture and other’s needs)

·         Demonstrating reciprocal concern (actually listening and promoting shared communication)

·         Tolerating ambiguity, especially about cultural differences (p.389)

I feel that this list is an excellent method in which to approach both cultural change as well as life in general .

Cited:

Conrad, C., & Poole, M. S. (2005). Strategic organizational communication: in a global economy (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.