Mosaic leadership approach to address pluralism Introduction to pluralism Pluralism is the perspective emerged from ground reality of the human phenomena. When we talk about a nation, a society or an organization, we cannot ignore the natural existence and possession of the unique belief systems of the people at individual, at group, at organization and / or a national level that are shaped by their local ecological, biological and cultural contexts and ways of subsidies. Individuals and leaders come together in organizations from all different abilities, ages, backgrounds, genders, orientations and races (Wilsey, 2013:4). The term pluralism is used to signify multiple ideologies in political participation and diversified cultural systems in social institutions. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pluralism as ‘a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization’. The pluralism philosophy believes in mutual respect, equal importance and contributions in human civilization. According to Oxford Dictionaries, pluralism is ‘a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist’. For Rechard Norman, ‘pluralism means divided loyalties- competing values and commitments, moral codes, principles and goals, distinctive regional and ideological outlooks, revolt ethnic and religious claims- but it also implies strength in diversity’. In educational leadership, it has similar meaning that is implied in social institutions. Concept of term ‘mosaic’ The mosaic is found being used to refer to the decorative assemblage of the buildings in the ancient Greece and Rome. Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It is a technique of decorative art or interior decoration. Most mosaics are made of small, flat, roughly square, pieces of stone or glass of different colors, known as tesserae; but some, especially floor mosaics, may also be made of small rounded pieces of stone, and called "pebble mosaics". As argued in the literature, ‘mosaic’ is the term derived from ‘Moses’ or ‘Muses’, name of person given by Pharaoh’s daughter in Egypt, which means ‘son of’ God. Road mosaic Floor mosaic ‘Mosaic’ as metaphor Metaphor is popularly used by speakers and writers to make an effective conceptualization or understanding on new, complex or abstract phenomenon. It is a figurative language represented in a single word or phrase that identifies one thing as being the same as some unrelated other thing by highlighting the similarities between the two. Metaphors are powerful and useful bridges particularly during time of upheaval. Metaphors operate by linking known concepts with new concepts and images (Marshak, 1993 , cited in Wilsey, 20

1. Mosaic Leadership Approach to
Address Pluralism
Karna Bahadur Chongbang

2. Gratefulness to
Our teacher/ facilitator Dr. Dil Prasad Shrestha
&
Joanne Wilsey,
(University of Oklahoma, Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy dissertation on MOSAIC
METAPHOR OF ORGANIZATION )

3. Concept of pluralism
• Merriam-Webster dictionary : ‘a state of society in
which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or
social groups maintain and develop their traditional
culture or special interest within the confines of a
common civilization’
• Oxford Dictionaries: A condition or system in which
two or more states, groups, principles, sources of
authority, etc., coexist.
• Therefore, ‘pluralism means divided loyalties-
competing values and commitments, moral codes,
principles and goals, distinctive regional and
ideological outlooks, revolt ethnic and religious
claims- but it also implies strength in diversity’.
(Richard Norman)

4. Concept of term ‘Mosaic’
• As argued in the literature, ‘mosaic’ is the
term derived from ‘Moses’ or ‘Muses’, name
of person given by Pharaoh’s daughter in
Egypt, which means ‘son of’ God.
• Used to mean triangular, square shape of
pebbles in the ancient Egypt
• In the aesthetic field, mosaic refers to
assemblage of small pieces of colored glass,
stone’; ‘decorative art’; ‘small , flat, or roughly
square pieces of stone or glass of different
colours.

5. Mosaics

6. ‘Mosaic’ as metaphor
• Mosaics are a metaphor for life : many
events and experiences (tiles) to create
the exquisite masterpiece of life.
• Mosaic metaphor in cultural pluralism
and diversity: fruit salad, rainbow or
garden

7. Mosaic as Salad pot/bowl rather than
melting pot
Melting pot theory Salad bowl theory
• Canadian approach and
approach of today’s America
• The separate ingredients
• Multicultural or pluralistic
practice in a society or an
organization
• Preservation of cultural
uniqueness and arrangement
of the cultures
• Old theory applied by
America.
• The ingredients melted
together
• Assimilation process of
cultural groups, ethnic
group or belief system
• Blending the cultures or
hybridization the cultures

8. Figures speak themselves
Melting pot Salad bowl

9. Mosaic in Nepalese context
• Historically proclaimed by Prithvi Narayan Shah,
“Nepal chaar jaat chhattish warnako phulbaari”
• Religious diversity ie. Hindu, Buddhist, Islam,
Kirat, Jain, Sikh, Christian etc.
• Ethnic diversity ie. Brahmin, Chhetri, Gurung, Rai,
Limbu, Tamang, Sherpa, Newar etc.
• Caste diversity ie. Brahmin, Chhetri, Baisya and
Sudra.
• Constitutionally, in 1990 and now, on the process
to re-defining the role of the state and the nature
of governance to accommodate its diverse social,
cultural, ethnic, language and racial groups on an
equal footing.

10. Functional and structural position of
mosaic leader approach
Mosaic
leader
Mosaic
member
Mosaic
member

11. Characteristics of mosaic leader
• Strategic multicultural leadership
• 21st century’s revolution of information
• Emphasis on service sustainability
• Very much personalized service
• Promoting the inclusion of diversity and
their world views
• Suitable to a flat or virtual structure of an
organization

12. Con…
• Compatible concept with charismatic
leadership and shared leadership
• Mutual influence between leaders and
members
• Maintenance of emotional empathy
rather than sympathy

13. Importance of mosaic approach in leadership
• Tells a beautiful and harmonious story
• Emphasizes human adaptabilities, capabilities
creativities represented abstractly in a social
institution
• Represents individual or different functional
areas of a organization
• Promotes the value of inclusion of diverse
individuals to reduce the possible constraints
in the organization
• Provisions to diverse individuals to contribute
with their unique talents and perspectives in
organizational effectiveness

14. Cont…
• Helps move organizations to next level in
terms of appreciating and exploiting
difference
• Hears, respects and values the different
voices
• Emphasizes almost equal important and
contribution of each culture, value, skill
and capacity
• Emphasizes both uniqueness and unity

15. Inclusive policy as mosaic leadership
approach in Nepal
• Provision of physical representation from
ethnicity, caste and religion
• Quota system to ensure representation of
Dalit, madhesi, disadvantaged and female
• Quota for physically different people
• Group right model to ensure the to ensure the
promotion and protection of cultural heritage
and identities
• Neutral state; neither support nor
intervention

16. Traditional vs. mosaic leadership
Traditional leadership
• Hierarchical
organizational structure
• Vertical communication
• Visible and concrete
structure of
organization
• Assimilation of leaders’
values and believes
Mosaic leadership
• Flat organizational
structure or pizza
structure
• Horizontal
communication
• Virtual organization
• Preservation of leaders’
cultural diversities

17. Cont…
Traditional leadership
• Mechanical
• Enforced or directive
leadership
• Theoretical
leadership
• Technical and
scientific
Mosaic leadership
• Humanistic
• Consensual
leadership
• Grounded leadership
• Aesthetic and ethical

18. Implication
• It implies that every people or people of
cultural group has unique useful leadership
skills, knowledge and abilities which have to
be explored and used in the educational
organization leadership process which
suggests us that the traditional leadership
approaches does not function well to
acquaint the organizational leadership for
21st century particularly in the multicultural
pluralistic societies like Nepalese society.

19. Reflection
Moaic approach to leadership as a leading
leadership approach of the 21st century.

20. References
• HECKTIC(2009). Mosaics, as Metaphor. Retrieved from
http://www.hecktictravels.com/madaba-mosaic
• Mosaics are a metaphor.
http://www.pinterest.com/rubyrrrmrn/mosaics-are-a-
metaphor/?z=1
• Wilsey, J. (2013). Mosaic metaphor of organization.
Retrieved from
https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/10361/Disser
tation%2520(Published)(PDF).pdf%3Fse..
• Chong, S. (2010). Metaphor for diversity. Retrieved from
http://3dchristianity.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/metaphor
s-for-diversity/
• Norman, R.( n. d.). The idea of pluralism in the United
States.
http://ourpluralhistory.stcc.edu/resources/Curriculum/TheI
deaofPluralism.pdf

21. Thank you for your patience!