1. Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Culture in a MulticulturalCulture in a Multicultural
World: Diversity ChallengesWorld: Diversity Challenges
By Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.By Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.

2. 2Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
What is Culture?
• What are your ideas?
• Culture refers to the sum total of the ways of
living built up by a group of human beings
and transmitted from one generation to
another. Includes values, norms, beliefs,
attitudes, folkways, behavior styles, and
traditions linked to form an integrated whole
to preserve the society.

3. 3Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
What is Ethnicity?
• Ethnicity refers to a person’s
identification with a group of people of
the same race or nationality who share a
common and distinctive culture.
It is connectedness based on
commonalities
(e.g., religion,
nationality, region).

4. 4Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
What is Race?
• Race refers to a group of
people related genetically by
common descent, blood, and
heredity. It is not clear if race
is more a biological or social
construction. Race is
culturally significant as a
result of the social processes
that sustain majority-minority
status.

5. 5Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Culture is both subjective and
objective
• Subjective:
– Beliefs
– Values
– Cognitive frameworks
• Objective:
– Observable patterned behavior

6. 6Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Culture is Multileveled and
Dynamic
• Multileveled:
– Micro (Individual)
– Macro (organizations and institutions)
• Dynamic:
– Product of ongoing social interaction
– Build in community
– Changes through daily decisions and
behaviors

7. 7Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Hoffstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Individualism- Collectivism
(Welfare of the individual vs. unity of the group)
Collectivists tend to:
1. Identify themselves by
group membership
2. Give priority to group goals
3. Put more emphasis on
harmonious relationships
4. Have more socially-based
emotions (indebtedness)
JapanJapan
GermanyGermany
UnitedUnited
StatesStates
Collectivism
Individualism
ChinaChina

8. 8Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Individual vs. group orientation
• Confrontation and
conflict are ok
• Personal opinions=
encouraged
• Explicit
communication
• Guilt culture
• Avoid confrontation
and conflict
• Personal divergent
opinions = bad
• Implicit communication
• Shame
culture

9. 9Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Power Distance
The degree that people
accept an unequal
distribution of power in
societyJapanJapan
GermanyGermany
UnitedUnited
StatesStates
FranceFrance
High Power Distance
Malaysia, ChinaMalaysia, China
Low Power Distance

10. 10Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Small Power Distance
• Minimized inequality
• Interdependence
• Equality and initiative
expected
• Decentralization= popular
• Seeks consensus
• Power is legitimate and
subject to criteria of good
and evil
• Ideal boss=
resourceful democrat

11. 11Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Large Power Distance
• Expected and desired
power and inequality
• Dependency
• Respect and obedience
expected from
subordinates
• Centralization is popular
• Might prevails over right
• Ideal boss =
benevolent autocrat.
Accepts responsibility
that goes with power.

12. 12Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Leveraging Power Distance
• Examine your source of power and power
dynamics in your organization.
• Sources of power can be: external
networks, internal allies, knowledge,
credibility, availability or choices, formal
authority, interpersonal skills, and
intrapersonal skills.
• Attempt to understand hopes, dreams,
and needs and seek common ground.
Look for win-win.

13. 13Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
JapanJapan
SouthSouth
KoreaKorea
Achievement
Nurturing
SwedenSweden
The degree that
people value
assertiveness,
competitiveness, and
materialism
(achievement) versus
relationships and well-
being of others
(nurturing)
Achievement-Nurturing
UnitedUnited
StatesStates

14. 14Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Achievement vs. Nurturing
• Dominant values=
success and progress
• Important= money and
things
• Deal with facts, not with
feelings
• Live in order to work and
win. Fears losing.
• Conflict resolution by
fighting
• Only “the best” succeed.
• Leaders= decisive and
assertive
• Dominant values= caring and
preservation
• Important= people and warm
relationships
• People deal both with facts
and feelings
• Work in order to live
• Conflict resolution by
compromise and negotiation
• Emphasis on working and
sharing together
• Leaders= strive for consensus

15. 15Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Leveraging Achievement-
Nurturing
• Find ways to balance competition and
collaboration and know who needs more
of what.
• Encourage collaboration among your
team and direct reports.
• Understand the culture of your
organization’s leadership.
• Consider interdependency.
15

16. 16Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
High U. A.
Low U. A.
JapanJapan
GermanyGermany
SingaporeSingapore
Uncertainty Avoidance
(Stability/Change)
The degree that
people feel threatened
by ambiguity and
uncertainty (high U.A.)
or tolerate ambiguity
(low U.A.) .
UnitedUnited
StatesStates

17. 17Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Avoidance vs. tolerance
• Uncertainty = threat
• Fear of ambiguity and
risk
• Different = dangerous
• Tight rules even if
they don’t work
• High structure
• Expertise and correct
answers are
expected
• Always busy. High
stress
• Uncertainty = normal
• Accepts ambiguity and
risk
• Different = curious
• Lenient rules, not
more than needed
• Open-ended
• “Not knowing” is ok
• Hard working only
when needed. Low
stress

18. 18Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Leveraging Uncertainty
Avoidance (Stability/Change)
• Balance stability and change. “Preserve the
core and stimulate progress.” --Collins and
Porras
• Don’t stifle creativity. Tap the richness of
diverse talents.
• Understand if your organization is more
bureaucratic (b) or innovative (i). If b,
encourage innovation on specific entities
under different norms. If i, install systematic
processes wherever it makes sense. 18

19. 19Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
JapanJapan
NetherlandsNetherlands
RussiaRussia
Long-Term Orientation
Short-Term Orientation
ChinaChina
The degree that people
value thrift, savings,
and persistence (long-
term) versus past and
present issues (short-
term).
Long/Short-Term Orientation
UnitedUnited
StatesStates

20. 20Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Long/Short-Term Orientation
20

21. 21Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Multicultural Competence
• Possess:
– Adequate knowledge,
attitudes and beliefs in
relation to diverse cultural
groups. Careful with
stereotypes!
– Knowledge about the impact
of cultural group membership
on clients and associates
– Appropriate interventions
skills in the delivery of
culturally sensitive services

22. 22Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
How to build multicultural competence
• Individual variables at a personal level:
– patterns of cultural assumptions about
mankind (worldview)
– value system, beliefs, and prejudices
– cultural group membership
– theoretical orientation.

23. 23Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Understanding personal filters -Exercise
• Share a prejudice you grew up with
–what others said about a certain
group. Examine it and see where
it comes from
• Explain when/if and how you became aware of the
underlying messages.
• As a group, compile a list of the prejudices that are still
prevalent. Reflect if you hold any of them.
• Look for exceptions
• Develop a relationship with a member of the group you
are prejudiced against

24. 24Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Multicultural competence -2-
• Situational level variables:
– Client’s, leaders, and workers presenting
issues
– Workforce issues
– Readiness for change
– Organizational environment
– Organizational cultural issues and pressures

25. 25Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Multicultural competence -3-
• Realistic self-efficacy based on:
– general awareness of culture and its impact
– actual performance
– up-to-date knowledge of cultural issues
– experience and reflection
– ongoing dialogue with colleagues and clients
– willingness to learn about other cultures (both
“book knowledge” and experiential)

26. 26Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Multicultural competence -4-
• Effective working alliance based on:
– Mutual respect
– Honesty about what is known and unknown about the
other’s culture
– Willingness to learn from others
– Striving for equality in the relationship

27. 27Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Best Multicultural Experience (Divide in pairs)
• What was the experience?
– .Who were the people involved?
– .What was your contribution?
– .How did you feel/how did others feel?
– .What was the outcome and how were your
“rewarded”?
– .How can you have more experiences like this
yourself?
– .How can more experiences like this be made to
occur in your organization?
– .Decide on an action you can take this week to make
a difference regarding cultural differences. Make a
commitment to let the other know and share what
happened.

28. 28Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Ethical Considerations for Leaders
• Nondiscrimination
• Competence
– Knowledge and awareness of cultural issues
• Self-Knowledge
– Awareness of own culture, assumptions, bias,
attitudes, beliefs etc.
– Comfort with difference
– Openness to multicultural experiences
– Respect for other cultures

29. 29Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Ethical Considerations -2-
• Communication Skills
– Intercultural communication skills
– Language skills
– Awareness of cultural differences in non-
verbal behavior
• Aware of Bias in Theory and Practice
• Aware of Bias in Assessment Practices
• Social Justice Perspective and Advocacy
Orientation

30. 30Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Ethical Considerations -3-
• Specific knowledge of major cultural
groups’ worldview, values, history, help-
seeking patterns, family factors, and
culturally appropriate helping strategies
• .Lifelong learning orientation

31. 31Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Recommended Readings
• Carr-Ruffino, Norma (1999). Diversity success
strategies. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.
• Cox, Taylor Jr. (2001). Creating the Multicultural
Organization: A Strategy for Capturing the Power of
Diversity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Hofstede, Geert (1997). Culture and organizations:
Software of the mind. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Morrison, Ann, and Crabtree, Kristen (1993). Developing
Diversity in Organizations: A Digest of Selected
Literature. Greensboro, NC: Center for Creative
Leadership.
• Rosinski, Philippe (2008 ed.). Coaching Across Cultures:
New tools for leveraging national, corporate &
professional differences. Boston, MA: Nicholas Brealby
Publishing..
• Trompenaars, Fons, and Hampden-Turner, Charles
(1998, 2nd
ed.). Riding the Waves of Culture. New York:

32. 32Culture in a Multicultural World-by Ada Luz Gonzalez, Ph.D.