1. Multicultural Awareness
Iceberg Theory

2. You As A Culturally Diverse Entity
Source: Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe, Managing diversity: A complete desk reference and planning guide, 1993

3. Who Are You?
You belong to multiple circles
(e.g. North American, student,
etc.)
Source: Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe, Managing diversity: A complete desk reference and planning guide, 1993

4. What is Culture?
How would you define culture?

5. Definition of Culture
Culture is “the collective programming of
the mind that distinguishes the
members of one group or category of
people from others.”
(p.4)
Source: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005

6. Three Levels of Uniqueness in
Mental Programming
Specific to Inherited and
individual learned
Personality
Specific to
group or Culture Learned
category
Universal Inherited
Human Nature
Source: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005

7. THREE CULTURES MODEL
National
Culture
Corporate Personal
Culture Culture
Source: Gardenswartz, L. et.al, The global diversity desk reference, 2003

8. Iceberg Theory:
Sources of Differences Between Countries and
Groups Culture is like an iceberg.
Most of what we know
IDENTITY about people is hidden
Language below the surface (their
Food
Rules, Laws
thinking, values, etc.)
Values (Software
of the mind)
Adapted From: Geert Hofstede & Gert Jan Hofstede, Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, 2005

9. Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
Denial Defense Minimization Acceptance Adaptation Integration
Source: M.J. Bennett, The Intercultural Communication Institute

10. Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
Ethnocentric Stages
 Denial of differences
 Defense against difference
 Minimization of difference
Ethnorelative Stages
 Acceptance of difference
 Adaptation of difference
 Integration of difference
Source: M.J. Bennett, The Intercultural Communication Institute

11. Example:INDIA

12. INDIA FACTS
 Population: 1 billion
 16.7% of world’s population
 Median Age: 24.9
 Literacy Rate: 59.5%
 English Speaking: 350 million

13. Religions
 Religions:
 Hindu 80.5%
 Muslim 13.4%
 Christian 2.3%
 Sikh 1.9%
 Other 1.8%
 Unspecified 0.1%

14. Food
 Religious value (Non-violence, halaal,
caste taboos)
 Symbolic value (fasting)
 Societal value (hospitality)

15. Gujarati Thali
This is a typical
vegetarian meal
in the state of
Gujarat, India.