Chapter 3: Intercultural Competences
3. Three Levels of Intercultural Competence
What qualities do managers need in order to turn implicit cultural conflicts into explicit ones?
Intercultural learning is divided into similar areas by most researchers. While A. Thomas uses the attributes affectiveness, cognition and behaviour (cf. Müller and Gelbrich, 2004, p. 794), Hofstede describes intercultural competence as a process of three levels: awareness, knowledge and skills (cf. Hofstede, 2001).
Figure: Elements of intercultural competence (Own illustration based on Hofstede, 2001)
For Schulz von Thun (1989, p. 107) there are "Three Streets of Learning", which consist of:
- Self-discovery (emotional or affective)
- Transmitting information (cognitive)
- Behavioural training (actional, behavioural)
Affective level
On the affective level, an awareness process has to set in, so you can recognise your own cultural bias and put it into perspective. Awareness first and foremost means that you need to be aware of the fact that your own culture is bound by prejudice and norms. This includes the recognition that the environment in which you were raised in is just as valid for you as it is for those who were programmed with another set of "software". There is no objective truth; every culture has found its own unique solutions of how to deal with difficulties and how to solve its problems. You need the ability to empathise, to tolerate ambiguity and to endure contradictory situations, as well as respect for differing viewpoints and a curiosity for new challenges.
On the affective level, an awareness process has to set in, so you can recognise your own cultural bias and put it into perspective. Awareness first and foremost means that you need to be aware of the fact that your own culture is bound by prejudice and norms. This includes the recognition that the environment in which you were raised in is just as valid for you as it is for those who were programmed with another set of "software". There is no objective truth; every culture has found its own unique solutions of how to deal with difficulties and how to solve its problems. You need the ability to empathise, to tolerate ambiguity and to endure contradictory situations, as well as respect for differing viewpoints and a curiosity for new challenges.
Cognitive level
The cognitive level includes knowledge about the foreign culture, language, regional and cultural conventions, politics, history as well as various values and norms. At the same time, this level also includes an understanding of various patterns of cultural value systems (such as, for instance, the varying polarities of organisational cultures), which make it easier to classify differences.
This knowledge also includes all forms of perception, thoughts, values and actions that are seen as obligatory by the majority of the members of a particular culture. Cultural anthropologists like Hall, Hofstede, Lewis and Trompenaars have created classification systems for intercultural differences that can be used for recognising patterns in intercultural experience (cf. Unit 2 "Cultural Dimensions").
Behavioural level
Finally, the behavioural level requires the ability to use awareness and knowledge in practice. Use your skills by utilising techniques of meta-level communication and active listening (cf. Unit 3 "Communication, Prejudice and Racism") as well as the skills to switch perspectives and re-frame situations in a new way (in this Unit). An essential condition for competence in acting interculturally is the readiness and ability to deal with the "foreign" in an appreciatively way (cf. Unit 2 "Cultural Dimensions" for cultural dimensions and square of values).
Major source of information: Berninghausen Hecht-El Minshawi 2015