| IntroductionIn 21st Century and in the era of | | | | onto other people's experience.This stage is |
| Knowledge Based Industry when global market | | | | particularly difficult to pass through when |
| in shrinking cross culture adaptation is not | | | | one cultural group has vast and unrecognized |
| only a MUST but is only a mantra to succeed. | | | | privileges when compared to other groups. |
| In my previous two employments, we had 15 and | | | | This problem is so invisible that persons in |
| 24 nationals respectively from different | | | | mainstream agencies are often mystified when |
| countries and many of our people from India | | | | representatives of ethnic minorities |
| go on Deputation to other countries and many | | | | consistently withdraw from collaborative |
| of them face challenges to cope-up with the | | | | activities.4. A reasonable goal for many |
| cultural change...behavioral | | | | mainstream agencies is to ensure that all |
| change.Understanding Intercultural | | | | staff achieve at least the fourth |
| SensitivityWhy you need to go out, India is a | | | | developmental level in intercultural |
| country with "Diversity in Culture". This | | | | sensitivity. The fourth stage in Bennett's |
| diversity is the result of the coexistence of | | | | model requires us to be able to shift |
| a number of religions as well as local | | | | perspective, while still maintaining our |
| traditions.The beautiful temples of south | | | | commitments to values. The task in this stage |
| India, easily identifiable by their ornately | | | | is to understand that the same behavior can |
| sculptured surface, in the desert of Kutch, | | | | have different meanings in different |
| Gujarat, on the other hand, the local folk | | | | cultures. The comparisons that follow in the |
| pit themselves against the awesome forces of | | | | Toolkit can be particularly helpful for staff |
| nature, in the extreme north is the high | | | | of mainstream agencies to improve their |
| altitude desert of Ladakh, Local culture is | | | | intercultural sensitivity in this stage of |
| visibly shaped by the faith - Buddhism - as | | | | development. In order for collaboration to be |
| well as by the harsh terrain.With over one | | | | successful long-term, this stage of |
| billion citizens, India is the second most | | | | intercultural sensitivity must be reached by |
| populous nation in the world. It is | | | | the participants of the collaborative |
| impossible to speak of any one Indian | | | | process. Bennett calls this stage |
| culture, although there are deep cultural | | | | "acceptance."5. The fifth stage of |
| continuities that tie its people together.In | | | | intercultural sensitivity, adaptation, may |
| its quest for modernization, India has | | | | allow the person to function in a bicultural |
| preserved its ancient civilization and never | | | | capacity. In this stage, a person is able to |
| lost sight of the ideals that gave her | | | | take the perspective of another culture and |
| strength through countless centuries. Science | | | | operate successfully within that culture. |
| and technology has been steadily raising the | | | | This ability usually develops in a two-part |
| living standard and prosperity of its people, | | | | sequence. It requires that the person know |
| but the nation of more than one billion | | | | enough about his or her own culture and a |
| people - one sixth of humanity - continues to | | | | second culture to allow a mental Shift into |
| live with some of its traditional values that | | | | the value scheme of the other culture, and an |
| go back 4,000 years and more. See this | | | | evaluation of behavior based on its norms, |
| synthesis of tradition and modernity on your | | | | not the norms of the first individual culture |
| India Travel itinerary.Developmental Model of | | | | of origin. This is referred to as "cognitive |
| Intercultural Sensitivity"Global diversity is | | | | adaptation." The more advanced form of |
| the recognition and development of skills to | | | | adaptation is "behavioral adaptation," in |
| deal with differences on both international | | | | which the person can produce behaviors |
| and domestic fronts." -Dr. Milton BennettHow | | | | appropriate to the norms of the second |
| can we help employees in our organizations | | | | culture. Persons serving as liaisons between |
| succeed in an increasingly complex workplace? | | | | a mainstream agency and an ethnic minority |
| Our function is to clarify what cultural | | | | group need to be at this level of |
| competence is and why it is needed, and to | | | | intercultural sensitivity.6. In the sixth |
| help employees enhance understanding of their | | | | stage, the person can shift perspectives and |
| own culture, and increase their intercultural | | | | frames of reference from one culture to |
| sensitivity and competence. | | | | another in a natural way. They become adept |
| | | | at evaluating any situation from multiple |
| In 1986, Bennett created the Developmental | | | | frames of reference. Some representatives in |
| Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, which | | | | cross-cultural collaboration may reach this |
| shows a progression of stages people may go | | | | level, but most probably will not.Stage six |
| through in developing intercultural | | | | requires in-depth knowledge of at least two |
| competency. Since then, he has partnered with | | | | cultures (one's own and another), and the |
| Dr. Mitch Hammer of American University to | | | | ability to shift easily into the other |
| develop the Intercultural Development | | | | cultural frame of reference. The task at this |
| Inventory (IDI). (The inventory is a set of | | | | level of development is to handle the |
| statements that allows an individual to | | | | identity issues that emerge from this |
| assess his/her developmental stage of | | | | cultural flexibility. Bennett calls this |
| intercultural sensitivity according to the | | | | final stage of intercultural sensitivity |
| DMIS. This tool is valuable because it | | | | "integration."Building Intercultural |
| measures people's ability to experience | | | | Development Inventory (IDI), a tool to build |
| difference in relatively complex ways).Why | | | | individual and team effectivenessThe ability |
| there is Resistance...Tool to understand | | | | to communicate effectively with people of |
| resistanceDevelopment of intercultural | | | | different backgrounds, cultures, or |
| competence does not come without a struggle; | | | | perspectives is essential to creating an |
| some employees will protest these efforts. | | | | inclusive, productive, and innovative work |
| Bennett's model helps us understand that the | | | | environment. This is the basis for leveraging |
| basic form of resistance is a defense | | | | peoples' inputs to improve business |
| response. People who respond to diversity | | | | results.Each member of a team or an |
| efforts in this way are often moving from the | | | | organization must build this competence to a |
| model's first stage of intercultural | | | | degree consistent with their responsibilities |
| sensitivity, denial (a failure to recognize | | | | and work. It is therefore important to be |
| that cultural differences exist) into the | | | | able to measure intercultural sensitivity and |
| second stage, defense (recognition of | | | | guide development for individuals, teams, and |
| differences). Often, people at this stage may | | | | organizations.The Intercultural Development |
| express concern about reverse discrimination. | | | | Inventory, developed by Dr. Mitchell Hammer |
| "Recognition of the fact that differences do | | | | and Dr. Milton Bennett, is a 50-item, |
| exist carries a threat," he says. The | | | | theory-based paper and pencil or web-based |
| reaction is to defend one's self. Bennett | | | | instrument that measures intercultural |
| recommends listening carefully to the | | | | sensitivity as conceptualized in Dr. |
| person's fears and to help them understand | | | | Bennett's Developmental Model of |
| how the organization will continue to extend | | | | Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS).The DMIS is |
| opportunities to this person's cultural | | | | a framework for explaining the reactions of |
| group, even as efforts expand to include | | | | people to cultural differences. The |
| other cultural groups.The model predicts that | | | | underlying assumption of the model is that as |
| as time goes by, people can move from defense | | | | one's experience of cultural differences |
| (stage two) into minimization (stage three). | | | | becomes more complex, one's potential |
| "With minimization, there's more recognition | | | | competence in intercultural interactions |
| that we're dealing with people that are | | | | increases. Dr. Bennett has identified a set |
| different, but there's still resistance to | | | | of fundamental cognitive structures (or |
| that idea," Bennett explains. "The belief is | | | | "worldviews") that act as orientations to |
| that somehow if we are more open in making | | | | cultural difference.The worldviews vary from |
| sure that equal opportunity exists, everyone | | | | more ethnocentric to more ethnorelative. |
| should be grateful and follow a set of | | | | According to the DMIS theory, more |
| rules." Someone in this stage may say, "Why | | | | ethnorelative worldviews have more potential |
| can't we all just be Americans?" A person at | | | | to generate the attitudes, knowledge, and |
| this stage hopes that we will all converge | | | | behavior that constitute intercultural |
| into a single cultural position. Of course, | | | | competence.The IDI measures an individual's |
| this position assumes people are able and | | | | and/or group's fundamental worldview |
| willing to shed their culture and take on | | | | orientation to cultural difference, and thus |
| American culture.How to address | | | | the individual or group capacity for |
| backlashBennett recommends several approaches | | | | intercultural competence. As a theory-based |
| to addressing backlash:· Cultural | | | | test, the IDI meets the standard scientific |
| Self-Awareness: Help employees develop | | | | criteria for a valid and reliable |
| cultural awareness, including (if applicable) | | | | psychometric instrument.Key Characteristics |
| identification of European American ethnicity | | | | of the IDIThe IDI is currently administered |
| versus stopping at a more specific cultural | | | | as a paper and pencil instrument composed of |
| self-awareness (such as Italian or | | | | 50 questions that are designed to measure an |
| Irish).· Recognition of Cultural Capital: | | | | individual's sensitivity to and awareness of |
| Prepare employees to deal with issues of | | | | cultural differences. The survey consists of |
| privilege in a non-threatening way. Help them | | | | statements reflecting attitudes toward |
| to identify their own cultural capital (what | | | | cultural difference, and responses are scored |
| it means to belong to their own group and how | | | | on a five-point Likert-type scale. The |
| that translates into institutional | | | | instrument takes approximately 20 to 30 |
| privilege).· Establishing a Cultural Core: | | | | minutes to complete. The results are |
| Facilitate an exploration of value commitment | | | | compiled and a graphic profile of an |
| in the context of intercultural relativity.In | | | | individual or group's predominant stage of |
| other words, we need to recognize that our | | | | intercultural development is generated. In |
| values are culturally based. Then, we must | | | | addition, IDI results provide a textual |
| develop the capability of working effectively | | | | interpretation of an individual or group's |
| with people with different values without | | | | stage of development and associated |
| feeling the need to give up our own values | | | | transition issues. Administration of the IDI |
| system. "I find that most diversity | | | | is often accompanied by a pre-interview, in |
| practitioners don't have the ability to deal | | | | which respondents are asked about their |
| with this," He says. "[The tendency is to | | | | backgrounds and prior experiences with |
| think] if there aren't any basic values, | | | | different cultures. In addition, individuals |
| which by the way are mine, how do we work and | | | | and groups are provided with their IDI |
| live ethically?"Bennett envisions this model | | | | results in conjunction with a mandatory |
| extending beyond domestic to international | | | | debriefing session that is facilitated by a |
| diversity efforts. "Global diversity is the | | | | trained and certified IDI administrator.The |
| recognition and development of skills to deal | | | | IDI is a proprietary instrument that may only |
| with differences on both international and | | | | be administered by individuals who receive |
| domestic fronts," says Bennett.Many | | | | certification from the Intercultural |
| organizations realize that diversity efforts | | | | Communication Institute |
| involve on-going change strategies rather | | | | (ICI).ConclusionToday, the importance of |
| than one-time training events.There is also a | | | | intercultural competence in both global and |
| move toward coupling international and | | | | domestic contexts is well recognized. Bennett |
| domestic diversity, and aligning | | | | (1986, 1993b) posited a framework for |
| intercultural competence with leadership | | | | conceptualizing dimensions of intercultural |
| development. "The danger [in these trends] of | | | | competence in his developmental model of |
| course is that international issues may be | | | | intercultural sensitivity (DMIS). The DMIS |
| seen as diffusing other important [domestic | | | | constitutes a progression of worldview |
| diversity] issues," Bennett cautions. Our | | | | "orientations toward cultural difference" |
| challenge, then, is to maintain the emphasis | | | | that comprise the potential for increasingly |
| on domestic issues within the context of the | | | | more sophisticated intercultural experiences. |
| larger global diversity effort.Stages of | | | | Three ethnocentric orientations, where one's |
| Intercultural SensitivityIn the '80's and | | | | culture is experienced as central to reality |
| 90's organizations have attempted to go | | | | (Denial, Defense, Minimization), and three |
| beyond mere discrimination issues and even to | | | | ethnorelative orientations, where one's |
| "celebrate diversity." However, celebration | | | | culture is experienced in the context of |
| of diversity falls far short of what is | | | | other cultures (Acceptance, Adaptation, |
| needed for effective collaboration between | | | | Integration), are identified in the |
| mainstream agencies and ethnic minority | | | | DMIS.References1. Bennett, M.J. (1986). |
| communities. For organizations or individuals | | | | Towards ethnorelativism: A developmental |
| to move beyond "celebration" to a real | | | | model of intercultural sensitivity. In R.M. |
| ability to work appropriately with cultural | | | | Paige (Ed.) Cross-cultural orientation: New |
| difference requires a planned sequence of | | | | conceptualizations and applications (pp. |
| development.Bennett describes six stages of | | | | 27-70). New York: University Press of |
| development in intercultural sensitivity. The | | | | America.2. Bennett, M.J. (1993). Towards |
| stages provide a good framework for | | | | ethnorelativism: A developmental model of |
| determining how to work with and improve the | | | | intercultural sensitivity. In R. M. Paige |
| capacity for intercultural sensitivity and | | | | (Ed.), Education for the intercultural |
| collaboration. Some of his stages of | | | | experience (pp. 21-71). Yarmouth, ME: |
| "cultural sensitivity" include behaviors or | | | | Intercultural Press.3. Bennett, M.J. & |
| adaptations the authors include under the | | | | Hammer, M. (1998).4. Bikson, T.K., & Law, |
| definition of "cultural competence."1. | | | | S.A. (1994). Global preparedness and human |
| Bennett refers to the first stage of the | | | | resources. Santa Monica, CA: Rand |
| model as "denial." It means that people in | | | | Institute.5. Dougherty, D., Lynch, R.A., & |
| this stage are very unaware of cultural | | | | Ohles, F. (2003). Review of the Intercultural |
| difference. If mainstream agency staff are in | | | | Development Inventory (IDI) for assessing |
| this stage of intercultural sensitivity, a | | | | outcomes of a liberal arts education. Center |
| huge problem can be expected in the delivery | | | | of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts: Wabash, |
| of education, health, and social services for | | | | IN.6. Endicott, L., Bock, T., & Narvaez, D. |
| ethnic minorities, a gap that does currently | | | | (2002, April). Learning processes at the |
| exist when these groups are compared to Anglo | | | | intersection of ethical and intercultural |
| Americans. The task for staff at this first | | | | education. Paper presented at the Annual |
| stage of intercultural sensitivity is to | | | | Meeting of the American Educational Research |
| recognize cultural differences that are | | | | Association, New Orleans.7. Paige, R., |
| escaping their notice.2. Whereas in the first | | | | Jacobs-Cassuto, M., Yershova, Y.A., & |
| stage we do not "see" cultural differences, | | | | DeJaeghere, J. (2003). Assessing |
| in the second stage of cultural competence we | | | | intercultural sensitivity: An empirical |
| do perceive cultural differences; however, | | | | analysis of Hammer and Bennett's |
| differences from ourselves or the norms of | | | | Intercultural Development Inventory. |
| our group are labeled very negatively. They | | | | International Journal of Intercultural |
| are experienced as a threat to the centrality | | | | Relations, 27: 467-486.About Author |
| and "rightness" of our own value system. | | | | |
| Bennett calls this stage "defense."3. In the | | | | Sanjeev Himachali |
| third stage of intercultural sensitivity, | | | | |
| minimization, we try to avoid stereotypes and | | | | E-mail: , Blog: can read my ITES-BPO |
| even appreciate differences in language and | | | | related articles at and (Himachali) Sharma, |
| culture. However, we still view many of our | | | | is a 29 yrs of age from India, having six |
| own values as universal, rather than viewing | | | | years of experience in "Human Resource |
| them simply as part of our own ethnicity. The | | | | Development". By qualification, he is |
| task at the third level of intercultural | | | | Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business |
| sensitivity is to learn more about our own | | | | Administration. He is also a Motivational and |
| culture and to avoid projecting that culture | | | | Inspirational writer and speaker. |