MODULE 2:
DEFINING ICC 👥
I N T R O D U C T I O N
ICC stands for 'Intercultural Communication Compentence'
In order to define ICC it is necessary to define the following:
• Culture
• Corporate Culture
• Cross-Cultural Competence
First of all, culture is defined by different keywords:
• Art
• Attitudes
• Beliefs
• Language
• Customs
• Rituals
• Behaviour
• Religion
• Food
The iceberg can show is the difference between the visible and invisible aspects of culture:
C U L T U R E
Definitation ⭐
Can be looked at as the ''collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another''
Culture is also believed to be inherited in which we share memories, metaphors, maxims, rituals, traditions, beliefs and myths.
Culture can also be suggested as being a mix of 3 elements:
• Civilization
• Behaviour and speech patterns
• Discourse structures and skills
C O R P O R A T E - C U L T U R E
Definitation ⭐
In today’s business world, we will all end up working in corporate cultures and therefor it's important to understand corporate culture in order to be able to work in a efficient way
Corporate culture in a pyramidal structure with 3 different levels.
• Rules and processes
– visible part of this iceberg
• Beliefs, norms and values
– background information according to which actions are performed
• Organization starting point
– state of the mind of the person who started the business
Company culture means all the ways of thinking, feeling and acting which are common to the members of a same organization
Company culture refers to the following keywords that are common in to the people working in the same organization:
• Norms
• Attitudes
• Business customs
• Beliefs
• Common values
C R O S S - C U L T U R A L - C O M P E T E N C E
Refers to the knowledge, skills, and affect/motivation that enable individuals to adapt effectively in cross-cultural environments
Although some aspects of cognition, behavior or affect may be particularly relevant in a specific country or region, evidence suggests that a core set of competencies enables adaptation to any culture (Hammer, 1987).
So... What is ICC?
Intercultural competence is to a large extent the ability to cope with one's own cultural background in interaction with others
It requires certain attitudes - including curiosity and openness as well as readiness to see other cultures and the speaker's own without being judgmental
To secure success in ICC one should develop the following competences:
• Awareness
• Attitudes
• Skills
• Knowledge and language proficiency
It also necessary to be able to show:
• Respect
• Empathy
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Interest
• Curiosity
• Openness
• ….
D A N I S H - C U L T U R E
Demogracy
Welfare state -> Belgium has a very extensive social security system
Humour is another essential element. To many Danes, humour and irony are closely linked -> Humor as a part of Belgian culture as well
Music festivals -> very common in Belgium as well
Self irony
The word 'hygge'