Exercise #5

 

 

“Outsourced” - the movie study guide- Exercise #5

Dimensions with the Person and the Situation - add answers to questions #3,4,7,8

 

Cultural Dimension	Character: Todd	Outsourced Scene or Circumstance
Communication- direct/indirect	Straight, Efficient and fluent	At the American office with his boss and at india with Puro and the employees. He engages in discussion with the employees on how to improve the performance of the business.
Status- achieved / ascribed	Todd has a high class status	Many Indians give him a warm reception usually given to the high class people. The children also view him as a rich person as evidenced by the beggar who stole a phone from him
Accountability – Individual / group	Very accountable	Todd shows his accountability when he tells the employees that their jobs have been outsorced to China.
Planning – People / time	Time conscious	He sets a timeline to lower the MPI to 6 which he achieves in three weeks.
Decision-making: rules / relations	Has excellent decision making skills	By chosing Aisha to be the assistant manager who then proves to be competent.
Expression – Reveal / conceal	Reveals his emotions. Do not hide	When having stomach problems at india and when angry at Puro for not coaching the employees. Also he shows that he loves Aisha.
Connecting – Inclusive / exclusive	Connects easily with people.	He connected with his employees which enabled them to lower the MPI to six.
Context – Informal / formal	The context of the movie is informal.	Many events happening in the movie are unplanned unlike a formal setting where many events happen in a chronological order. The color celebration and the singing and dancing are examples of an informal setting. However, the movie has elements of a formal setting due to the structure of management in Todd’s company.
Relationship-Universal/situation	Very good at developing relationships	He made friends with Puro, became a boyfriend to Aisha and also had good relations with the beggars
Outlook – Tradition/ innovation	The movie is set in the modern world.	The activities conducted are in the modern world. Outsourcing, use of computers and hotel booking

 

 

Reflection

Create a reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint I give you. Show that you really understand the above cultural concepts.

1. As soon as Todd arrives, he experiences the discomfort of being disoriented in a
strange new place. What happens at the airport?

As soon as Todd arrives at the airport, he finds no one to pick him up against contrary to his expectations. Todd is amazed by the large numbers of taxis and taxi drivers who wants him to use their services. While the taxi drivers are nagging Todd, he spots another driver by the side of the road that is cool and relaxed. Hoping to use the taxi services, the driver puts Todd’s luggage in another vehicle that looks like a blend between a car and a motor bike. Todd has no option but to get in the vehicle and go.

2. When a friendly traveler helps him get on the train, what does he tell him to do?
The friendly traveller advises Todd to run after the train and jump on it.

3. When he gets on the train, he cannot find an empty seat. How is this problem
solved for him? How might this be a cultural solution?

A young boy gives up his seat for Todd. Surprisingly, the boy then sits on Todd’s laps. This can be a cultural solution where the young respect the elderly by giving up their seats for them.

4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying new food. His first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?

Looking at Todd’s expression, he enjoys the drink as evidenced by the passion with which he drinks it.
5. First encounters with a culture can be shocking – Todd sees crowded streets with
cows, noise, and a man urinating in the street. But how does his host describe the
city?
The host describes Mumbai as terrible. He also adds that many foreigners in India usually have a bad experience.
6. Even though the host Puro speaks English, Todd uses American slang a lot
without thinking. So as not to insult Puro, what does he say the meaning of
Schmuck is?
Todd ignores the question and brings up another topic.
7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he comes to a boarding house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?

Puro argues that the hotel is a lonely place and he won’t be comfortable there.

8. As soon as they meet, Aunti Ji starts asking very intimate questions that
Americans who have just met would never ask. What kind of things does she ask?
Aunti Ji asks about the occupation of Todd’s father. She also asks Todd whether he is married or not. Whether he has a girlfriend,

 

 

 

CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD MAKE DECISIONS - Exercise #4

Cultural Conflict

            Intercultural conflict is a type of conflict which involves two parties having an incompatibility and disagreement base on diametrically opposing views, beliefs and ideologies. This is brought about by deeply rooted and ingrained cultural values clashing with a set of totally different ones from a different culture domain. The following case study involves a case of inter-culture conflict, its analysis and recommendations. Abby Lennon is a typical American girl and a close friend. She is a resident and studies in New York where she was born and brought up.

Question 1: Example of inter-cultural conflict which someone the writer knows has experienced. . It involves one person from own culture.

 Recently, Abby went on a charity mission to Tanzania in Africa and experienced a first-hand intercultural conflict. The Maasai people she was working with hold a cultural value of girls undergoing initiation to be valued as complete women. Abby was met with resistance and lack of cooperation when she approached the men to teach them the dangers of female genital mutilation on their daughters. They opposed the attack on their long life cultural practice of initiating girls into womanhood (Delpit, 2013).

Question 2:  Describe the conflict objectively, explaining the factors which led to the conflict and how it was or was not resolved.
            The intercultural due to differences conflict impeded Abby’s mission of conducting a civil education programme about dangers of FGM. The Maasai people were resistive and uncooperative finding it offensive for one to denounce such a strong rooted cultural practice. Abby came from a liberal metropolis in New York where people were more liberal and open minded. She saw no big deal in her taking the campaign mission to their doorstep. This was a norm rather the exception from where she came from. Her intentions and actions were purely to educate the locals about the dangers and effects of FGM). The Maasai saw this as an intrusion and threat to their norms and lifestyle. To resolve the conflict, Abby realised she had to go down a peg and make a few concession. She stood to lose by failing to meet her expected goals set by the mission head. She changed strategy from a direct approach and communal address to a more indirect proxy communication. She talked the area chief and headman, and they agreed to convene a forum where selected community leaders were trained to retrain their peers. She also took a less conspicuous door to door one on one campaign strategy where the men felt less threatened or publicly challenged by the same lady. She also did away with an all-out attack on FGM and acknowledged its cultural importance to them but cautioned and pointed out the negatives of the practice (Delpit, 2013).

Question 3:     Apply the worldview theory (innocence/guilt, honour/shame, power/fear) to your example and try to analyse each person’s perspective. Analysis should demonstrate your understanding of all three worldviews. Remember to support your opinions with examples and evidence.
            Abby had approached the projected on an innocent/guilt world perspective. She came out with a blunt message that FGM was bad. She tried using deductive reasoning that FGM endangered the woman in giving birth to future. The Maasai, however, held the honour/shame perspective. They believed the initiation process was culturally honourable as a passage of right. One who resisted or denounced it brought dishonour and shame to her family. The Maasai world view also conflicted with the power/fear view Abby and a powerful U.N agency she worked under which to the Maasai was seeking to dominate them. The mission body and Abby in perspective were representing a powerful side imposing their beliefs and culture on the Maasai people.

Question 4: Using your intercultural intelligence, recommend a better way to respond to the conflict.
            A recommended way of resolving intercultural conflict is by understanding and respecting of others cultures. The first step is in understanding and acknowledging the different views and beliefs held. The second part is to find common grounds of agreement and work towards them. Both parties should be willing to make concessions and avoid rigidity in their stands. Combining aspects of different views to appeal to all is vital. In the end, tolerance and respect should be adopted in dealing with intercultural differences whenever