CHAPTER FIVE: Diversity and the Effects of Culture McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Diversity 4-2 Differences among group members Culture, ethnicity, religion, etc. Gender Sexual orientation Personality and learning style Differences of opinion

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Homogeneity 4-3 Groups composed of members who are similar or alike in group characteristics Groups composed of members who are different on one or more dimensions Heterogeneity

A group member’s culture is a major input variable that aids in determining that member’s behavior The workplace is beginning to be characterized by unprecedented diversity

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Diversity Advantages 4-5 Diversity can enhance a group’s performance, as long as members can integrate their perspectives ….provided members give up their ethnocentricity (the belief that one’s own culture is inherently superior)

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Motives for Joining 4-6  Task-oriented individuals  Focus: on control & achievement  Task is reason for group’s existence  Relationally-oriented individuals  Value human relationships more than task

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Learning Styles 4-7  Concrete-experience  Prefers learning by participating/doing  Reflective-observation  Prefers thinking reflectively  Abstract-conceptualization  Prefers reading/solitary study  Active-experimenting  Prefers trying different approaches

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Personality Differences 4-8 Myers-Briggs Measure of personality - classifies into 16 personality types according to scores on four dimensions:  Extraversion/Introversion  Sensing/Intuiting  Thinking/Feeling  Perceiving/Judging

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Culture 4-9 Culture: System of values, beliefs, symbols, norms, and behaviors shared by an identifiable group of individuals Co-culture : group that sees itself as distinct, but also part of larger grouping Affects everything you do, particularly how you communicate.

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Dimensions of Culture 4-10 Collectivism and Individualism  Collectivist cultures value the group over the individual  Individualist cultures value the individual over the group

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams 4-11 Power Distance (how power or status differences are minimized or maximized)  High Power distance cultures place a lot of emphasis on status differences  Low Power distance cultures tend to have a more equitable view Dimensions of Culture, 2

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams 4-12 Low and High Context  Low context cultures emphasize direct messages  High context cultures emphasize the situation to understand the meaning of the message Dimensions of Culture, 3

Racial and Ethnic Gender  Learned characteristics of masculinity and femininity Sex  Inherent biological characteristics of male and female with which people are born Differences

Communication Styles: Men & Women Expressive/Instrumental o Expressive: feelings, relationships o Instrumental: accomplishing task Task/Relationship o Task: task o Relationship: making sure members OK

Forcefulness o Talking, interrupting, claiming personal space, calling attention to self Individual/Group  Individual: focus on personal status  Group: focus on group’s accomplishments Communication Styles: Men & Women, 2

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Generational Differences 4-16 Co-cultural differences based on age  Builder generation: ; World War II & Depression  Boomer generation: ; Vietnam, Civil Rights, social upheaval of 60s

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams 4-17  Gen-X: ; Watergate, mistrust, parental divorce  Millennial/Net: ; technology, information/digital revolution Generational Differences, 2

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams Bridging Differences 4-18 Mindful Communication  Open to multiple perspectives, see world from differing viewpoints Fantasy  Discussion not focused on task  Symbolic convergence: creation of shared meaning through talk  Fantasy chain: group storytelling  Manifest (surface)  Latent (underlying)

Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice 14 th Edition Gloria J. Galanes & Katherine Adams 4-19 Appreciate diversity’s value Acknowledge differences Talk openly Form group identity Good communication to build collective competence Principles for Bridging Differences