Intercultural Communication Training for Cargill Employees

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how anxiety\uncertainty management (AUM) theory can be applied to intercultural adjustment training and to examine the role of individualism-collectivism in training within this theoretical perspective. Initially, the theory, as applied to intercultural adjustment, is summarized briefly. Next, a seven session training program based upon the theory is suggested. Cultural similarities and differences in individualism-collectivism are discussed as ways to help trainees manage their uncertainty.

Table of Content

ABSTRACTII

INTRODUCTION1

DISCUSSION1

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH2

AN OUTLINE OF AUM THEORY APPLIED TO ADJUSTMENT2

A THEORY-BASED ADJUSTMENT TRAINING PROGRAM6

TRAINING PROGRAM6

SELF CONCEPTS: MINDFULNESS8

MOTIVATION10

REACTIONS TO HOST NATIONALS11

SOCIAL CATEGORIZATION12

SITUATIONAL PROCESSES13

CONNECTIONS WITH HOST NATIONALS14

ETHICAL INTERACTIONS15

AUM THEORY INTERACTIONS16

CONDITIONS IN HOST CULTURE17

WRAP-UP SESSION18

AXIOM 3518

AXIOM 3618

AXIOM 3719

AXIOM 3819

AXIOM 3919

CONCLUSION20

REFERENCES21

Introduction

Over the past 13 years, I have been developing a theory of effective interpersonal\intergroup communication and intercultural adjustment that incorporates cultural variability. Initially, I extended Berger and Calabrese (1975)) uncertainty reduction theory (URT) to intergroup communication (Gudykunst, 1985). I selected URT as the starting point for several reasons. First, URT intuitively made sense to me. Second, URT included concepts (e.g. similarity) that allowed a straight-forward extension to intergroup contexts. Third, I could see direct application of URT to intercultural effectiveness.

Discussion

After the initial extension, Mitch Hammer and I incorporated anxiety into an uncertainty\anxiety based theory of intercultural adjustment (Gudykunst and Hammer, 1988) and I proffered a general theory of effective interpersonal and intergroup communication and intercultural adjustment (Gudykunst, 1988).fn2 Anxiety and uncertainty are critical factors in understanding effective communication and intercultural adjustment. To clearly distinguish the theory from URT, I refer to it as anxiety\uncertainty management (AUM) theory.Gudykunst (1993) was the first to use this label. My major goal in developing AUM theory was making it applicable to improving the quality of communication and adjusting to living in new cultures.

AUM theory (Gudykunst, 1988; Gudykunst, 1993; Gudykunst, 1994 and Gudykunst, 1995; Gudykunst and Hammer, 1988; Gudykunst and Kim, 1997; Gudykunst and Sudweeks, 1992) can be used to design theory-based training programs to help trainees improve their communication or adjust to new cultures. AUM theory is based on the assumption that managing uncertainty and anxiety is necessary and sufficient for effective communication and intercultural adjustment (seeGao and Gudykunst, 1990 and Hammer et al., 1992 for empirical tests of the assumption, ). When AUM theory is applied to intercultural adjustment, the argument is that the basic cause of intercultural adjustment is strangers' (e.g. sojourners') abilities to manage their uncertainty and anxiety in the host culture. When strangers can manage their anxiety and uncertainty they will feel comfortable in the host culture. Other concepts often associated with intercultural adjustment affect the amount of uncertainty and anxiety sojourners experience, but are not directly related to intercultural adjustment.

Purpose of the Research

My purpose in this article is to demonstrate how AUM theory can be used to design intercultural adjustment training programs and to discuss the role of individualism-collectivism in managing uncertainty in the host culture. Before applying the theory, a brief summary of the theory as it applies to adjustment is ...