Overview
Cultural exchanges in the work environment are complicated by their very nature. However, differences in race, ethnicity, class, gender, and religion can add to the complexity and further intensify even the most basic misunderstanding. In order for you to more fully comprehend this phenomenon, your first assignment (and the first of three for your course project) will begin in the context of the work place.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assignment criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze the influence of culture on attitudes, values, perception, human behavior, and interpersonal relations.
Explain why an identified problem is relevant or important to fostering the understanding of diversity issues.
Competency 2: Analyze individual cultural competencies.
Identify individual cultural competencies.
Analyze one's own cultural knowledge, awareness, sensitivity, and actions.
Competency 3: Analyze culturally and developmentally appropriate intervention strategies.
Describe the essential elements of a cultural conflict.
Competency 4: Apply theories, methods, and research in cross-cultural awareness.
Describe a project research question.
Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the human
services profession.
Communicate in a professional manner, using concise, well organized, and grammatically correct writing that incorporates appropriate
APA style and conventions.
Assignment Instructions
Part 1
Describe a fictional or real-life, work related conflict that has arisen from, and is complicated by, cultural differences. This scenario will serve as the basis for your course project.
Write a two-page narrative detailing pertinent information about your scenario including:
A clear statement of the conflict and project research question.
A description of the essential elements of the conflict, including any relevant details leading up to the conflict.
A discussion of the cultural competencies of the participants.
A rationale for the relevance or importance of this scenario to foster the understanding of diversity issues.
Part 2
It is also important for you to be aware of your own cultural competencies or how well you are able to act with people from other cultures. At the end of this course, you will be asked to assess how participating in this course has contributed to your personal and professional growth. In order to do that, it is helpful to have a starting point for your reflection. Refer to the Sperry (2012) article on cultural competencies from this unit's readings.
Continue your narrative and reflect on your cultural knowledge, awareness, sensitivity, and action-the four components of cultural competence outlined by Sperry. Be explicit in your reflection and assess your ability in each area as very high, high, average, low, or very low. This section should be one page.
When you have completed your description, submit your paper in the assignment area. Your instructor will provide you with feedback and give his or her approval for your selected topic.
Submission Requirements
Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
Length: Three pages, double spaced.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.