Global Brains: Knowledge and Competencies for the 21st Century

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Global Brains Knowledge and Competencies for the
21st Century

• by
• Gary Ferraro
• International Education Conference
• March 27, 2009

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The World Since 1988

• Lowering of Tariff Barriers
• Expansion of Free Markets
• Privatization
• Powerful Regional Alliances
• Technological Revolution

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Indicators of Globalization

• Foreign firms, local labor
• Who makes Nikes and BMWs?
• Tax information to Bangalore
• Outsourcing Religious Rituals

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EXAMPLE 1

• Kenyan student meets new father
• Pleased to meet you Old Man.
• Old Man became common term of address.
• Father becomes increasingly annoyed.
• Why was the father getting his knickers in a
  twist needlessly?

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EXAMPLE 2

• Thai mother brings her daughter to school on
  first day.
• Principal What a pretty child while patting
  her on the head.
• Mother looks shocked and leaves abruptly with her
  daughter.
• What did the principal do that could have
  offended the mother?

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EXAMPLE 3

• Taiwanese parents bring their son to an
  admissions interview.
• Father and son are given green baseball caps with
  school logo.
• Father and son look embarrassed and do not put on
  the hats.
• Why were the Taiwanese father and son so
  uncomfortable with the gift?

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Individualism-Collectivism

• Individual identity
• Few Obligations
• Strong individual interests
• Independence

• Group Identity
• Many obligations
• Strong group interests
• Interdependence

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Why study comparative values?

• See how value assumptions in different cultures
  can vary 180 degrees from one another.
• See that neither value assumption (individualism
  or collectivism) is inherently more
  rational------simply different.
• Better diagnose potential cross cultural
  misunderstandings and avoid misattributions.

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Communicating Across Cultures

• Language
• Nonverbal Communication
• Linguistic Style

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Communication Style

• Direct
• Explicit Message
• Confrontational
• Abhors Silence
• Many Words
• Speaking

• Indirect
• Implicit Messages
• No Confrontation
• Silence is valuable
• Few Words
• Listening

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How Do Others View Us?

• I thank God every day for sparing me from that
  terrible disaster.
• (Starr Jones, TV Host)

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Even our allies have different views

• Environment
• Capitol punishment
• Campaign finance
• Role of the United Nations
• Fuel economy for cars
• CEO compensation
• Global warming

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And. . . . . . .

• Role of government
• Labor relations
• Coping with terrorism
• Banning of land mines
• Public education
• Stem cell research
• Family values

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And. . . . . . . . . .

• Religion and government
• Corporate corruption
• Gun control
• Pre-emptive warfare
• Free trade
• Torture
• To mention just the obvious issues.