Essential Competencies

Essential competencies for cross-cultural knowledge absorption

Executive Summary Writing Assignment

Prepared By

Nagendra Tatapudi

Tea Tran

Ravi Krishnan

Prepared For

Dr. Steve D. Ugbah

Managerial Communication

California State University, East Bay

MKTG 6120.01

February 10, 2009

Introduction

The authors of the article conducted a thorough literature review in information processing and experiential approaches in knowledge absorption to develop a comprehensive competency-based model of cross-cultural knowledge absorption. The authors describe the competencies required by the managers to effectively engage in cross-culture knowledge absorption. The authors also suggest the readers how this competency based model can be used in training, assessing, monitoring and planning cross-culture knowledge absorption.

Competencies as described in cross cultural knowledge absorption model

The competencies described in the articles' cross cultural knowledge absorption model are categorized into 4 sets given below:

✓ Generation of new internal knowledge happens by cultivating and opening up to new experiences

– Valuing different cultures: This competency not only involves knowing abstract differences between various cultures, but also having appreciation for how these differences is expressed in the daily life.

– Building relationships: This competency involves creating opportunities to interact with people from host culture or people with knowledge of host culture.

✓ Gathering new internal knowledge

– Listening and observing: Involves patiently observing and listening to people from the host culture for verbal and non verbal clues while handling other pressing demands and expectations. Understanding the local language can help in listening and observing better.

✓ Organizing extant internal knowledge

– Coping with ambiguity: It involves seeing ambiguous situation as just new situations and problems as...