Cross-Cultural Competence: What Role Does it Play Within the Military
Abstract
Cross-cultural competence (3C) has been conceptualized in many ways, but most definitions center on the ability to quickly understand and effectively act in a culture different from ones own (Abbe, Gulick, and Herman, 2008; McDonald, McGuire, Johnston, Semelski and Abbe, 2008; Selmeski, 2009). It is a vital element for military and civilian personnel who must frequently interact with people from other cultures, both here in the United States and when deployed or assigned to operate in other countries. Cross-cultural competence can prove to be very advantageous, as it equips individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics that enable them to function properly in culturally diverse situations. Furthermore, 3C provides the individual with the conscious knowledge of when and how to switch from an automatic home-culture international management mode to a more culturally appropriate, adaptable mode (Zakaria, 2000). Thus, 3C helps mitigate undesirable and costly outcomes by developing critical skills, including those needed for conflict resolution, communication, stress coping, language acquisition, tolerance for ambiguity, and adapting to living in other cultures (McDonald et al., 2008). The current paper addresses how 3C can enhance proficiency in cultural interactions and improve readiness in operational environments, as well as provide insight into some of the current efforts being employed in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to address such demands.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- AD1070238
Entities
People
- Daniel McDonald
- Elizabeth Culhane
- Loring J. Crepeau
- Patrice Reid
Organizations
- Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute