Leadership and Culture: Cultural Navigator

While examining the Cultural Navigator website (www.culturalnavigator.com), it is immediately apparent how the site is useful. For the businessperson, the missionary or the resident of a multi-cultural world, this site has the potential to be somewhat of a “go to” resource to not only assist with general interactions, but to also promote business development. Though the site is easily navigable, holds useful assessment tools and is a wealth of information and instruction, it lacks general information on one of the most important and far-reaching aspects of any culture: its religious beliefs.

The first impression of the website is pleasant, with both a drop down and side menu that are easily navigable, it does not take long for one to figure out where the needed information is located. Ease of use is only one of the many good aspects of this site. Perhaps its greatest strength is found in the Cultural Orientations Indicator (COI). Though the demonstration account does not allow the full experience of this assessment, the instructional video provides useful information as to its purpose and the usefulness included within the results. The sheer breadth of topics covered within the report allows a person to understand how they react and interact in specific areas even as “minimal” as personal space. Connected to the COI is the comparison ability.

The ability to understand how a person conceptualizes actions and interactions with people and objects in their environment (Cultural Navigator, n.d.) is good for self-assessment, but taken to a new level with the ability to compare those results with that of another team member. To go further and compare this to an entire country places this site to an even higher level of usefulness. Similar to the GLOBE study referenced by Peter G. Northouse (2010), this tool allows a person to see the cultural origins of their leadership and personality and then compare them to those they work with or those they will interact with in various ways. This comparison then leads to research and courses designed to further prepare the user.

Within the Country Scope and Learning Zone, most everything a person would need in order to understand and interact with different cultures is at the point of a cursor. This is a central location for research, information and tips. The strength of this research would best be utilized by the international business person, the venturous soul on their way to another trek or the short or long term missionary as they prepare for their new reality. Regretfully, the research is somewhat dated. Particularly looking at the “History” section of Ireland, which does not address the current economic crisis. This is easily overlooked though, as the rest of the information is both accurate and useful. What is more importantly lacking is the topic of religion within the Country Scope.

John Mayer released a song entitled “Belief” on his Continuum album (2006). While listening to this song, it becomes apparent the power religion (or “belief”) plays in every aspect of a person's life, in particular their cultural background. Peruse the following lyrics and see Mr. Mayer's beliefs come out from his disapproval of holding too closely to beliefs:

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand
Belief can
Belief can (Mayer, 2006)

Though he disapproves of holding too tightly to beliefs, his disapproval is his belief. This segue simply shows the importance of religion, which the Cultural Navigator neglects, perhaps as a way to be politically correct. The problem with this is that from business to relationships, a knowledge and respect of ones religious background is important. Even if the person does not hold to these beliefs, they have shaped their culture. At this point, it would be good for a person to diverge from using the Cultural Navigator as a sole resource and pursue other forms of information.

As a member of a multi-cultural world, the Cultural Navigator website would be tremendously useful. The ability to fully understand one's own cultural background (especially if they do not see one) is useful as it allows them to prepare for the differences they will encounter while the comparison tool allows them to then compare themselves to team members and other cultures. As a businessperson the Country Scope and research found within the courses allow a person to study and prepare themselves for the interactions they will encounter. The missionary would find the fatal flaw of the site: a lack of religious research and consequent understanding of its influence on the culture. Having more research on the religion of a culture would be universally beneficial as well, not just for the missionary. Even with the lack of rounded information, this site is a great tool for everyone and would be pivotal for me if I had daily multi-cultural experiences.

Personally, I see the Cultural Navigator as a good future resource with little immediate implications for my current situation, but broad implications for my organization. As I have noted in previous works, my culture is somewhat lacking any definitive ethnicity (aside from being a middle-class “white” American). Another bleak aspect of my life is that I live in a primarily Caucasian environment (89% as of the 2010 census) (Census.gov, 2011). I also work with other middle-class “white” Americans. What this translates to is that I do not have many interactions with many people of different cultures (the people in my office even grew up in the rural Northwest). Therefore, there is little immediate need in my current situation for this resource, though I pray this will not always be the case.

The truth is, even though Spokane is primarily Caucasian, there is a steady influx of different cultures every year. From Nepalese immigrants to Russian and Ukrainian immigrants, there will soon be a plethora of represented cultures that represent many religions and cultures. Though I don't directly work with the general public, there will be some instances where I will have more opportunity to do so. Additionally, as the Lord directs my family and I, there will (prayerfully) be greater opportunities for me to work with myriads of cultures in perhaps a collegiate or international setting. With the future in mind, the Cultural Navigator could prove itself to be quite useful, when the Lord directs us.

As for the organization I work for, they have great needs to be culturally sensitive and knowledgeable as they are a public school system. Having such a broad “clientele,” the school district is especially charged with understanding and overcoming the cultural boundaries it faces daily. There is perhaps a greater need at this moment for the educators and administrations of the schools to experience the Cultural Navigator as many are still in denial about who much of an influx Spokane County has and will have of immigrants, though the need for TESL programs and interpreters grows weekly.

References

Mayer, John (2006). Belief. On Continuum [CD]. Los Angeles, Columbia.

Northouse, P. G. (2010). Leadership: theory and practice (5. ed.). Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage.

Spokane County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. (n.d.). State and County QuickFacts. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/53063.html

The Cultural Navigator. (n.d.). The Cultural Navigator. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from www.culturalnavigator.com