Cultural Capabilities: Analysis of a Practical Example

This report analyzes the concept of cultural capabilities with the help of a practical example. It discusses aspects like safe room, shock, and cultural awareness. The report provides recommendations and is based on a video clip from the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Running head: CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
Executive Summary
Cultural intelligence and capability can be stated to be an important aspect of any individual and
is stated to be a skill which is crucial to be adopted by any person working as an expatriate in the
business organization at large. The primary aim of the report is to depict the applied knowledge
of the concept of cultural capabilities. Various aspects like a safe room, shock and others have
been discussed. A scene from the television classic, `Friends` has been discussed which was then
followed by the discussion of the characters and their applicability of various concepts. Certain
recommendations have also been provided.
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 1

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Aim........................................................................................................................................3
1.3 Scope......................................................................................................................................3
2. Summary and Observations....................................................................................................3
2.1 Summary of the Video Clip..................................................................................................3
2.2 Observations.........................................................................................................................4
3. Analysis..................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Communication......................................................................................................................5
3.2 Cultural Shock.......................................................................................................................5
3.3 Change in Dynamics..............................................................................................................5
3.4 Body Language......................................................................................................................6
3.5 Cultural awareness.................................................................................................................6
4. Recommendations...................................................................................................................6
5. Summary and Conclusion.......................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 2

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
The phenomenon of Globalization has made the world a comparatively smaller place
where diversity has become a common formula whereby the different cultures have come
together and due to this they are required to interact with one another (Appadurai, 2013). The
different students, as well as the expatriates who are required to visit the other countries, have to
understand the way the other cultures work so as to ensure success in their personal as well as
professional lives. For this reason, the report highlights the use and application of cultural
capabilities in different scenarios. The cultural capabilities can be essentially described as the
capability as possessed by an individual which goes a long way in assisting the individuals to
adjust to different situations. In the same context, a safe space is an environment whereby
different beings feel safe with respect to their emotions and deviate from any harm which exists.
1.2 Aim
The primary objective of the chosen report is to analyze the concept of a cultural
capability with the help of a practical example. The report will be essentially based on a video
whereby a clip shall be analyzed in terms of cultural capability and discuss the concept of
cultural awareness. The statements and theories which have been made will be with respect to
theories and frameworks.
1.3 Scope
The report will be based on the video of one of the episodes from the iconic television
series named F.R.I.E.N.D.S. whereby the clip is from season 4 where one of the primary
characters present goes for an interview for a promotion. The example can be used to explain the
concept of an unsafe space when the lead was exposed to a mental harm by her boss.
2. Summary and Observations
2.1 Summary of the Video Clip
The clip which has been chosen for the specific assignment is from the TV show
F.R.I.E.N.D.S whereby the life of six friends living in New York has been narrated who go
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 3

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
through the daily ordeals of life but have each other’s back. The clip has been taken from
Episode 7, Season 4 whereby the episode has been titled as `The one where they go to a party`.
However, the five-minute clip relates to that of Rachel who has been approached with an
opportunity to win a promotion and thus, the clip is based on an interview round. The interview
clip comprises of three interviewers and Rachel in the first half of the video with the second half
a conversation between Rachel and her boss Joanna (Youtube.com. ,2018). Rachel`s boss
Joanna, refuses to lose out on a talented assistant like Rachel and tries to convert the interview an
unsafe place for her by trying to sabotage her image. The season released in the year 1997.
2.2 Observations
From the clip, it can be rightfully observed that the scene is of an interview whereby
Rachel is excited as well as nervous for her interview which she is undertaking for a higher post.
The atmosphere in the room is also very different. However, her only relief in the entire scene is
that her Boss, Joanna already knows her as an employee and for this reason she might be extra
supportive of her during the discussion which will then help her to bag the promotion
successfully, however, Joanna does not engage in any of this and due to her own reasons, tries to
tarnish the image of Rachel in the eyes of the other panelists. When Rachel was faced by this
scenario she became stressed and felt unsafe (Youtube.com. , 2018). Another reason why the
environment became unsafe for her because of her standing in the organization. All the other
characters in the scene were in a post higher than her and thus became relatively inclined to
Joanna`s comments because even Joanna belonged to a higher post. Estimating that Joanna
would support her, observing the betrayal, Rachel performed poorly in the interview and could
not respond well (Brislin, Worthley & Macnab, 2006). She felt excluded from the specific
interview whereby she could not get an opportunity to clarify her thoughts. In the latter half of
the report it was seen that when Rachel understood that her boss tried to take advantage of her,
she portrayed cultural intelligence by trying to respond quickly to the changing dynamics.
3. Analysis
For the purpose of the analysis, the scene can be essentially divided into two parts
whereby in the first part Rachel is in a stressful situation and on the other scene, Rachel is in a
dominating position. The first part relates to the to the interview scenario whereby Rachel is
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 4

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
shown to be in a compromising position where her boss changed completely to keep her on her
side (Russell, 2011). With respect to this, Rachel is extremely disappointed and sees her career
failing in front of her eyes. The second scene reflects Rachel in a powerful position when she
observes that her boss is anxious to keep her and understanding this Rachel portrays cultural
intelligence by trying to turn the situation in her favor and her boss now is afraid to lose her
tends to abide by her conditions.
3.1 Communication
The scene begins with the interview of Rachel in front of her panel. It has to be noted that
the interview begins on a positive note but then after that things start falling out because to her
utter disappoint, the boss starts to sabotage her image in the eyes of the other panelists (Van
Dyne, Ang & Tan, 2017). She begins to narrate the incidents whereby Rachel has been
inefficient and how she often messes up with the basic tasks as well. Rachel, due to workplace
ethics is unable to argue and present her point which puts her in a rather compromising situation
whereby she was not able to communicate in a better manner with the panel. As stated by Mor,
Morris, and Joh (2013), the interview environment became highly unsafe for Rachel as she was
shocked by the blames placed by her boss on her. For this reason, she found it difficult to adjust
in the environment.
3.2 Cultural Shock
A cultural shock can be rightfully described as a situation whereby one is exposed to a
different behavior from the one which the individual expects (Holley & Steiner, 2005). When
Rachel observed the behavior of Joanna at the interview, she can be stated to be in a state of a
cultural shock whereby she got a different treatment from Joanna. As she has performed well
previously, she thought that she will be speaking for her but instead the scenario was just the
opposite. Hence, quite logically, Rachel was taken back and was unable to react in a manner
which would support her innocence.
3.3 Change in Dynamics
The change in dynamics took place Rachel confronted her boss at the latter stage during
the scene and understood Joanna`s intention to retain her in the firm When Rachel understood
this aspect, she threatened her to design which caused in the change in dynamics of the boss and
as Joanna understood that in the heat of the moment, Rachel was capable of leaving the job, she
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 5

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
agreed to abide by her demands. Hence, by maintaining an eye contact with her, Joanna calmed
her down and reflected a high range of cultural intelligence by telling Rachel that she could
actually benefit from the opportunity which relates to Quappe and Cantatore (2005)`s statement.
This proves to be a great support of the statement by Erez (2013), that a person who is culturally
intelligent has the knowledge of adjusting to the environment at a fast pace.
3.4 Body Language
The beginning of the video clip shows that Joanna portrayed a defensive body language
as she was in a dominant position and had the objective of tarnishing the interview as well as the
image of Rachel. On the other hand, the body language of Rachel was nervous and shocked. She
was not still and kept on reflecting nervousness through the movement of her hands.
In the latter half of the act, when the panelists rejected Rachel, she came to the understanding
that Joanna had tried to sabotage her image in the interview and one can notice the change in her
body language who become confident and took what was hers. This scene reflects how Joanna is
the weak person and agreed to whatever Rachel asked for. In their paper, Earley and
Mosakowski (2004) mentioned that body language goes a long way in depicting the emotional
state of an individual and is a predictor of their reaction.
3.5 Cultural awareness
Joanna knew the value of Rachel as an assistant and knowing the fact that she is skilled
and professional, she did not want to lose out on her which made her act in a manner in which
she behaved. She understood because she was culturally aware that if she wanted to keep Rachel
to herself then she would be required to speak against her. Hence, she proclaimed that Rachel
was an irresponsible employee and an alcoholic whose unprofessional ways and manners made
her unfit to work in any organization. Chen and Lin (2013), state that Joanna reflected cultural
awareness by understanding the different points which would make the panelists doubtful of the
capabilities of the candidate and hence, continued with her act. Hence, the case of Joanna can be
considered to be a good example of the manner in which one needs to be aware of the different
cultures and turn the people in her favor.
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 6

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
4. Recommendations
From the discussion, it can be observed that the scene related to that of an unsafe place
whereby Rachel, the female lead was subject to mental as well as emotional distress. The
scenario was that of an interview and although it was expected that she will not be comfortable,
she underwent a torture which was not asked for. Joanna portrayed annoyance and disrespect
which reflected in her behavior during the interview. This capability as portrayed by Joanna
angered Rachel.
Had Rachel been successfully able to apply cultural capability, she would have been able
to understand the intentions of her boss and could have then portrayed cultural intelligence in
order to ensure that the scenario with the panel could have been avoided. Necessary actions
could have been assisted by Rachel`s anger had she been aware of the office politics which are
very common in the workplace which can be supported by the statement of Bruhn (2005).
Hence, it can be largely understood that in order to ensure long-term success, it is important for
an individual to possess long-term capability as it assists the person to turn the situation in one`s
favor and achieve success.
5. Summary and Conclusion
From the given analysis, it can be stated that the safe place is an important component
which plays a great role in assisting to determine the mental balance of a person. When an
employee operates in a safe place, he tends to feel valued and positive. The clip reflected on the
consequences when there is an absence of the safe place as Rachel was imposed as a weaker
person and her morale was pulled down. The latter half of the scene in the clip witnessed the
tables to turn whereby Joanna portrayed awareness culturally and influenced Rachel to stay with
the firm.
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 7

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
References
Appadurai, A. (2013). The future as cultural fact. Essays on the Global Condition. London and
New York: Verso.
Brislin, R., Worthley, R., & Macnab, B. (2006). Cultural intelligence: Understanding behaviors
that serve people’s goals. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), 40-55.
Bruhn, J. G. (2005). Culture-brain interactions. Integrative Physiological & Behavioral
Science, 40(4), 243-254.
Chen, M. L., & Lin, C. P. (2013). Assessing the Effects of Cultural Intelligence on Team
Knowledge Sharing From a Socio‐Cognitive Perspective. Human Resource
Management, 52(5), 675-695.
Earley, P. C., & Mosakowski, E. (2004). Cultural intelligence. Harvard business review, 82(10),
139-146.
Erez, M., Lisak, A., Harush, R., Glikson, E., Nouri, R., & Shokef, E. (2013). Going global:
Developing management students' cultural intelligence and global identity in culturally
diverse virtual teams. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 12(3), 330-355.
Holley, L. C., & Steiner, S. (2005). Safe space: Student perspectives on classroom
environment. Journal of Social Work Education, 41(1), 49-64.
Mor, S., Morris, M. W., & Joh, J. (2013). Identifying and training adaptive cross-cultural
management skills: The crucial role of cultural metacognition. Academy of Management
Learning & Education, 12(3), 453-475.
Quappe, S., & Cantatore, G. (2005). What is cultural awareness, anyway? How do I build
it. Retrieved July, 17, 2008.
Russell, K. M. (2011). Growing up a third culture kid: A sociological self-exploration. Human
Architecture, 9(1), 29.
Van Dyne, L., Ang, S., & Tan, M. L. (2017). Cultural intelligence. Oxford University Press.
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 8

CULTURAL CAPABILITIES
Youtube.com. (2018). The One Where Rachel's Boss Doesn't Want to Lose Her - Friends Season
4. YouTube. Retrieved 11 October 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LuyGLDvve-A
STUDENT NAME-ROLL NUMBER
Page 9