Analyzing Intercultural Competence: INCA Survey and Critical Incidents

This assignment solution addresses an intercultural communication paper, focusing on the INCA (Intercultural Competency Assessment) survey. The solution includes the completed INCA survey responses, followed by a one-page reflection summarizing the student's ideas. The core of the assignment involves the selection and analysis of three critical incidents, framed using the dimensions from the INCA survey (Behavioral Flexibility, Knowledge Discovery, Communicative Awareness, Respect for Others, Tolerance for Ambiguity, and Empathy). Each incident analysis is supported by at least three scholarly references and presented in APA format, complete with headings and subheadings. The assignment also requires the inclusion of a chart or graph to support the written analysis, with a clear explanation of the information presented. The roleplay section and scenarios provided in the assignment brief are used to support the analysis of the critical incidents. This comprehensive approach aims to demonstrate professional writing skills and intercultural communication competency.

INCA SURVEY
Please answer honestly what you think or would do. There is no “correct” answer.
Afterwards, use the INCA Survey key to calculate your scores.
Part 1 (Questions 1-7)
Choose:
(a) Never
(b) Sometimes
(c) Frequently or always
1. In restaurants I often eat dishes with ingredients that I don’t know.
b) Sometimes
2. I often seek contact with other people in order to learn as much as possible
about their culture.
c) Frequently
3. When other people don’t feel comfortable in my presence, I notice it.
b) Sometimes
4. I find it easy to adapt to people from diverse origins.
c) Frequently
5. I am comfortable with not understanding things if I am in a strange place or foreign
country.
b) Sometimes
6. When there are colleagues in my work area who constitute an ethnic minority, I try to
involve them in the majority group.
c) Always
7. When colleagues or superiors from different cultures criticize my work, I consider
changing my work habits accordingly.
b) Sometimes
Part 2 – Scenarios (Questions 8 – 12)
You have been selected to take part in an international work project with an associate
European company. This will involve you spending 3–4 months in a country which you

have not visited before (although it is possible that you learnt some of the language at
school).
8. What kind of information do you think you would need before departure?
a. I don’t know, I would wait until I got there.
b. I would use a guide book or other sources to find information about housing,
healthcare, travel.
c. I would learn or review the language and look for official sources on history and
culture
You have been appointed to a placement in another country for training purposes. Early
in your placement, you discover that the system of hierarchy is totally different from
that practiced in your own country. For example, you are used to people dressing
informally, using first names, eating in the same canteen. Here there is much more
formality, rules and regulations, and people don’t even speak the same way to each
other. It is very strange and you cannot help feeling that your own way is much better.
9. What are some things you might do?
a) Make an effort to maintain familiar practices, Try and change things, Explain
that our ways are better
b) Admit homesickness, Look for positive side, even though own way is best
c) Seek explanation from superiors in order to understand reasons, Make an
effort to be patient, tolerant, Try out a different way of behaving to fit in,
co-operate, adapt self to others
A young person from a different country comes to work at your firm for 6 months. You
are aware that he is rather isolated and you consider the idea of inviting him to join you
and your friends. The problem is that your group of friends have known each other for a
long time and a stranger would find it difficult to fit in.
10. What would you probably do?
a) Ask friends whether they would welcome a stranger before taking action, Find
out from conversation whether the person would have similar interests, Invite if
interests are similar

b) Invite even if interests are different, Tell friends that you are bringing a
stranger and explain why, Find out whether the person would like to join your
group of friends, Invite because you would like to be invited if you were in the
same position.
c) Mention the problem to a colleague, Wait to see whether the person suggests
meeting
You have been working in a foreign country for six months and you speak the language
well enough for everyday needs. At work, difficult procedures are explained to you in
your own language, so there are no problems here. However, it is almost impossible to
understand your colleagues when they talk to each other as they talk quickly about
situations you do not understand. It is also difficult to understand jokes and casual
remarks where people seem to speak in a local dialect. Therefore you often feel out of
your depth and confused.
11. How do you feel?
a) I would feel unhappy, I would feel very left out, I couldn’t deal with that
b) I would talk only to fellow nationals
c) As long as I wasn’t being deliberately excluded it would be OK
12. How would you describe a familiar but complicated task involving the use of a piece
of machinery as if to a foreigner who did not speak the language very well?
a) Speak slowly and loudly
b) Use gestures
c) Have him/her demonstrate understanding at the end
Part Three : Roleplay (Questions 13-18)
Mr Parker, a department director of a company in Southern England, has traveled to
China in order to conduct negotiations. He is welcomed by the Managing Director of
the Chinese company. But Mr Parker is not satisfied with the way the negotiations are
going…

For three days Mr Parker has been negotiating with Mr Li, Mr Wang’s department
director. These negotiations have been quite difficult and tiring. So Mr Parker is looking
forward to this meeting and wants to seize the opportunity to clarify a few issues face to
face with the director of the company.
Parker: I am delighted to meet you.
Wang/Interpreter: (takes his business card and hands it over to Mr Parker) Here is Mr
Wang’s business card.
Parker: (takes Mr Wang’s card and puts it in his pocket) And here is mine. (he hands Mr
Wang his card)
Wang/Interpreter: (Wang reads the card very attentively) Oh, you have even got
Chinese characters on your visiting card! That's most kind of you. We have a saying in
China: ‘When a friend has come from very far away, then that is a very joyful event.’ Mr
Wang is therefore very glad to be able to welcome you here today.
Mr Parker, what would you like to drink? Tea or coffee?
Parker: Coffee please.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Wang would like to know how you have spent the past few days
in Shanghai. Have you been able to settle in and get used to the climate? Parker: Thank
you for asking. I do have a few problems with my hotel. The air conditioning doesn’t
really work, so I’ve caught a cold. And also there are … some problems with the
negotiations with your company…
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, if you should have any problems whatsoever, please let
Mr Wang know. We will do our best.
Parker: Thank you very much.
Mr Parker is interrupted in his description of the problem:
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, if you should have any problems whatsoever, please let
Mr Wang know. We will do our best.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, are you married?
Parker: (slightly surprised) Yes.
Wang/Interpreter: Have you any children yet?
Parker: No, I don’t have any children yet … You know, with all this travelling I have to do
… (forces a smile)
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, Mr Wang has been reading your business card. And he
has noticed that you are sales director, and you are still so very young. There is, as we
say in China, a bright future lying ahead of you.
Therefore Mr Wang hopes that our … that the negotiations will take place on the basis
of mutual trust and that they will be fruitful as a result of our joint efforts.
Parker: So do I. You know that our company has a high level of expertise in
technological products. Since we are convinced that our Chinese partners will
appreciate this, I hope that we will be able to conclude our negotiations successfully and
soon.
Wang: (laughs)

Parker: What I would particularly like to know, Mr Wang, is how your company
performs on delivery dates? Will you manage to keep to deadlines?
Wang/Interpreter: Oh, Mr Parker, there is your coffee. It is getting cold.
Parker: Thank you. (drinks) But what about the delivery dates?
Wang/Interpreter: You are welcome to discuss these questions tomorrow with Mr Li in
more detail.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Wang would like to know why you have not brought your wife
with you this time?
Parker: Well, my wife is not all that interested in my business, and then she doesn’t
really like long journeys.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Wang thinks that is a pity, since Shanghai is a very nice city.
There are many beautiful sights in the Shanghai area. So you really must bring your wife
next time.
Parker: I will try to convince her. But that is going to be very difficult.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, have you had a chance to get to know the Chinese
culture in more detail yet?
Parker: No, I'm afraid not. But I am not here on holiday. This is strictly a business visit.
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Parker, I am sure you have heard that the Chinese have a very
long cultural tradition. So Mr Wang will tell Mr Li to take you to the 'Yuyuan’ tomorrow
for a visit. There you will find also many shops that sell objects of cultural interest.
Parker: (growing rather impatient) Thank you very much, Mr Wang. But … perhaps we
can return to that later?
Wang/Interpreter: Mr Wang has been very glad to welcome you here today. He hopes
that our co-operation will be fruitful. The car that we have ordered for you has just
arrived. Mr Wang would like to show you out.
Parker: Now, that’s a bit sudden. We haven't talked about business yet.
Wang/Interpreter: As Mr Wang just said, you will be able to talk business with Mr Li
tomorrow.
Parker: (disappointed) All right.
13) Mr Parker is interrupted in his description of the problem:
Wang: Mr Parker, if you should have any problems whatsoever, please let Mr
Wang know. We will do our best.
What could Mr Wang mean by this ?
a. Mr Wang will talk to Mr Li about the problems, but doesn't think they need to be
discussed at executive level. If the problems persist, Mr Parker should get back
to Mr Wang as soon as possible
b. Mr Wang doesn't think this meeting is the place to talk business. He only wants to
get to know Mr Parker, but doesn't take him seriously as a negotiation partner.
c. Mr Wang can't really help with the hotel problems, but he is being polite with his
guest. So Mr Parker should not discuss his problems further.

14) Comment on Mr Wang's question: ‘Have you any children yet?’
a. Mr Wang is just being curious.
b. Perhaps a man's status is higher in China if he has children.
c. He wants to get to know Mr Parker better because that makes business easier.
15) In the conversation the following dialogue occurs:
Wang: Therefore Mr Wang hopes that our … that the negotiations will take place
on the basis of mutual trust and that they will be fruitful due to our joint efforts.
Parker: So do I. You know that our company has a high level of expertise in
technological products. Since we are convinced that our Chinese partners will
appreciate this, I hope that we will be able to conclude our negotiations
successfully and soon.
Why does Mr Wang laugh when Mr Parker makes this remark?
a. Mr Wang is embarrassed because Mr Parker is so eager to conclude a deal.
b. Mr Wang is hiding his irritation that Mr Parker may think his company can't keep
to deadlines.
c. Perhaps Mr Wang is nervous because he may not be able to keep to deadlines.
16) Mr Wang and Mr Parker briefly discuss cultural activities:
Wang: Mr Parker, have you had a chance to get to know the Chinese culture in
more detail yet ? Parker: No, I'm afraid not. But I am not here on holiday. This is
strictly a business visit.
Which statement best describes this situation in your opinion?
a. Mr Wang is just trying to keep the conversation going, but he knows that Mr
Parker has no time for cultural activities on such a short business trip.
b. Mr Parker knows that culture is important to the Chinese, but he is under pressure.
He would like to discuss Chinese culture, but only after the deal has been
concluded.
c. Neither Mr Wang nor Mr Parker are aware that they have completely different
expectations. The meeting would be more successful if each of them tried to
adapt to the other's priorities.
17) Why does Mr Wang repeatedly tell the English manager to discuss business issues
with Mr Li?
a. Mr Wang isn't aware of the details of the contract. Mr Parker should give Mr Wang
more information and ask him to make the most important decisions. The details
can then be worked out with Mr Li.
b. Mr Wang expects Mr Parker to negotiate with a Chinese colleague of his own
status, as is customary in China. Mr Parker should not feel offended, but accept it
and negotiate with Mr Li.

c. Mr Wang has delegated the negotiations to Mr Li and does not want undermine
Mr Li by discussing the contract with Mr Parker. Mr Parker should respect this
and try to solve any problems with Mr Li.
18) What statement best expressed the difficulties between Mr Parker and Mr Wang?
a. Mr Parker acted as you would normally act in a business meeting, and he expected
Mr Wang to do the same. But the Chinese don't say what they mean, and it's hard
to read between the lines if you don't speak Chinese.
b. Mr Parker and Mr Wang each followed the rules of their own culture. Mr Parker
should have explained himself better and asked Mr Wang to say more clearly what
he means.
c. The different cultures are not a problem, but Mr Wang and Mr Parker should
have known that communication works differently in each culture. They should
have tried to talk about these differences instead of trying to talk business.