About Cross Culture the Lewis Model

The Lewis Model development

The Lewis Model development offers organizations in business and other sectors graphic and useful answers for the multiracial world. The graphic representations aid in understanding the global causes and effects of cultural dynamism. Business efficiency and profitability are significantly impacted by dynamics. The Lewis Model is a framework created for international corporations to assist them develop their cultural competence. Understanding other cultures makes it easier to accommodate the diverse nationalities and ethnic groups and maintain effective communication. The main cultural components that reflect my own personal and cultural profile are included in the model. Understanding makes it easier to negotiate the challenges of global trade. The paper is a presentation of the personal values and valuable lessons learned from the cultural category from the Lewis Model.

Personal Values and Belief

The Lewis Model has three cultural or country categories that are hosts to people who are linear active, Multi-active, and reactive individuals. The reactive people can plan, organize proper schedules, and pursue actions without failure. The multi-actives are members of the society who multitask, and their priorities are in order of importance and not determined by time. The reactive cultures tend to prioritize on respect, listening calmly, and exercise courtesy in front of the elders. The society members are careful follows their interlocutors and opinion from the elders.

I belong to the multi-active group and attach great importance to people-orientation, relationships, and feelings. I multitask and feel confined to the identified agendas. The conversations have animations and roundabouts as I listen and speak at the same time. I like interrupting without pausing during discussions. The reason behind continuous conversation is that I am uncomfortable with silence.

In the business world, it is important to build connections and relationships. The two characteristics are important in product promotion especially when the seller maintains the face-to-face contact. The customer relationship cannot be maintained over a period by telephone calls or correspondence. The oral communication has a bigger effect in multi-active cultures compared to written ones. I believe in dialogue and like obtaining information directly from the potential customers. I am very flexible and would frequently change earlier plans to accommodate changes elsewhere. Essentially I show great respect to all people including the supervisors and potential customers I meet every day.

Lesson learned from Cross Culture the Lewis Model

Harmony

Globalization opened up the world and people travel from country to country for businesses and other purposes. However, cultural difference inhibits trade due to the difference in communication. It is important for business leaders and managers in international corporations to have cultural competence to carry out business without hitches. Before making an entry into foreign countries, it is important to assess the cultures understand their dynamics. Consequently, the Lewis Model helps in promoting harmony in inter-cultural relationships through the development of empathy and educative understanding. The cultures program people to behave and act in a particular way. There is time to step back and see how the various cultures may react and learn to understand the reactions.

Cross Cultural Competence

It is important to acquire the skills, knowledge, and motivation to be able to adapt to different cultures and environment. The competence should be visible or should be intercultural effective irrespective of the current cultural intersections. My aspect of behavior and cognition may fit in particular country or region. However, cultural competencies and all its characteristics enable me to adapt to different cultures. Intercultural competent persons help in understanding the cultural-specific concepts of actions, feelings, thinking, and perception. Interpersonal and personal adjustments in varying cultures are crucial in job performance in new environments.

Bibliography

Lewis, Richard D. Cross Culture The Lewis Model“, revised 2000

Lewis, Richard D. The Cultural Imperative: Global Trends in the 21st Century. Yarmouth, Me: Intercultural Press, 2003.

Messner, Wolfgang, and Norbert Schäfer. The ICCA Facilitator’s Manual: Intercultural Communication and Collaboration Appraisal. 2012.

Morrison, Janet. International Business: Challenges in a Changing World. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.