The Impact of Culture Bump and Technology on Creating Effective Diversity Leadership

Fundamental Assumption Of Culture Bump Approach

A critical distinction of the Culture Bump Approach is its assumption that the point of origin for intercultural understanding is a specific observable difference, which Archer (1991) termed a culture bump. The Culture Bump Approach is, therefore, interpersonal and represents a paradigm shift from more traditional approaches to learning about cultural and other differences, which focused on the construct of culture. This traditional approach, which relies on understanding the values, beliefs, and certain behaviors of cultural groups, is insufficient for understanding the complexity of human interactions. Abdallah-Pretceille (2006) calls for a paradigm shift away from the concept of culture saying that “cultural traces” or “cultural fragments” are more consistent with the reality of cross-cultural interactions in today’s global society. The Culture Bump Approach represents this paradigm shift by shifting the point of origin to a specific behavior that any individual may experience. Thus, a specific, personal experience becomes the driving force for developing four specific skills that are essential in effectively communicating with those from another culture.