Communications and Media

Intercultural communication has become a prominent issue with the development of both research and experience highlighting its impact on developing social, political and economic development. This is not just ambiguous or broad concept but has very personal implications to how individuals will perceive and respond. Gudykunst (2005) points out that both culture and communication are challenging fields of study because of their multiplicity but at the same time, there is a common need for expression and acceptance or tolerance.  However, the development of intercultural communication centred programs is not a common competency in organizations and development of cultural and communication sensitivity is not element in even some of the most extensive professional development programs.
Needs Assessment
    Switzerland, in general is attracting a wide variety of cultures. Lugano, in particular because of its geographic and economic situation is attracting a significant wave of migrants. Statistics from the government show that diversity is not just growing but that new migrants are coming from outside continental Europe which represents a significant change from previous trends (see Appendix A). The implication is that though Luganos existing cultural responsiveness will have to deal with challenges that may well lie beyond their existing competencies. The trend has also been observed in the rest of Europe and social or public services have been among the institutions that have raised concerns for the issue. According to Hudelson and associates (2009) there is overwhelming evidence that programs are being undermined by the cultural and communication barriers. Similarly, Anand (2000) and Lucas (2003) have pointed out that this has also contributed to social development since it directly impedes individuals productivity and social representation. The aforementioned authors however also recognize that developing specific programs regarding the issue is difficult because of the complexity of issues that need have to be accommodated and the variance in the context of applications.
    Further examination of statistics show that though there is a breakdown of migrant origins for those from continental Europe, classification for EU-27 and non-European countries are less detailed. This may be an indication that is still deficiencies in empirical data or a minimalization of the importance of such data. The lack of cultural understanding often becomes the source of greater conflict since it is so intimately related with ones self-identity, values and motivations. In a similar manner, perceived lack of communication channels and sensitivity to cultural issues have also been seen as a deterrent to social participation or empowerment and thus has underlying implication to social and economic development. This also implies the need to develop sensitivity and responsiveness to intercultural communication issues is a concern that has to be brought to the consciousness of the general public. This requires a collective recognition of these developing trends and the modification of perspectives that will enhance the capacity to deal with cultural and communication barriers without bias to either home or host country.
Proposal Brief Global Toolkit
    The Global Toolkit (GT) workshop is a workshop designed to provide organizations an opportunity to become abreast of intercultural communication issues and guide them in exploring their existing competencies to develop their own intercultural communication initiatives. The GT The project will be made available first to public service provider offices though all other interested organization will also be welcomed. Each workshop session will last for one day with a standard of fifteen participants. Initial implementation of the programs is aimed to be conducted in conjunction with existing continuing professional development (CPD) or organization development (OD) programs.
Workshop Vision and Objectives
    The vision of the workshop is to institute intercultural communication as an integral element in professional development and delivery of public services. In doing so, it will increases existing competencies to accommodate developing diversity in society and will develop a capacity to utilize diversity into social development initiatives. The GT workshop will then be successful in engaging interest and discussion to developing issues in intercultural communication and at the same time provoke positive and responsive action among workshop participants in their respective organizations
    The objectives of the workshop are as follows
To orient workshop participants solid conceptual and theoretical frameworks in intercultural communication
To elicit discussion of intercultural communication issues in their organization or workplace
To allow them to experience developing initiatives that can enhance intercultural communication
To create support and social networks for advancing intercultural communication knowledge and practice after the workshops
Workshop Agenda
ModuleIntervalStrategies FormatWorkshop orientation15 minutesIntercultural communication introduction30 minutesLecturePresentation of current theoretical perspectives45 minutesLectureDeveloping implications to professionaloccupational practice45 minutesLectureSession break15 minutesOpen discussion60 minutesForumAdhoc development30 minutesGroup workLunch Break60 minutesAdhoc development120 minutesGroup workAdhoc presentations90 minutesGroup workWorkshop synthesis30 minutes
Explanation Rationale
The conceptual framework for the workshops rationale can be outlines as follows
Theoretical Perspectives
Why communication is important in understanding culture
Coordinated management of meaning
Speech codes
Why it is important to factor in culture in effective communication
Face-negotiation
Culture-based communication constraints
Impact to Practice
Developing communication accommodation
Applications of expectancy
Recognizing the importance of identity and identifications
Managing resistance, conflict and misconceptions
Creating new standards for cultural understanding and communications
The workshop will reinforce concept learned in the course of intercultural communication studies. The workshop primary tasks during the course of the lecture is to outline why communication is critical in developing cultural understanding and how in turn, cultural issues impact how people communicate. This dynamic relationship illustrates how intercultural communication is a consequent of these independent phenomenons and how it has to be studied in both contexts. This reinforces coordinated management of meaning which highlights the need to develop insights into coordination action with others as well as the management of meanings. At the same time, this also highlights the communal nature of the study, emphasizing that different groups communication systems are based social, cultural, political and economic dynamics  Another theory that will play a critical role in the discussion of intercultural communication is face-negation theory to acknowledge response to possible areas of conflict or constraints for the application of programs and interventions. Practicing principles to support intercultural communication requires the development of accommodation capacity, recognizing the implications of identity and the mechanism of identification and principles such as that outline in theories such as applications of expectancy.  The need to promote effective intercultural communication strategies is a pervasive however there is also a realization that instituting such strategies requires significant effort. Thus, there is a need to streamline efforts to ensure that education and competency development for the issue results to positive results.