The case study is conducted to measure cognitive diversity within a country. In organisation, stereotype inaccuracy and overgeneralization that “country equals culture” can be harmful or unproductive. Three researchers—Bradley Kirkman, Vas Taras, and Piers Steel— found that over 80% of values differences occur within countries, and only 20% between countries!
WHO
10 Indonesian professionals, age between 20 – 55 years old, all come from similar background, university educated and live in Jakarta, Indonesia.
THE APPROACH
We asked each individuals to do a comprehensive assessment on preferred behavioural style and cultural orientation to identify the underlying values and beliefs that drive them. The assessment explain two dimensions of communication and three dimensions of behaviour.
THE RESULT
When we talk about diversity, most people think about the identity differences. Something that is visible such as country, age and gender. The sliding scale below shows the 10 Indonesian individuals were spread across the sliding scale. There is quite a big gap for most of them with Indonesia value as a country. This layer of diversity is cognitive diversity. Without this information we can easily assume all these individual from Indonesia would get along. In reality we have ten people with a lot of perspectives. Cognitive diversity is invisible. It is the potential for success or disaster. Its success depends on how much people understand themselves and each other.
THE CONCLUSION
We cannot predict anybody’s values and beliefs based on country, gender or generation category. People’s behaviour might indicate their values and beliefs, but not so much. Because culture is not who we are. It’s what we are used to.