Concept of the method

1. Concept

Can we travel without RADAR and Tower Control?

Can we understand others and show tolerance to their behaviour without knowing some things about their culture?

RADAR logic underlines that in any case, starting from inside an organization and moving on to individual’s relationships, we should identify the outcomes that we want to have and implement our strategy.

Plan and develop a set of actions and approaches in order to achieve the required results, both in the present and in the future. Develop approaches in a systematic manner to ensure that they are implemented. Evaluate and perfect the conditions that are developed by monitoring and by analysing the results achieved.

Regardless of how well prepared someone may be for cross-cultural contact, misunderstandings can occur in any situation, where individuals with different values, beliefs and ways of doing things interact. In these circumstances it is necessary to attempt to overcome misunderstandings in a structured and clear mode:

• R=Recognise the cultural dimensions
• A=Analyse the diversity and understand the reasons that cause any difference
• D=Decide about the reasons that underline differences instead of similarities
• A=Act based on best opinion that we have after examination of the situation
• R=Review of what happened at the end and adapt the future behaviour and action.

2. The meaning of time

Time has different interpretations between cultures. Some cultures are monochronic and some others polychronic:

·        Monochronic cultures like to do just one thing at a time. They value a certain orderliness and a sense of an appropriate time and place for everything. They do not appreciate interruptions. They like to concentrate on the job at hand and take time commitments very seriously. People from monochronic cultures support and respect the private property and avoid lending or borrowing. This is part of a general tendency to follow rules of privacy and consideration as well as adhere religiously to plans. If you live in the United States, Canada or Northern Europe, you live in a monochronic culture.

·        Polychronic cultures like to do multiple things at the same time. A manager’s office in a polychronic culture typically has an open door, a ringing phone and a meeting all going on at the same time. Although they can be easily distracted, they also tend to manage interruptions well with a willingness to change plan often and easily. People are their primary concern (particularly those closely related to them or their function) and they tend to build lifetime relationships. If you live in Latin America, the Arab part of the Middle East or sub-Sahara Africa, you will be used to this behaviour. 

Cooperation and Communications between the two types can be difficult. Monochronic businessmen cannot understand why the person in meeting is always interrupted by phone calls and people stopping by. Is it meant to be insulting? Polychronic businessmen cannot understand how you can separate working time and personal time.

Recognizing the different perception of time between monochronic and polychronic culture, you can manage to have better communication and better cooperation

Source: Adapted from Edward T. Hall, “Understanding cultural Differences: Germans, French, and Americans” (Yarmouth, ME: International Press, 1990).

Source: Based on Morden, 1999; Kotabe and Helsen, 2001[1].

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IovSk4cLCd0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmA1yUd7UnQ

3. Terms

Personal identity is the concept you develop about yourself that evolves over the course of your life. This may include aspects of your life that you have no control over, such as where you grew up or the colour of your skin, as well as choices you make in life, such as how you spend your time and what you believe in. You demonstrate portions of your personal identity outwardly through what you wear and how you interact with other people. You may also keep some elements of your personal identity to yourself, even when these parts of yourself are very important.[1]

Culture includes: Language, knowledge, belief, arts, clothes, food, dance, music, sports, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by an individual as a member of the society.
(Lustig and Koester 1999, Samovar and authors 2007, Cooper and authors 2007, Ting-Toomey and Chung 2005)

Cultural Values are norms and ways of behaviour, conditioning attitudes and reactions to events and various phenomena in a context of a culture[2]