communication

Overview: This assignment is designed to enhance intercultural communication competence through a design thinking approach. You will explore a cultural group you are not very familiar with, conduct empathy interviews, identify communication barriers, and develop a prototype training solution to address these challenges.

There are 4 deliverables in this assignment that will be submitted over the course of the semester. As each deliverable builds on the previous one, you need to submit them all in a timely manner for a successful completion of the assignment. For instance, you cannot complete prototyping, if you do not conduct empathy interviews. Below are instructions and due dates for each deliverable:

1. Intercultural Empathy Brief (20 pts.)

Objective: To empathize with the intercultural needs and challenges of a cultural group and identify an “actionable” problem related to intercultural communication.

Step 1: Choose a Cultural Group

Select a cultural group you are not very familiar with (e.g., an ethnic community, a racial community, a religious community, LGBTQ+ community, etc.). Use your personal and/or professional networks to have access to these community members.

Step 2: Conduct Empathy Interviews

Conduct min 2 max 4 empathy interviews with members of the chosen cultural group, focusing on intercultural communication issues discussed in the class.

Step 3: Problem Definition

After analyzing empathy interview data, identify a unique problem that can be “addressed” or “alleviated” by a creative, fun, and enriching training activity in intercultural communication. This problem should align with concepts from the course (e.g., stereotyping, cultural bias, conflicting cultural values, divergent conflict styles, different verbal, and non-verbal communication styles etc.)

1. Intercultural Empathy Brief Evaluation Criteria

Interviewee Selection (3 pts): In the context of design thinking, the selection of interviewees is critical. Consider the following factors:

Diversity: Did the student choose interviewees (2-4) that represent a diverse range of perspectives within the chosen cultural group? Diversity can provide a richer understanding of the group's experiences.

Relevance: Were the chosen interviewees relevant to the chosen cultural group, and did they contribute to a holistic view of the group's experiences?

Question Design (3 pts.): Effective questions are key to empathy interviews:

Open-ended: Did the student ask open-ended questions that encouraged interviewees to share their experiences, feelings, and challenges rather than seeking yes/no answers?

Relevance: Were the questions directly related to intercultural communication issues discussed in the class, allowing for insights into communication barriers and challenges?

Active Listening and Observation (3 pts.): Design thinking requires active listening and keen observation:

Active Listening: Did the student actively listen to interviewees, showing empathy and respect for their experiences, and did they ask clarifying questions when necessary?

Observation: Did the student observe non-verbal cues and behaviors during the interviews, which can provide additional insights into communication challenges?

Depth of Insights & Problem Definition / Use of conceptual knowledge (8 pts.): In design thinking, the goal is to gain deep insights into the user's perspective to define the problem.

Depth of Understanding: Does student’s data analysis suggest gain a deep understanding of the cultural group's intercultural communication challenges, needs, and aspirations?

Richness of Data: Did the student collect rich data that can be used to identify a unique and actionable problem related to intercultural communication within the chosen group?

Problem Statement: Does the student advance an actionable problem that makes a clear reference to the groups need/frustration and a specific intercultural concept?

Reflection: Does the student reflect on their use of conceptual knowledge in the interviews and data analysis by citing specific learnings discussed in the class? Do they point out areas of improvement?

Clarity and Presentation (3 pts.): Effective and professional communication sets the stage for subsequent stages of problem-solving and solution ideation.

Is the assignment well-organized, well-written, professionally formatted, and effectively communicates the chosen cultural group, empathy interview findings, and the identified problem, following the assignment's guidelines?