Experiencing a Foreign Culture: A Cross-Cultural Simulation

Abstract

In order to cope with the uncertainties of the 90’s and beyond, current and future managers need to develop good global management skills. The purpose of this paper and the proposed presentation is to introduce a simulation called Ba-fa Ba-fa by Garry Shirts (1977). Through active participation in the simulated cultures, the participants are expected to personally experience the meaning of a culture and its impact on their own and others’ behavior. Business teachers can use the simulation in management, marketing and international business courses to teach theoretical concepts like high and low context culture, masculinity and femininity of a culture, ethnocentricism, and individualism and collectivism. Businesses would find the exercise useful in preparing their managers for overseas assignments and in enhancing their managers’ global skills. The paper provides details about the nature of the exercise and the procedures involved in conducting it. The significance of the exercise is established by using literature showing the need for better global management skills.