Keywords: cross-culture// shared values crystallization// tacit-explicit knowledge transition// SECI cycles // China // international school //
Funded by: SBERG team internal budget
Key team members: HYY; MKH; BCO
Period: 2020-2021
Key Contributions specifically to the WeValue Platform Knowledge:
This work confirmed what we were finding in the field: that after participating in a WeValue InSitu workshop, participants had a raised self-awareness of ‘who they were’, and were able to communicate that more explicitly to others. However, this work went much further: it confirmed the possibility that a second step could be for two different types of groups to then communicate their similarities and differences to each other; and to appreciate each other more. In a third step, a related process called WeValue Melding was used with mixed cultural groups, to help them imagine and project what their new-found shared values would look like if embodied in action. This resulted in concrete plan for new ways forwards together towards a collective vision.
In addition to demonstrating the success and usefulness of this concept of cultural cross-bridging in the practical case of an international school with low initial collaboration between Chinese and Western culture staff, this project also allowed theorization to be developed. Specifically, the processes were linked to Nonaka’s SECI model of Knowledge Creation Theory, and accepted in a top sustainability journal.
Relevant papers published: Paper # 35 was the seminal paper published from this work: it is highly recommended for anyone who finds this topic interesting:
Huang, Y., Wesselink, R., Odii, B.O. et al. Enabling shared values for sustainability transformation: empirical lessons from a case of promoting cross-group collaboration in China. Sustain Sci (2024).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-024-01552-z
A case study where two group types separately went through WeValue InSitu, then presented their Frameworks to each other, then a written summary explaining the major differences was produced and read by all; then they went through WeValue InSitu as a mixed group. It demonstrated the usefulness for bridging differences across groups, resulting in new working practices.
(This is a brief report on this work and this page will be extended when the team has more time…)
RELEVANCE FOR CONSULTING AND TRAINING and further applications
This project demonstrated conclusively the potential of the WeValue InSitu approach to contribute to cross-cultural bridging, and there are many, many arenas where it could be helpful such as schools, businesses, research teams, multi-cultural residential areas. Since the workshops only take around 2 hours each, then an experienced Facilitator could achieve much in a short time.
We welcome researchers and practitioners who would like to extend applications in this area, and those who would like to deepen the related theorization.
