K-State Business

A College for a Changing World

Class Activity Spotlight

 

The CBA received a grant to purchase and facilitate “BaFá BaFá - A Cross Culture Simulation” designed by R. Garry Shirts. Rather than hearing a speaker discuss cultural understanding, students from the Business Ambassadors and Multicultural Business Student Association facilitated an activity for all business orientation class sections. 

Students in each class were divided into two groups, the Alpha culture and the Beta culture. Each culture has its own unique characteristics and the students spent time learning their culture’s distinctive qualities and values. Once students had the opportunity to “practice” their culture, they were sent to observe the other culture. 

Confusion and misunderstanding resulted from some of these interactions. At the end of the simulation, students began to understand how easy it is to think one understands another culture when, in fact, one is misinterpreting the actions, values or behaviors of those in the culture.

“It helped me realize that we all have our own ways of doing things. You can never understand and respect why something is being done until you have gone through it yourself,” said Paige Bauer, freshman in business.

Students also gained a better understanding of the complexities inherent in each culture. Scott Bulin, freshman in business, articulated this understanding when asked to describe what he liked about the simulation. “I liked how [the simulation] showed that even if you observe a culture you won't always know everything.”

While direct ties to the business world were not made during the BaFá BaFá simulation, many students understood the linkages between the activity and real encounters that they may experience in business when working with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“It made sense that it’s hard to understand cultures at first, but after time, research and observation you can work with them and make your business adjust to their lifestyle,” said Jason Jones, freshman in business.

Cassandra Webb, sophomore in art with a business minor added, “In any company, there will be an opportunity to show the skills learned [from this activity], being able to adapt to other cultures and being respectful of those cultures.”

Special thanks to Dr. Dawne Martin, assistant to the dean for diversity and instructor of marketing, as well as students from the Business Ambassadors and Multicultural Business Student Association for facilitating and organizing this activity.  We plan to continue incorporating some form of diversity training in future business orientation classes.

Written by: Emily Brueseke

BaFá BaFá— Cross Culture Simulation