Cultural Intelligence in Thai Society

heathen Intelligence in siamese connection night clubAbstractThe purpose of this article was to explain and discourse heathen science in Siamese federation where Buddhism plays a rattling important role to daily mannersspan of Siamese wad. heathenish science is important so-and-so be helpful for souls who act with throng from distinguish able-bodied heathen primer coats and help for manage in effect nuance balances. agree to the position doubting Thomas and Inkson (2004), the ramp upment of pagan give-and-take occurs in five formats argon reactivity, recognition, accommodation, assimilation, and proactive. There ar three signs to incr peace heathen recognition including integrity, openness, and robustness. These characteristics go through and through similarly in Thai stopping point factors. As Buddhism plays a precise important role in the daily life of the Thai people. Since close 95% of the people in the kingdom of Thailand atomic numbe r 18 Buddhist Therefore, Thai society or Thai people principal(prenominal)tain underlying from Buddha shopping center t distributivelying which helps people in every(prenominal)where to become to a greater extent(prenominal) to school heathen comprehension.Keywords heathenish apprehension (CQ), education cultural intelligence, Thai societyIntroductionIn the recent year cultural intelligence (CQ) has been introduced into the foreign cable sector literature (Earley, 2002 Earley Ang, 2003). This concept is lowlyt to reflect the cap business leader to deal effectively with people from contrastive cultural backgrounds. The superpower moves effectively with people who be culturall(a)y different. Globalization has been accelerated by a host of factors in the international business environment, including the following New international trade accordance the growth of international trade the growth of multinational corporations the restructuring and d consumesizing of organizations the privatization of severalise enterprise the ability to locate business, particularly manufacturing, wherever cost it ut nearly the ability to pull through financial transactions instantaneously on a global basis the transition of command economies to free markets the expansion of international migration the ability of information and communication technology to transcend while and keep (Thomas Inkson, 2004).Although international commerce may seduce existed for many years ago, it is to a greater extent everyplace in the past few years that globalization has such a broad effect on business. Until recently muchover a few very large multinational companies were concerned with foreign operations. For most firms business was largely local, tried closely to the city or region in which they were located, and certainly limited to the confines of the earth. Now, business extends across all mode of porous boundariessome of which have become so porous they have i ntimately ceased to existacross the entire globe. Even very junior-grade firms now have the capacity to be global. With a computer, a modem, and telephone rate connection it is possible to be a global business almost instantaneously. Because of globalization, the environment of business is now more complex, more dynamic, more uncertain, and more competitive than ever before. And there is no evidence that these trends lead vacate or decrease (Thomas Inkson, 2004).Globalization of people is the result of dramatic shifts that have taken place in economics, politics, and technology. However, the day-to-day reality of global business involves interactions and relationships with people who argon culturally different. In business today, we travel afield among people from former(a) coatings, we speak with them on international telephone calls, and we condition with them be e-mail. Even in our home cities, we notice that more and more of our colleagues, our clients, and even the peo ple we pass in the street be noticeable from cultures different from our own. The trend is inexorable. The range of different cultural backgrounds in wide colleagues, business associates, and contacts probable represent countries or ethnic groups from all over the world. Johansen and McLean (2006) said thatGlobalization, communications technology, immigration, an increased accent on religion and spirituality, and the ease of both domestic and international travel offer an chance to work, learn, and interact with people whose backgrounds differ from our own. To be effective, HRD practitioners must recognize how cultural background, assumptions, and envision of the world influence an collar. (P. 1) finish post be seen as influence the nature of societal structures as they grow and conform (Hofstede, 1991). Earley, Ang, and Tan (2006) suggested that cultural intelligence as operating within a diversity background consisting of at least three layers individual, team, and o rganization (p. 168). As mention above, Earley (2002) cogitate that it is a challenge to create suitable demeanour in a new cultural setting that makes cultural intelligence unique.What is exactly cultural intelligence look like? How to emend cultural intelligence? Thomas and Inkson (2004) suggested three characteristics to increase cultural intelligence including integrity, openness, and hardiness. They also sop up that culturally heavy people see the connections surrounded by a culture and its context, history, and mensurate orientations. deal realize that knowledge of the culture of a coun castigate or region is only valuable in the context of understanding its unearthly, philosophical, and historic issues.All of these inspire the generator to debate to the highest degree what does the relationship between cultural intelligence in my home county, Thailand. Thai culture has been greatly influenced by Buddhism. Thai culture is often cognise as Thai-Buddhist culture (Dh irvegin, 1998, p. 13). Buddhism plays a very important role in the daily life of the Thai people. Since about 95% of the people in the kingdom of Thailand atomic number 18 Buddhist (Chadchaidee, 2005). Do any Thai people really get hold of to develop cultural intelligence? If yes, what kinds of cultural intelligence that Thai people needed?Purpose of the articleThis article is aims to explain and discus about cultural intelligence issue especially in Thai society. In order to clearly understanding, the compose pass on present the concept of cultural intelligence, Thai culture and society, Buddhist marrow squash teaching go forth be discussed. pagan Intelligence IssueThere are many scholars desexualize cultural intelligence (Earley, 2002 Early Ang, 2003 Earley, Ang Tan, 2006 Erley Mosakowski, 2004 Earley Peterson, 2004 Tomas, 2006 Thomas Inkson, 2004). In this section, the author will present an over ruling of cultural intelligence that including definition of cultural in telligence, components of cultural intelligence, characteristics supportive of cultural intelligence, and breedingal stages of cultural intelligence.Cultural intelligence, one component of cultural competence, is defined as a persons dexterity to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts (Earley Ang, 2003, p. 59). More special(prenominal)ally, cultural intelligence is a countingly pictorial ability to interpret someones unfamiliar with(predicate) and ambiguous gestures the manner that persons compatriots would and colleagues would, even to mirror them (Earley Mosakowaski, 2004, p. 140). Cultural intelligence captures a persons capability to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts and it has both process and content features (Earley Ang, 2003 Thomas Inkson, 2004). homogeneous to earlier definitions, Thomas and Inkson (2004) present the three component of cultural intelligence.According to the Figure 1, Thomas and Inkson (2004) described at first, the culturally smart public treasury requires knowledge of culture and of the fundamental principles of cross-cultural interactions. This instrument knowing what culture is how cultures vary, and how culture affects behavior. Second, the culturally intelligent manager needs to utilisation dispositionfulness, the ability to pay attention in a reflective and creative musical mode to cues in the cross-cultural situations encountered. The last, based on knowledge and mindfulness, the culturally intelligent manager develops behavioral skills, and becomes competent across a wide range of situations. These skills involve choosing the appropriate behavior from a well-developed repertoire of behaviors that are crystallize for different intercultural situations.All of three elements are inter mentiond with the other. This knowledge is only the beginning to becoming culturally intelligent. Cultural intelligence involves understanding the fundamentals of intercultural interaction, developing a mindfulness ap proach to intercultural interactions and finally building adaptative skills and a repertoire of behaviors so that one is effective in different intercultural situations.If we accept the notion that cultural intelligence is learned over time through intercultural interactions we can also envision that individuals pass through various(a) stages of development in their level of cultural intelligence. Thomas and Inkson (2004 pp. 66-68) presented five stages to develop cultural intelligence including make up 1 Reactivity to external stimuli. A starting point is mindlessly following ones own cultural rules and norms. This stage is typical of individuals with very little exposure to, or interest in, other cultures. Parochial individuals do not even recognize that cultural differences exist. If they do, they claim them inconsequential. People at this stage of development can be hear to check out things like I dont see differences, and I treat everyone the analogous.. Stage 2 Recogniti on of other cultural norms and motivation to learn more about them. Experience and mindfulness produce a newfound champion of the multicultural mosaic that surrounds us. A heightened sense of mindfulness presents a sometimes-overwhelming come up of new information Curiosity is aroused, and the individual wants to lean more. People at this stage often struggle to sort through the complexity of the cultural environment. They search for simple rules of thumb to guide their behavior. Stage 3 adaptation of other culture norms and rules in ones own mind. Reliance on absolutes disappears. A deeper understanding of cultural variation begins to develop. The cultural norms and rules of various societies begin to seem comprehensible and even reasonable in their context. The recognition of appropriate behavioral responses to different cultural situations develops however, only fairly obvious cues are attend to, and adaptive behavior takes a lot of effort and is often awkward. People at thi s stage know what to say and do in a variety of cultural situations. However, they have to think about it, and adaptive behavior does not feel natural. Stage 4 Assimilation of diverse cultural norms into alternative behaviors. At this stage adjusting to different situations no longer requires a lot effort. Individuals develop a repertoire of behaviors from which they can choose depending on the specific cultural situation. They actively experiment with new behavior. They function in a number of different cultures almost effortlessly and with no more focus than if they were in their home culture- Members of other cultures accept them as culturally knowing and feel comfortable interacting with them. They feel at home, almost anywhere, Stage 5 Proactivity in cultural behavior based on recognition of changing cues that others do not perceive. People who are highly culturally intelligent have the ability, through continuous sampling of internal states and external cues, to sense chan ges in cultural context, sometimes even before members of the other culture. They are so attuned to the nuances of intercultural interactions that they almost automatically adjust their behavior to anticipate these changes and press forward better intercultural interactions among others. They seem to intuitively know what behaviors are required and how to execute them effectively. Individuals at this stage of development may be quite high-flown however, it is a level of cultural intelligence to which we all might aspire.Griffer and Perlis (2007) verbalize that the development of cultural intelligence begins with a study of ego and the awareness that everyone has a multi-perspective identity. Many people look into a mirror and describe themselves on the basis of what they see and subsequently describe others in the same right smart. Looking into that mirror, we see characteristics that can be easily described as race. Multi-perspective identity is defined as characteristics of our identity that enable each individual to count reality through specific perspectives based upon ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class (Perlis, 2001 p. 11). This concept can certainly incorporate other forms of difference that comprise ones identity however, the definition for our work addressing the development of cultural intelligence will focus on these basic cultural characteristics. As pre-service we begin to see themselves as multi-perspective individuals and understand the interrelationships between these forms of their identity, they will develop cultural intelligence.Thomas Inkson (2004) suggested the possession or development of these inherent characteristics integrity, openness, and hardiness can support science of a cultural intelligence easier. lawfulness is having a well-developed sense of self and understanding how ones own belief system motivates behavior (Thomas Inkson, 2004 p. 65). People differ in the personal manners they describe our inner self cannot be directly known by other people. It is important for us to have an honest understanding of ourselves. openness is showing deferential revere and a willingness to learn from others (Thomas Inkson, 2004 p. 65). It is mean inquisitiveness particularly about people from different cultures. Hardiness is robustness, courage, intrepidness, and capability of surviving unfavorable conditions. If we are hardy we can cope with stress, heal from shocks, and perceive stressful events as interesting and meaningful and as an opportunity for growth and learning. (Thomas Inkson, 2004 p. 65).In summary, Cultural intelligence is a persons aptitude to task successfully with people from different culture background and understanding. Cultural intelligence has three component of cultural intelligence accommodate with knowledge, mindfulness, and behavior. The development of cultural intelligence occurs in five stages are reactivity, recogniti on, accommodation, assimilation, and proactive. Finally, the author present three characteristics to increase cultural intelligence including integrity, openness, and hardiness can support acquisition of a cultural intelligence. The next section the author will present about Thai culture and society.Thai Culture and SocietyThailand is situated in the heart of Southeast Asia with Bangkok as the capital city. Thailand spreads out over 513,115 square kilometers of land and stretches some 1,620 kilometers from northeastern to south and 775 kilometers from east to west. Thailand is divided into four natural regions the north, northeast, the central plain, and the south. The Kingdom, a society that is also free, cohesive, and open, remains one of the most attractive places in the world to visit and conduct business. Buddhism is the assurance of approximately 95 part of the population (About Thailand, 2007).Today, Thai people share a rich ethnic diversity, Mon, Khmer, Tai, Chinese, Mala y, Laotian, and Indian stock, with the result that there is no typically Thai. About 80% of all Thais are connected in some way with agriculture, which influences and is influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that help make Thailand such a distinctive country (UNDP Thailand man victimisation Report, 2007).It should be noted that the concepts of Thai culture are mostly similar to Buddhist principle. Buddhist principles are pragmatic (Payutto, 2003) as we can see from one of the teachings about pairs that though little he recites the Sacred Texts, but put the precepts into answer, forsaking lust, hatred and delusion, with right knowledge, with mind well freed, cling to nothing here or hereafter, he has a share in religious life (Wannapok, 1988).There are the main ideas of Buddhism are contained in the statements known as The Noble Eightfold travel guidebook and the Middle Way. Truth defines the Buddhist way of life and contains ail the estimable teaching and practic es of Buddhism. It provides the way and means to attain the goal as set forth in the third Truth. This way is called the Noble Eightfold cart track as it consists of eight factors as show in remit 1.Table 1 The Noble Eightfold Path as it corresponds to the Threefold reproductionThe Threefold TrainingThe Noble Eightfold PathPanna or intuition pay off spatial relation recompense ThoughtSila or Morality set SpeechRight ActionRight LivelihoodSamadhi or suppositionRight EffortRight MindfulnessRight Concentration.Knietim (2009) suggested that Right View is means to see and to understand things as they really. As such, right slew is the cognitive aspect of wisdom. Right Thought is the kind of mental qualification that controls our actions. It can be described best as commitment to estimable and mental self-improvement. Right Speech is importance of speech can part with lives or break, make friends or enemies. Right Action is expression and involves embodied actions. Right action means to act kindly and compassionately, to be honest, to respect the belongings of others, and to keep sexual relationships harmless to others. Right Livelihood means that one should earn ones living in a righteous way and that wealth should be assimilateed legally and peacefully. Right effort is mental might, it is the soak up behind right effort. The same type of energy that fuels desire, envy, aggression, and violence can on the other side fuel self-discipline, honesty, benevolence, and kindness. Right mindfulness is the ability to see things as they are, with clear consciousness. Right mindfulness enables us to be aware of the process of conceptualization in a way that we actively observe and control the way our thoughts go. Right Concentration is through the practice of meditation. The meditating mind focuses on a selected object. Through this practice it becomes natural to enforce elevated levels concentration also in everyday situationsThe eight aspects of the raceway are not to be understood as a range of single steps, instead they are highly interdependent principles that have to be seen in relationship with each other. The eight factors of the Path are thusly organized into a system called the Threefold Training of morality (comprising the Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood factors), concentration or thought development (comprising the Right Effort,Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration factors), and wisdom (consisting of the Right View, and Right Thought factors) (Chanchamnong, 2003).One of the most complex values in Thai culture is The concept of Kreng Jai. It is very difficult for foreigners to understand. This concept is the concept of organism considerate. Komin asserts that this concept underlies a probatory portion of everyday interpersonal behavioral patterns of the Thais (Komin, 1990). She further explained thatIts closest meaning is to be considerate, to feel loth(p) to impose upon some other person, to take ano ther persons feelings (and ego) into account, or to take every measure not to cause discomfort or inconvenience for another person. Kreng jai refers to such attitude predisposing to ones resulting behavior towards someone else. Kreng jai behavior is to be discovered by all, superiors, equals, and inferiors, including intimate relationships like husband-wife, and close friends, with differences in degree. (pp. 161-162)In general, Thai people helps others people without expecting any return or any compensation. At the same time the person who receives help will feel indebted(predicate) to the helper and he will remember that and try to repay or return the favor at a later date. This is one of culture factor called The concept of helping each other (Joungtrakul, 2008). One of the most important in Thai society is the concept of Bunkhun. Thai people deeply and will be quite difficult to change. There are limitations in applying this concept as it may go beyond fit practice. However, t o ignore or to delete it from a model would be difficult and may cause some puzzles in practice. Its removal could do more harm than good.There is no doubt Buddhism has a conscious significant role in the everyday Thai life. With regard to religious activities, likewise, the Thai are constantly engaged in merit-makings, and numerous other religious ceremonies. These activities are religious rituals. And as a Buddhist country, there are such activities to perform all year round, at home, at work, and in the community. Komin (1990) described that Thai people are sympathetic to others and it becomes the nature of the Thais in general. The application of this concept will create cooperative attitudes and collective efforts by the two parties to achieve common goals. Thai people also practice this concept in their daily lives and the phase of meet half way is understandable by the Thais. This concept calls The concept of compromising.As the Thai culture is a Thai-Buddhism culture (Dhira vegin, 1998, p.l3), the middle path is a way of life for a Thai. Thais are compromising in nature and try to avoid any explicit confrontation. Thais follow the Buddhist principles of helping all people. This is usually done by joining in constructively creating social harmony and unity according to the four principles of helpful integration (Sangaha-Vatthu), which are (1) Dana giving, sharing (helping through money material goods) (2) Piyavaca amicable speech (helping through words) (3) Atthacariy helpful action (helping through somatogenetic effort) (4) Samarattata participation (helping through problem solving) (Payutto, 2000 p.7).Buddhism Roles and Cultural Intelligence in Thai SocietyAccording to three characteristic of Thomas and Inkson concept, there are integrity, openness, and hardiness which can support acquisition of a cultural intelligence. They explain that Integrity is having a well-developed sense of self and understanding how ones own belief system motivates behavior . Openness is showing deferential respect and a willingness to learn from others. Hardiness is robustness, courage, intrepidness, and capability of surviving unfavorable conditions. In the view point of the author, these three characteristic of develop cultural intelligence relate to some part of Buddhas core teaching that show in Table 2.Characteristics to improve cultural intelligence relate to Buddhas core teachingsCharacteristicsBuddhas core teachingsIntegrityChanda the will or aspiration. This is compatible with the faith that leads to achieving wisdom (Chanchamnong, 2003, Payutto, 2003).OpennessCitta Thoughtfulness, i.e. making a conscious effort to think analytically in order to achieve the right views (Chanchamnong, 2003, Payutto, 2003).HardinessViriya the effort, the energy which one exerts in the right way to accomplish the right view (Chanchamnong, 2003, Payutto, 2003).According to Table 2 shown the relationship between the three characteristics to improve cultural intell igence relate to Buddhas core teachings is very closely. For the stages of cultural intelligence development, from literature review and compare between cultural intelligence concept of Thomas and Inkson (2004) with Buddhist principle concept especially as shown Table 2. The author beliefs that in Thai society, Thai people will be getting into develop stage of cultural intelligence with not too different. In fact the Buddha core teaching trains the people go to be the good person like other religion, help each others sympathy and support the society. Indeed, the Buddha core teaching focus in human pick development specially begins from self development, physical and mentor. That is mean the people who develop their own self will gain more cultural intelligence.ConclusionCultural intelligence is important for individuals who interact with people from different countries, religious background those with different cultural backgrounds. Cultural intelligence is a persons aptitude to t ask successfully with people from different culture background and understanding. According to three characteristic of Thomas and Inkson concept, there are integrity, openness, and hardiness which can support acquisition of a cultural intelligence. They explain that Integrity is having a well-developed sense of self and understanding how ones own belief system motivates behavior. Openness is showing deferential respect and a willingness to learn from others. Hardiness is robustness, courage, intrepidness, and capability of surviving unfavorable conditions. Three characteristic of develop cultural intelligence have relate to Buddhist core teaching.Indeed, the Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality approximately the world and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to right happiness. Buddhism in Thailand is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs regarding ancestral a nd natural spirits. Therefore, Buddha ways can help Thai people to develop a repertoire of behavioral skills appropriate to different intercultural situations and will be able to choose the right ones for a given interaction. The Thai word say Khao mueng tar-lew, tong lew-tar tarm, the meaning in English is When in Rome, do as the Romans do as a great cultural intelligence.ReferencesChadchaidee T. (2005). Essay on Thailand. (17th overdone edit.). Bangkok Thanapol Vitayakarn.Chanchamnong S. (2003). The Buddhas core teachings. Bangkok Saisungsukaphapjai.Dhiravegin, L. (1998). Evolution of Thai political and dministration (in Thai) (6th ed.). Bangkok Thammasat University Press.Earley, P. C, Ang, S. (2003). Cultural intelligence An analysis of individual interactions across cultures. Palo contralto Stanford University Press.Earley, P. C, (2002). 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