From the course: Design Thinking, Social Innovation, and Complex Systems

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Cultural competence

Cultural competence

From the course: Design Thinking, Social Innovation, and Complex Systems

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Cultural competence

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- The world is a diverse place and many of us love to travel because we enjoy experiencing the music, food, and customs of cultures unlike our own. This innate curiosity gives us the opportunity to learn about how other people live. And in these situations, cultural sensitivity is the first thing we should pack. It's even more important when cultural diversity is a part of our day-to-day work life. When the romance of travel is replaced by long-term professional relationships with people from different cultures, the real work begins. Cultural competence is the ability to appreciate cultural norms and beliefs that are not our own as being equally rich, authentic, and justified, and to act accordingly. This is even more essential for designers in social innovation. Engaging with local communities often involve situations clouded by cultural dissonance. Where those working to amplify community capacity come from…

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