90 minutes (15 minutes to learn cultural rules; 10 minutes for visits and small-group debriefing; 15 minutes to play together; 15 minutes to describe the other culture; 35 minutes for large-group sharing and debriefing)
General M–H P, D, M
1. To identify the different aspects of culture: values and behaviors
2. To explore the influence of culture on our interpretation of others’ behaviors
3. To demonstrate the influence of cultural values on our own behaviors
• Copies of the Sparklers’ Cultural Rules Handout and the Rockets’ Cultural Rules Handout for each member of the assigned cultures
• Paper clips
• A breakout room for one of the cultures
1. This activity offers participants firsthand experience with a “cultural encounter.” After dividing the group in half, distribute the “Sparklers’ Cultural Rules” handout to each member of one group and the “Rockets’ Cultural Rules” handout to each participant in the other group. Give each group approximately 10 minutes to read over the characteristics of their culture and to practice the “Paper Clip Game,” using their cultural rules to do so. Except for the scouts, groups should continue to play the game.
2. Ask each group to send 2 or 3 scouts into the other culture to observe their interactions. They are not to participate in the culture; they should only observe. These scouts spend approximately five minutes in the other culture. Upon returning to their home culture, they share what they have seen and describe what they believe to be the rules and values of the other culture.
3. After the scouts have briefed their own cultural group on the other culture, ask both cultural groups to meet in the same room and give them approximately 15 minutes to play the “Paper Clip Game” together.
4. After 15 minutes, separate the two groups again and give each culture 15 minutes with their group to prepare a description of the other culture, which they will be asked to share once they are together again. Specifically, each group is to respond to the following questions:
• What behaviors did your scouts observe? What cultural values or rules did your scouts determine from these observations?
• When you were first together as a total group and playing the game, what observations did you make? How accurate did you feel the scouts had been in describing what they saw? Were there differences in what the scouts described and your own experience?
• Using descriptive words, how would you portray the other culture?
5. After 15 minutes, bring the two groups together again. Ask the Sparklers to share their descriptions of the Rockets’ culture with the Rockets. Do not allow the Rockets to talk during this time—they are only to listen. When the Sparklers are finished, allow the Rockets to share their conclusions about the Sparklers. Do not allow the Sparklers to talk during this time—they are only to listen.
1. How similar or different was each culture from the assumptions the other culture made about them? What might arise from these perceptions? (Note: Look for both resources each might bring and conflicts that might occur.)
2. How did you feel about being in your own “culture”? Why? If you were a scout, how did you feel about the behaviors of the other culture when you played in the large group? Why?
3. What personal values do you hold that made either of these cultures comfortable or uncomfortable?
4. Did you agree with the other culture’s description of you? If not, what was your reaction?
5. What did you learn from this experience?
6. How can you apply what you learned to everyday life? Are there groups in your organization that might misperceive each other in the way the Sparklers and Rockets did? Why?
1. We perceive and evaluate others from our own cultural perspective.
2. We tend to interpret or evaluate others’ behaviors rather than describing them—and the interpretation/evaluation is from our own cultural perspective. This can interfere with our ability to learn about another culture.
3. Individuals within a culture may interpret cultural rules differently, leading to individual differences in behaviors.
4. If we are too rigid (stereotyping) in our expectations of another culture, we may miss individual differences and be less effective in our interactions with individuals from that culture.
5. Our personal values may lead us to be more or less comfortable with the behavior of others.
© Contributed by Jaime Wurzel, 1993.
The most important goal or purpose in life for a Sparkler is the accumulation of wealth (paper clips). All members of the Sparkler culture receive an equal number of paper clips at birth and have an equal opportunity to accumulate more.
Individuals spend a great deal of time counting their paper clips. Really wealthy Sparklers display their paper clips by wearing them as jewelry or attaching them to their clothing. The Sparklers with the greatest number of paper clips are the most highly respected in Sparkler society. Sparklers do not spend much time together unless they are engaged in the exchange of paper clips. They like to keep a “safe” distance of approximately two to three feet during paper clip exchanges, and they are not comfortable with people who stand too close. It is important to Sparklers to maintain eye contact during the game.
In this culture it is important to be the initiator of the game. The initiator hides paper clips in either the right or left hand. If the other person guesses which hand holds the paper clips, he or she receives the paper clips that were in the hand. If the person guesses incorrectly, a paper clip is given to the initiator. Accumulating clips is important, so use your time in the most productive way. It is important to keep on the move and make a lot of contacts.
You discover that there is another culture not too far away that plays the paper clip game. This could be a great opportunity to accumulate more paper clips. Practice being a Sparkler for five minutes. Once you are comfortable being a Sparkler, you are then ready to send two or three Sparklers out to meet your neighbors, the Rockets. When the “scouts” return, they will report on their experience with this other culture. All of the Sparklers then can go to visit the Rockets and play the paper clip game.
© Contributed by Jaime Wurzel, 1993.
Rockets love to be together. They love to laugh, talk, and tell stories. The thing most valued in this culture is relationships. Rockets can usually be found in groups of three or four. They touch each other on the shoulder or back as a form of greeting and ask about family members and each other’s health. They rarely maintain eye contact for any length of time, and their eyes are always looking around.
Accumulating wealth is not highly valued; in fact, displaying wealth is not appropriate. Rockets are never greedy or pushy, and they don’t care about winning games. Age is an important criterion for respect and authority. The oldest community member is the ruler, and when the ruler plays the game, he or she always wins.
To play the paper clip game, a player hides a paper clip in either the right or left hand. The other player must guess which hand has the paper clip. If the person guesses correctly, he or she gets the clip. If wrong, he or she gives the other person a clip. Rockets should never act greedy or pushy. Remember, winning is not important.
Talking about family and telling stories is an important part of the game. Players exchange pleasantries before and after each exchange of paper clips. If the ruler approaches the group, everyone stops talking. Only after the ruler gives permission can the interaction continue. The ruler’s role is to protect his or her people. Visitors are expected to behave like local people. If a visitor is breaking the cultural rules, that person must be ignored or exiled (asked to leave the room).