And the Award Goes to. . Using AI to Develop Cross-Cultural Communication Skills

In this article, I introduce a classroom activity that leverages AI to help students frame certain types of workplace conflict in terms of cultural differences, rather than individual flaws. This enables students to develop skills to identify and manage workplace conflict in a way that recognizes and respects employees’ cultural backgrounds and values. I combine Erin Meyer’s Culture Map, which delineates eight dimensions upon which cultures vary in their interpersonal interactions at work, with AI’s generative ability. I ask students to use AI to write a 3-minute script of a conversation that illustrates a workplace conflict based on one of the Culture Map dimensions. Students edit the script for accuracy to deepen their understanding of cultural differences. They then act out the scripts, vote, and receive awards for Best Actor and Best Script. Through this exercise, students illustrate how workplace conflict can be rooted in cultural, rather than interpersonal, differences.