A Model for Cultural Diversity Training

We are fast becoming a multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual society. Such demographic changes are having a major impact on economic, social, legal, political, educational, and cultural systems. For businesses and industries to survive, they will need to meet the inevitable challenge of cultural diversity. A model for incorporating cultural diversity in organizations is presented. The model is based on a 3 × 3 × 3 matrix, which analyzes an organization's functional focus (recruitment, retention, and promotion), barriers (differences, discrimination, and systemic factors), and cross-cultural competencies (beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, and skills). Although it was originally developed for business and industry, the model seems to have usefulness in application to education and mental health organizations as well. Estamos llegando a ser rápidamente una sociedad multicultural, multiracial, y multilingue. Estos cambios demográficos han tenido un gran impacto en los sistemas económico, social, legal, politico, educativo, y cultural. Para que los negocios e industrias sobrevivan, necesitarán enfrentarse al desafío inevitable de la diversidad cultural. Se presenta un modelo para incorporar la diversidad cultural en organizaciones. El modelo se basa en una metriz 3 × 3 × 3 que analiza el foco funcional de una organizacion (reclutamiento, retención, y promoción), bloques (diferencias, discriminación, y factores sistémicos), y competencias interculturales (creencias/actitudes, conocimientos, y habilidades). A la vez que se desarrolló el modelo originalmente para negocios e industria, se vio que el modelo también tiene utilidad para aplicarse en organizaciones educativas y de salud mental.