REBECCA CHAN ALLEN
Whole World in One Room – A Simulation Lab on Diversity & Creativity

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Diversity is central to successful and sustainable organizations and communities. How can we leverage diversity for creativity and positive results? In “Whole World In One Room” you will learn what it is like to collaborate with people who bring significant differences to success and sustainability. Through simulation and role-play, you will experience the challenges and exhilaration of working with multiple mental models and hidden differences. Through dialogues, inquiries and reflection, you will discover insights and best practices on collaboration and co-creation.

Learning objectives include:

• Experience the challenges and exhilaration of working with mental diversity
• Discover best practices in putting differences to work
• Enhance mental flexibility and cultural creativity

WHOLE WORLD IN ONE ROOM

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Purpose

“Whole World in One Room” invites you to inquire into the power of leveraging mental diversity. In this simulation laboratory, participants will experience the challenges and exhilaration of working with people who bring dramatically different mental/cultural models to issues, problems and possibilities.

You will experience five simulation cultures that highlight and echo significant belief and value systems in our global community. You will work in teams made up of people who will role-play different cultural assumptions, values and norms while finding solutions to creating successful & sustainable organizations. You will walk away from this exhilarating workshop with greater confidence and creativity in working with the whole world in one room.

Context

The 21st century workplace mixes and meshes cultures, systems, personalities, time zones, reality and virtuality. People from disparate worlds on the planet are interlinked into work units, teams, and communities.

Whether we are aware of it or not, we now work with the “whole world in one room”. When people come together to talk about creating sustainable organizations, they can bring differing cultural assumptions and mental models to the table, often without being conscious of the beliefs and values driving their ideas and behavior. The combination of diversity and unconsciousness can bog down conversations, derail commitment and forestall effort. Becoming aware of the influence of invisible mental/cultural diversity is an important step towards building sustainable organizations and communities.

The ability to work effectively with the whole world in one room-whether about sustainability, conflict resolution or leadership– is never more in demand. Knowledge and skills that honor and transcend cultural/mental boundaries are now necessary to promote the well being of our common planetary home. In this demanding environment, OD practitioners have an exciting role to play. By bringing “trans-cultural” awareness and skills, we can help clients respond effectively to the challenges of cultural/mental diversity. The Whole World in One Room cultural simulation lab invites you on a journey from cultural limitations to cultural creativity.

GOAL

The goal of the Whole World in One Room is to provide a hands-on environment to simulate what it is like to work with people who bring significant mental/cultural differences to issues, problems and possibilities such as creating sustainable organizations.

The workshop aims to raise consciousness about the hidden power of mental/cultural diversity in blocking/facilitating productive conversations and actions. When people become aware of the silent mental/cultural differences at work, they can then learn how to manage these differences and use them to create sustainable organizations.

Cultural/mental differences are invisible. They influence and direct mind and actions silently and covertly. Like fish in water, it is a challenge for us to become conscious of the same medium that forms our awareness. To facilitate the coming to awareness, this workshop uses a simulation/role play design. The workshop serves as a safe laboratory in which to experience and experiment with global differences.

Simulation laboratory is a proven learning methodology in raising cultural/mental consciousness (Thiagarajan & Steinwachs, 1990). Through hands-on role-play activities, participants are fully engaged in learning and discovery about invisible diversity and sustainability. In post simulation reflection, inquiry and dialogue, participants come to discover their own best practices for engaging the whole world in one room.

Intended Results and Learning Objectives

The intended result of the Whole World in One Room is to increase awareness of the importance of learning about hidden diversity that can guide or derail sustainable conversations and efforts. In a world that is torn by conflict and traumatized by violence, there is great urgency to find ways to work with reference to the whole world in one room. This workshop is a small step towards that effort.

Specifically, the learning objectives are:

• Increase understanding of the power of hidden cultural/mental diversity in shaping how we think, talk and work with each other on important issues facing our organizations and communities
• Gain deeper appreciation of the silent drivers of our views, opinions and ideas
• Enhance abilities to collaborate with others in finding creative solutions for creating sustainable organizations and communities

Designer and Facilitator: Rebecca Chan Allen, Ph.D. Delta Learning Organization

Rebecca Chan Allen is a facilitator and coach in diversity, synergy and transformation. She brings over 2 decades’ experience in creating value, innovation and growth through leveraging diversity and change. Her clients include EnCana, Imperial Oil, Exxon, Shell, CP Rail, Nortel, Sunlife, Scotia Bank, HR Canada and United Way. Currently on faculty at AU/NTL’s MSOD program, Rebecca was recognized as one of nine Training’s New Guard by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)

© Rebecca Chan Allen, Delta Learning Organization, 2002. All rights reserved.