The Asia Capability Quiz
Asia* Capability refers to an individual's ability to interact effectively in Asian countries and cultures and with people from Asian cultural backgrounds.
In a landmark study, Diversity Council Australia has developed an A-Cap Survey Tool and National Benchmarks of Workforce Capability to help organisations to unlock their workforce Asia Capability.
* Note that 'Asia' is defined broadly to include North East Asia (China, Japan etc.), South East Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines etc.) and South Asia (India, Pakistan etc.)
Domain 1 of 7
The following statement is about an individual's experience when interacting with people from other cultures. Indicate to what extent the following statement describes you:
I think a lot about the influence that culture has on my behaviour and that of others who are culturally different.How would you describe your working knowledge in the following area?
I have a working knowledge of how to effectively express disagreement in any Asian business environment versus an Australian business environment.Have you lived and worked in any Asian country or countries for more than six months?
Are you able to read, speak and/or write in any Asian language to a basic proficiency level?
That is, you can comfortably meet and greet colleagues/clients, and have a basic conversation in this Asian language.
Are you in regular contact with Asian networks (overseas or within Australia) that you could use to assist you in your work?
Do you have a working knowledge of employment practices, such as hiring or promoting, that are commonly used in any Asian countries?
Which of the two statements most accurately represents your feelings about your cultural or ethnic identity?
Note: Your cultural or ethnic identity is the cultural or ethnic groups to which you feel you belong. This identity may be the same as your parents, grandparents or ancestors or it may be different. For example, it may be your partner’s ancestry or it may be the country or countries you have spent a great amount of time in or that you feel more closely tied to.
You are likely to be beginning to develop cultural intelligence.
Cultural intelligence is the ability to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts. High cultural intelligence is strongly related to high Asia Capability ('A-Cap').
By taking the time to think about the ways that your own culture can influence your behaviour and interactions, you can begin to develop greater cultural intelligence.
You are likely to be developing cultural intelligence.
Cultural intelligence is the ability to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts. High cultural intelligence is strongly related to high Asia Capability ('A-Cap').
By taking the time to think about the ways that your own culture can influence your behaviour and that of others who are culturally different, you will more likely develop greater cultural intelligence.
You are likely to demonstrate a high level of cultural intelligence.
Cultural intelligence is the ability to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts. High cultural intelligence is strongly related to high Asia Capability ('A-Cap').
I think a lot about the influence that culture has on my behaviour and that of others who are culturally different.
You are likely to be beginning to develop your Asian cultural knowledge, including your understanding of how to effectively express disagreement in Asian business environments.
Developing greater Asian cultural knowledge enables individuals to more successfully manage and work in Asian business contexts.
Some cultures may view open disagreement as helpful and so actively seek it out, while for other cultures, open confrontation can be seen as unhelpful or harmful.
You are likely to be developing your Asian cultural knowledge, including your understanding of how to effectively express disagreement in Asian business environments.
Different cultures can have different views on how productive confrontation is for a working relationship, team or organisation.
By developing even greater Asian cultural knowledge, you will be better equipped to successfully manage and work in Asian business contexts.
You are likely to have excellent Asian working knowledge, including of how to effectively express disagreement in Asian business environments.
Different cultures can have different views on how productive confrontation is for a working relationship, team or organisation.
By developing even greater Asian cultural knowledge, you will be better equipped to successfully manage and work in Asian business contexts.
How would you describe your working knowledge in the following area?
Asian cultural experience is a key Asia Capability.
Living and working in another country provides cultural experience, which is linked to intercultural effectiveness. Research shows individuals with multicultural experiences are more likely to display more creativity, be better problem solvers and to create new businesses and products.
Asian cultural experience is a key Asia Capability.
Living and working in another country provides cultural experience which is linked to intercultural effectiveness. Research shows individuals with multicultural experiences are more likely to display more creativity, be better problem solvers and to create new businesses and products.
Have you lived and worked in any Asian country or countries for more than six months?
| 15.9% of Australian workers, you selected 'Yes' |
| 84.1% of Australian workers, you selected 'No' |
Asian language proficiency is a key Asia Capability.
Research shows that the higher the proportion of senior leaders who speak an Asian language the more likely business performance will exceed expectations. In Australia, Mandarin and Cantonese are in the top four most common languages spoken at home other than English.
Asian language proficiency is a key Asia Capability.
Research shows that the higher the proportion of senior leaders who speak an Asian language the more likely business performance will exceed expectations. In Australia, Mandarin and Cantonese are in the top four most common languages spoken at home other than English.
Are you able to read, speak and/or write in any Asian language to a basic proficiency level? That is, you can comfortably meet and greet colleagues/clients, and have a basic conversation in this Asian language.
| 20.9% of Australian workers, you selected 'Yes' |
| 80.1% of Australian workers, you selected 'No' |
Asian social capital is another key measure of individual Asia Capability.
Your Asian social capital refers to your relationships with family, friends, colleagues and associates from Asian cultural backgrounds. Having regular contact with Asian networks both overseas and within Australia will help you to build your Asian social capital.
Asian social capital is another key measure of individual Asia Capability.
Your Asian social capital refers to your relationships with family, friends, colleagues and associates from Asian cultural backgrounds. Having regular contact with Asian networks both overseas and within Australia will help you to build your Asian social capital.
Are you in regular contact with Asian networks (overseas or within Australia) that you could use to assist you in your work?
| 24.0% of Australian workers, you selected 'Yes' |
| 76.0% of Australian workers, you selected 'No' |
This key Asia Capability refers to your ability to recruit, reward, and promote individuals from all cultural backgrounds, including Asian backgrounds.
This Asia Capability is particularly relevant as Australian workplaces become increasingly culturally diverse.
This key Asia Capability refers to your ability to recruit, reward, and promote individuals from all cultural backgrounds, including Asian backgrounds.
This Asia Capability is particularly relevant as Australian workplaces become increasingly culturally diverse.
Do you have a working knowledge of employment practices, such as hiring or promoting, that are commonly used in any Asian countries?
| 20.1% of Australian workers, you selected 'Yes' |
| 79.9% of Australian workers, you selected 'No' |
Having a multicultural identity is another key measure of an individual’s Asia Capability.
Like a majority of Australians, you have identified as having a monocultural identity – that is, you mainly identify with one particular cultural or ethnic group such as Aboriginal Australian, Australian, Chinese, English, German etc.
Being aware of this will enable you to better identify when you may need to leverage the strengths of your colleagues and contacts who have a multicultural identity. Research indicates that people with multicultural identities can have greater "integrative complexity" – that is, the ability draw on and combine diverse perspectives and experiences.
Having a multicultural identity is another key measure of an individual’s Asia Capability.
You have identified as having a multicultural identity – that is, you identify with two or more particular cultural/ethnic groups (e.g. Chinese-Australian, English-Irish etc.)
People with multicultural identities, such as yourself, can help teams be more creative and better problem-solvers as they can have greater "integrative complexity" – that is, the ability draw on and combine diverse perspectives and experiences.
Which of the following statements most accurately represents your feelings about your cultural/ethnic identity?
| 75.2% of Australian workers, you selected 'Monocultural' |
| 24.8% of Australian workers, you selected 'Multicultural' |
To learn more about DCA’s landmark study, Leading in the Asian Century: A National Scorecard of Australia’s Workforce Asia Capability, you can download a copy of the Synopsis Report. DCA members can access the full research report and tips on improving Asia Capability by logging into the Members Only area of the DCA website.
Thank you for taking the Asia Capability Quiz.
