#41 Dr. Edwin J. Nichols

Nichols and Associates, Inc. is an applied behavioral science firm specializing in developing Cultural Competence in the workplace. The firm's hallmark: The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Difference is a paradigm developed by Dr. Nichols, which employs the branches of axiology, epistemology, and logic to explore the essence of ethnic difference. This approach enables one to examine the self and others without prejudice or stereotype. Unconscious cultural biases - Implicit Bias can be explored; the societal socialization process examined, ascertaining their effect upon workplace behavior.

Goal: Organizational Change through Cultural Competence.

Thesis: Human Difference comes out of multi-generational responses to the basic human need to survive and thrive, in the context of different geographical settings, various resources, and external environmental factors.

Reference: Johann G. Herder: Ideen zur Philosohie der Geschichte der Menschheit.
C.G. Jung: the collective unconscious memory.

Thomas Lambo: Axiological differences between Europeans and Africans.

Epigenetics: Behavior can be affected by events in previous generations that have been passed on through a form of genetic memory.

Philosophy affords us the opportunity to examine the essence of ethnic difference, through the development of value sets -axiology; ways of knowing -epistemology; and ways of reasoning -logic. Competition for resources can gain societal acceptance
-Axiological Ethics. The existentialistic reality to survive and thrive promulgates individualistic acts - European, collaborative acts - African, collective acts - Asian and communal acts - Native American as normative behavior for that society.

TERMS

Cultural Competence is the capacity to extract from others, accept and utilize the uniqueness of their World View/Weltanschawung. In the workplace, it is the ability to know an issue from the perspective of your opponent, staff, or client. This capacity is the value-added, which gives the enhanced market share and a competitive edge.
Diversity is the full utilization of all human resource potential. Diversity is important to our national survival. When a society wastes human capital, in the long run, it pays for it.
Socialization is concepts, principles, and ideas of a society that have been reinforced to become the status quo. If you want to change society socialization is the vehicle.
Cultural Bias is the formation of ideas that are imprinted and shaped to form the self. If we are to escape cultural biases, they must be transcended for the greater good.
Axiological Ethics: That portion of ethics that is concerned specifically with values, not morality and social justice. What is worth pursuing or promoting and what should be avoided. The Oxford Companion of Philosophy: 1995
Existentialism: The existence of the individual person as a free and responsible
agent determining their own development through acts of the will.