Critical Incident Analysis

Within this paper, I will reflect on a critical incident using the DIE method. This method

is used to analyze the behavior of people from different cultures when interacting to each other

and the communication act fails. In order to have a rational analysis rather than based on

prejudices and biases, this method will be applied. This critical incident method consists of three

stages: describe, interpret and evaluate. The stages of this method allow author’s objective

observations, their interpretation of the given situation and their personal evaluation which

means judging the situation or behavior from their own cultural standpoint.

Firstly, an objective description of what happened will be provided. The critical incident

happened as a result of the interaction of José, a Mexican student who is enrolled at a German

university for one year, and two German students. They have to work together on a project. After

one week the three of them meet again to compare the results of their work. When working on

his part, the Mexican student has put the greatest effort into it and he is convinced that his

contribution to the given project is good. Afterward, they present their work to each other. The

critical incident happens when after noticing some methodological inaccuracies in José's work,

one of the two German students explicitly points out this by saying: “This is no way to do it”.

José is outraged at this direct criticism of his work and leaves the group insulted.

In this paragraph I would provide a plausible interpretation and express what I think

regarding the given situation. The fact that José, the Mexican student, put the greatest effort into

his part made him feel hundred percent confident about the result. He might have not taken into

consideration that a lot of effort doesn’t necessarily mean that a work is done the way it has to be

done or that it is perfect and mistakes are impossible to be found. The criticism of the fellow

German students was about the methodological inaccuracies and not about José’s entire work,

time and effort. Unfortunately, José has taken it personally and has probably interpreted it as a
lack of consideration and appreciation for the great effort and time that he invested and for his

whole result. José’s approach and behavior might have to do with the fact that Mexico is a high

context culture in which people tend to appreciate the relationships and the harmony in a group

more than the right completion of a task or the correct behavior. Thus, in high context cultures

people would rather accept inaccuracies for the sake of the relationship and would rather choose

not to hurt other people’s feelings than pointing the inaccuracies out. This might have been

José’s expectation. A different cultural background would have led to a different reaction of the

Mexican student. Hence, he wouldn’t have probably left immediately but would have asked for

explanations and details instead. The fact that Germany is the perfect example of a low context

culture explains the communication style of German students. I consider their utterance: “This is

no way to do it” to be the classic example of how Germans never hesitate to point it out really

straightforward when other people don't follow the rules. This behavior is part of their culture

and the Mexican student was not aware of this fact. However, I don’t consider German students’

utterance to be an example of explicit communication typical for Germans, as it does not include

details and explanations of what exactly is not in accordance with the methodology and how the

work could be improved.

Finally, my own interpretation from my own cultural standpoint would be provided.

Finding myself in José’s situation, I would be as outraged as he was, but instead of leaving

immediately, I would try to ask for more details by communicating assertively. However, this

doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t feel hurt or less appreciated deep within, considering the high

context culture I come from. In my opinion, German students’ behavior is impolite and anyone

would perceive their utterance as direct criticism. Moreover, they failed to communicate

explicitly in this case as they haven't provided any explanations. From my point of view, based
on their way of communicating, they showed a complete disregard of the fact that Mexican

methodology and German methodology might be different. I am aware of the fact that their

utterance was referring solely to the inaccuracies and not to José’s background, personality,

work, time, effort and so on, but despite this fact, considering my own cultural standpoint, I

would perceive it as rather rude and uncompassionate. I think that respect, politeness,

compassion and kindness are universally valid values and they could have been taken into

consideration by the German students which would have still allowed them to point out what

they find inappropriate in José’s work.