Social Psychology of Risk

Romanian Perceptions of Australian Culture, A Window to Understanding Organising

ByProf. Robert Long

We started the year with the visit of two Romanian guests spending 7 days in Canberra to learn as much as they could about SPoR. Dec and Manu are Directors of Corporate Dynamics. (https://www.corporatedynamics.ro/) Based in Bucharest, Romania, Decebal runs training and consulting projects in cultural transformation, safety leadership and Social Psychology of Risk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/decebalmarin/). Manu is a managing partner of the business and specialises in research, statistics, leadership and culture change.

We have already released a few videos of conversations about Humanising Risk (https://safetyrisk.net/humanising-risk-in-the-workplace-a-video-conversation/) and Psychosocial Risk (https://safetyrisk.net/psychosocial-risk-an-icue-conversation/) and there are a few more to come.

This video conversation turns the tables and asks these two mature and wise business owners from Romania on their perceptions about Australia, based on their short experience in Canberra. The video recording is here: https://vimeo.com/1157350295 They later spent a few days in Sydney.

Of course, some might say that Canberra is not typical of Australian culture but this could be said of any region. The real importance in this video is about perceptions about culture and these two engaged in many varied experiences whilst here. We played pool in an Irish pub, ate Turkish, Greek, Chinese, Vietnamese, Aussie take-away, Lebanese and club dinners, walked the streets and shops, visited National institutions (National Museum, National Art Gallery, NASA/CSIRO Space Centre, ANU Space Observatory, a country store, Aboretum and a cemetery) and engaged with people everywhere in conversations and curiosity.

So, what were the perceptions of these two Romanians about us? What the video, it is enlightening.

The conversation commenced with perceptions of Australia and then progressed to discussion about organisational culture and then risk.

The insight of Decebal at the end of the video is really worth listening to. Enjoy.

Prof. Robert Long

Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions
Prof. Robert Long

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Prof. Robert Long
PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.

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