Sensegiving in multicultural contexts: the role of cultural chameleonizing in the implementation of Mauritiuss light rail transit system

Positive Public Administration (PPA) is the call to focus research on positive examples from which other public organizations can learn. One aspect of achieving positive public value is sensegiving; the influencing of people’s sensemaking in uncertain situations toward a preferred outcome. Such sensegiving has been proven essential in public contexts, especially when dealing with many stakeholders. But how does sensegiving succeed in multicultural contexts with a high risk of misunderstanding, mistrust, and conflict? We addressed this question with a single case study about the implementation of the new Light Rail Transit System in Mauritius; a country known for its cultural diversity and multi-ethnic society. Through the analysis of various collected qualitative data, we identified the role of cultural chameleonizing as a moderator that can foster successful sensegiving in multicultural contexts. Our findings contribute to the PPA and sensegiving literature by highlighting mechanisms for better management in an increasingly diverse world.