es2002 intercultural communication

ES2002 Business Communication

Intercultural Communication

ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 2

Definition of culture

“Culture is the coherent, learned, shared view a group of people has about life’s concerns that ranks what is important, instills attitudes about what things are appropriate, and prescribes behaviour, given that some things have more significance than others.”

Source: Beamer’s & Varner’s Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace


Seven Years in Tibet


Photo by Cliff Wassman

ClothingFoodBehaviour

AttitudesValuesBeliefsMeaningsNorms

http://aku-aku.com/


“Very often the way others do things is not different out of stupidity or carelessness or incompetence or malice … Most people do what seems the right thing to do at the time … And the judgment of what is right is rooted in beliefs, values, attitudes, as well as habit, tradition, and accepted norms.”

Mole (1996)


Different cultural groups

• National

• Ethnic group

• Religious group

• Gender

• Economic

• Profession

IMPORTANT

• Statements made mere generalizations• Norms of a culture change


Outline

• Fundamental cultural orientations

• Verbal communication

• Nonverbal communication

• Culture’s influence on written business communication


Fundamental cultural orientations

• How contexting and facesaving affect communication

• How the individual is viewed in relation to the group

• How time is perceived

• How status is accorded

• How decisions are made


Contexting and face saving

• Low context - High reliance on

verbal communication- Less reliance on non-

verbal communication- Direct, precise, and

explicit

• High context – Low reliance on

verbal communication

– More reliance on context, nonverbal cues, implicit information shared

– Indirect and rather vague

High context – High face savingLow context – Low face saving

Cul

tura

l orie

ntat

ions

Con

text

ing

and

face

sav

ing


Individual / group

• Collectivist- The individual seen as

part of the group- High degree of

interdependence- Credit / blame goes to

the group

• Individualist– The individual takes

centre stage– Independence highly

valued– A single person can

earn credit / blame

Cul

tura

l orie

ntat

ions

Indi

vidu

al /

gro

up


Time

• Polychronic-time cultures- Time viewed as more

fluid and strict schedules not observed

- Preset schedules are subordinate to interpersonal relations

• Monochronic-time cultures– High emphasis on

schedules, punctuality and promptness

– Schedules take precedence over interpersonal relations

Cul

tura

l orie

ntat

ions

Tim

e


Status

• Ascribed by virtue of age, family background, profession- Organizations more

highly hierarchical- Extensive use of titles

• Accorded based on individual achievements– Organizations less

hierarchical – Titles used only

when relevant to competence

Cul

tura

l Orie

ntat

ions

Sta

tus


Decision making

• Discussing points • Seeking group consensus • Consulting organisations in negotiations

Cul

tura

l orie

ntat

ions

Dec

isio

n m

akin

g


Verbal communication

• Choice of words & expressions

• Organisation of messages

• Clarity of pronunciation

• Ambiguous words• Unfamiliar words • Acronyms• Idioms• Slang


Non-verbal communication

• Body language

– Posture

– Head movements

• Eye contact

• Laughter

• Touch

• Physical space


Intimate

Casual-personal

Social-consultative

Public

Distance indicating degrees of intimacySource: Goodman’s Working in a Global Environment

Space between speakers


Non-verbal communication

• Tone, volume and speed

• Turn-taking and silence


Culture’s influence on written business communication

• In most English- speaking countries – preferred

writing style direct, clear and concise

• In many oriental cultures – preferred writing style

indirectIn Japan – kishotenketsu organizationKi – the small talkSho – raising the subjectTen – rolling the subjectKetsu – ending it beautifully


• Mechanics and format also differ

– How dates are written

– How names are written

– How addresses are written

Culture’s influence on written business communication

es2002 intercultural communication

Technology

group of people

group individualist

written cultures influence

low context high reliance

vague high context high

low context low face

oriental cultures

promptness schedules