chapter 7
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of CultureThe Role of CultureCross-Cultural Communication
Chapters 7, Hodgetts, Luthans and Doh, International Management: Culture, Strategy and Behavior , 6th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2006)
Adapted from PowerPoint slides by R. Dennis Middlemist, Professor of Management, Colorado State University
Mark McKennaBUS 162 (6), International and Comparative ManagementSan Jose State University
Communication Process and Communication Process and Verbal Communication Verbal Communication StylesStylesCommunication
◦ The process of transferring meanings from sender to receiver
Verbal communication styles◦ Context is information that surrounds a
communication and helps convey the message◦ Messages are often highly coded and implicit
in high-context societies, such as Japan and many Arab countries
◦ The message is explicit and the speaker says precisely what he or she means in low-context societies such as the United States and Canada
Explicit and Implicit Explicit and Implicit CommunicationCommunication
High-context/implicit communication
cultures
Low-context/explicit communication
cultures
Germans
Swiss Germans
Scandinavians
North Americans
French
English
Italians
Latin Americans
Arabs
Japanese
Adapted from Figure 7–1: Explicit/Implicit Communication: An International Comparison
Table 7–1Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles
Phases of Multicultural Phases of Multicultural DevelopmentDevelopment
Adapted from Table 7–1: Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles
Indirect vs. direct
IndirectDirect
Implicit messagesExplicit messages
Collective, high contextIndividualistic, low context
Succinct vs. elaborate
Elaborate High quantity of talk
Moderate uncertainty avoidance, high context
Exacting Moderate amount of talk
Low uncertainty avoidance, low context
Succinct Low amount of talk
High uncertainty avoidance, high context
Cultures in WhichMajor Interaction Focus Characteristic It
Verbal Style Variation and Content Is Found
Table 7–1Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles
Phases of Multicultural Phases of Multicultural DevelopmentDevelopment
Cultures in WhichMajor Interaction Focus Characteristic It
Verbal Style Variation and Content Is Found
Adapted from Table 7–1: Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles
Contextual vs. personal
Contextual Focus is on the speaker and role relationships
High power distance, collective, high context
Personal Focus is on the speaker and personal relationships
Low power distance, individualistic, low context
Affective vs. instrumental
Affective Language is process oriented and receiver focused
Collective, high context
Instrumental Language is goal oriented and sender focused
Individualistic, low context
Summary of Verbal StylesSummary of Verbal Styles
Australia Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Canada Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Denmark Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
England Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Sweden Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
United States Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Japan Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective
Korea Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective
Egypt Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective
Saudi Arabia Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective
Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationNonverbal communication
◦The transfer of meaning through means such as body language and use of physical space
Kinesics◦The study of communication through body
movement and facial expression Eye contact Posture Gestures
Chromatics◦The use of color to communicate messages
Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationChronemics
◦Monochronic time schedule Things are done in a linear fashion. Manager addresses Issue A first and then moves
on to Issue B Time schedules are very important and time is
viewed as something that can be controlled and should be used wisely
◦Polychronic time schedules People tend to do several things at the same time People place higher value on personal involvement
than on getting things done on time Schedules are subordinated to personal
relationships
Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationProxemics
◦The study of the way that people use physical space to convey messages Intimate distance is used for very
confidential communications Personal distance is used for talking with
family and close friends Social distance is used to handle most
business transactions Public distance is used when calling across
the room or giving a talk to a group
Personal Space in the U.S.Personal Space in the U.S.
Intimate distance 18”
Personal distance 18” to 4’
Social distance 4’ to 8’
Public distance 8’ to 10’
Adapted from Figure 7–3: Personal Space Categories for Those in the United States
Achieving Communication Achieving Communication EffectivenessEffectivenessImprove feedback systems
◦Two basic types of feedback systems between home office and affiliates Personal (e.g., face-to-face meetings,
telephone conversations and personalized e-mail)
Impersonal (e.g., reports, budgets, and plans)
Language trainingCultural trainingFlexibility and cooperation