cross-cultural comm in business (1)

8/3/2019 Cross-Cultural Comm in Business (1)

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The importance of intercultural

communication

y Globalization of Market

y Technological Advancements

y Multicultural Work Force


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Understanding Culturey Culture is complex system of values, traits,

morals, and customs shared by a society.

y Culture is a system for creating, sending,

storing, and processing information.


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Characteristics of Culturey Culture is learned

In western culture, too close

means violation.

y Cultures are inherently logicalIn Japan, Barbie doll was a failure because of the

toothy

smile.

y Culture combines the visible and invisible

In Japan, harmony with the environment is important

y Culture is dynamic

Culture change as a result of migration, disasters, and

wars


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Prototypesy Mental representations based on general

characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but

rather are open to new definition.y Dynamic abed may change

Based on objective observations.

y ExampleLatin businesspeople often talk about their

families before getting down to business.

This prototype is generally accurate, but it may not

universally apply and it may change over time.


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Dimensions of Culturey Context

y Individualism

y Communication style

y Time orientation


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Contexty The dependence to environment of a situation

y Low-context cultures depend less on the

environment of a situation to convey meaningthan do high-context cultures.

y Low-context cultures: North America, Western

Europe

y High-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab.

y People in low-context cultures tend to be

logical, analytical, and action oriented


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Explicit and Implicit

CommunicationHigh-context/implicit

communication

cultures

Low-context/explicit

communication

cultures

Germans

Swiss Germans

Scandinavians

North Americans

French

English

Italians

Latin Americans

Arabs

Japanese


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Individualismy An attitude of independence and freedom

from control.

y Members of many low-context cultures valueindependence and freedom from control.

y Tradition, ceremony, and social rules are more

important in high-context culture


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IndividualismLow-Context Culture High-Context Culture

y Individualism

y Individual action andpersonal

responsibility

y Collectivist

y Membership, group,teams

y Group value, duties,

and decision

y

Resist independence


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Time Orientationy North American tend to correlate time with

productivity, efficiency.

y In other cultures time may be perceived as an

unlimited resource.

y Westerners value a direct, straightforward

communication style.y Westerners: sound of words

y Asian: meaning of words

Communication Style


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Achieving Intercultural

SensitivityyAvoiding Ethnocentrism:

The belief in the superiority of ones owned race.

y Bridging the GapEmpathy: trying to see the world through

anothers eyes.

Saving face: indirectly respect the feelings and

dignity of others

Patience: tolerance, patient, silent


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Personal Space in the USA

Intimate distance 18

Personal distance 18 to 4

Social distance 4 to 8


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The Barriers of Cross Cultural

Communicationsy Body Language

y Etiquette

y Establishing trusty Religious Belief

y Social habits


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Improving Cross-Culture

Communicationy Improving Intercultural Proficiency &Communication

Study your own culture first.

Learn about other culture.Curb ethnocentrism

Seek common ground

Observe nonverbal cues in your culture

Use simple English

Adapt to local Preferences

cross-cultural comm in business (1)

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