Download ES2002 Intercultural Communication

ES2002 Business Communication
Intercultural Communication
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
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Clothing
Food
Behaviour
Attitudes
Values
Beliefs
Meanings
Norms
Photo by Cliff Wassman
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“ 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)
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Outline
• Fundamental cultural
orientations
• Nonverbal communication
• Different cultural groups
• Tips for intercultural
communication skills
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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
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– Low reliance on
verbal
communication
– More reliance on
context, nonverbal
cues, implicit
information shared
– Indirect and rather
vague
• Low context
- High reliance on
verbal communication
- Less reliance on nonverbal communication
- Direct, precise, and
explicit
Contexting and face saving
• High context
Cultural orientations
Contexting and face saving
High context – High face saving
Low context – Low face saving
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• Individualist
– The individual takes
centre stage
– Independence highly
valued
– A single person can
earn credit / blame
• Collectivist
- The individual seen
as part of the group
- High degree of
interdependence
- Credit / blame goes to
the group
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
Individual / group
Cultural orientations
Individual / group
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Time
• Monochronic-time
cultures
– High emphasis on
schedules,
punctuality and
promptness
– Schedules take
precedence over
interpersonal
relations
• Polychronic-time
cultures
- Time viewed as more
fluid and strict
schedules not
observed
- Preset schedules are
subordinate to
interpersonal relations
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
Cultural orientations
Time
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Status
• Accorded based on
individual
achievements
– Organizations less
hierarchical
– Titles used only
when relevant to
competence
• Ascribed by virtue of
age, family
background,
profession
Cultural Orientations
Status
- Organizations more
highly hierarchical
- Extensive use of titles
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ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
Decision making
• Discussing points
• Seeking group consensus
• Consulting organisations in negotiations
Cultural orientations
Decision making
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Decision making in meetings
• A “meeting” is a cultural concept.
• Formal/informal? Personal/professional?
• Who decides? Top-level executives only
or with consultations with all employees?
• In many corporate meetings, gender
relations are also prominent (e.g., male
executives make decisions; female
executives are the bosses; female
participants do not have a voice)
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Non-verbal communication
• Body language
– Posture
– Head movements
• Eye contact
• Laughter
• Touch
• Physical space
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Different cultural groups
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
National
Ethnic
Corporate
Religious
Gender
Socio-economic
Profession
IMPORTANT
Statements made mere
generalizations
Norms of a culture change
Not all differences in patterns
of communication can be
explained by national cultures
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Corporate culture
• Can national culture completely explain
this?
A Malaysian woman is a Senior Executive in an American
multinational company based in Singapore. Educated in
Malaysia and the UK, her manner of speaking is polite but
straightforward.
• In a globalized world, corporate culture is
usually hybrid
• Staff are usually exposed to different
cultural orientations
• Lesson: be careful about making simplistic
statements.
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So, beware!
• Do not stereotype cultures
For example,
All Japanese are…
Americans are…
She is Malaysian. She must be…
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Conclusion: TIPS
• Develop a sense of cultural
awareness.
• Do away with ethnocentrism.
• Learn to adapt.
• Be more tolerant.
• Listen carefully and empathise.
• Look beyond the superficial.
• Do not lapse into your own language
while in the presence of others who
do not speak it.
• Take responsibility for the
communication.
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