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
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
2
Seven Years in Tibet
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
3
Clothing
Food
Behaviour
Attitudes
Values
Beliefs
Meanings
Norms
Photo by Cliff Wassman
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
4
“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)
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
5
Different cultural groups
•
•
•
•
•
•
National
Ethnic group
Religious group
Gender
Economic
Profession
IMPORTANT
• Statements made
mere generalizations
• Norms of a culture
change
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
6
Outline
• Fundamental cultural
orientations
• Verbal communication
• Nonverbal communication
• Culture’s influence on written
business communication
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
7
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
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
8
– 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
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
9
• 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
10
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
11
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
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
12
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
Decision making
• Discussing points
• Seeking group consensus
• Consulting organisations in negotiations
Cultural orientations
Decision making
13
Verbal communication
• Choice of words & expressions
• Organisation of messages
• Clarity of pronunciation
•
•
•
•
•
Ambiguous words
Unfamiliar words
Acronyms
Idioms
Slang
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
14
Non-verbal communication
• Body language
– Posture
– Head movements
• Eye contact
• Laughter
• Touch
• Physical space
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
15
Space between speakers
Public
Social-consultative
Casual-personal
Intimate
Distance indicating degrees of intimacy
Source: Goodman’s Working in a Global Environment
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
16
Non-verbal communication
• Tone, volume and speed
• Turn-taking and silence
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
17
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
indirect
In Japan – kishotenketsu organization
Ki – the small talk
Sho – raising the subject
Ten – rolling the subject
Ketsu – ending it beautifully
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
18
Culture’s influence on written
business communication
• Mechanics and format also differ
– How dates are written
– How names are written
– How addresses are written
ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication
19