ES2002 Business Communication

1. 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 ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

3. ClothingFoodBehaviour AttitudesValuesBeliefsMeaningsNorms 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. Outline • Fundamental cultural orientations • Nonverbal communication • Different cultural groups • Tips for intercultural communication skills ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

6. 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

7. Contexting and face saving Contexting and face saving • High context • 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 non-verbal communication • Direct, precise, and explicit Cultural orientations High context – High face saving Low context – Low face saving ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

8. Individual / group Individual / group • 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 Cultural orientations ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

9. Time 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 Cultural orientations ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

10. Status Status • Accorded based on individual achievements • Organizations less hierarchical • Titles used only when relevant to competence • Ascribed by virtue of age, family background, profession • Organizations more highly hierarchical • Extensive use of titles Cultural Orientations ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

11. Decision making Decision making • Discussing points • Seeking group consensus • Consulting organisations in negotiations Cultural orientations ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

12. 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) ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

13. Non-verbal communication • Body language • Posture • Head movements • Eye contact • Laughter • Touch • Physical space ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

14. Different cultural groups IMPORTANT Statements made mere generalizations Norms of a culture change Not all differences in patterns of communication can be explained by national cultures • National • Ethnic • Corporate • Religious • Gender • Socio-economic • Profession ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

15. 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. ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

16. So, beware! • Do not stereotype cultures For example, All Japanese are… Americans are… She is Malaysian. She must be… ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication

17. 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. ES2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication