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Goal: intern. understanding & maximizing success for American executives

Understanding Cultural Differences-Germans, French and Americans Edward T. Hall & Mildred Reed Hall, 1990. Goal: intern. understanding & maximizing success for American executives Research: interviews w/ buss. ppl, writers, artists, teachers.

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Goal: intern. understanding & maximizing success for American executives

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  1. Understanding Cultural Differences-Germans, French and AmericansEdward T. Hall & Mildred Reed Hall,1990 • Goal: intern. understanding & maximizing success for American executives • Research: interviews w/ buss. ppl, writers, artists, teachers

  2. The Three Elements of the communicative process in culture • Words • Material Things • Behavior • A “silent language”

  3. Culture is… • “a giant, extraordinarily complex, subtle computer” • Its programs guide actions • What causes system breakdown

  4. A few of the key concepts underlying culture…

  5. Fast and Slow Messages • = the speed at which a message can be decoded & acted on • See examples on handout • Applications to building relationships

  6. Context • Context= elements that contribute to producing a meaning; they differ in proportion depending on culture • Effective communication=knowing the degree of info(contexting) needed

  7. High & Low Context • H.C.=extensive information networks -> little need for background info • (Japanese, Arab & Mediterranean ppl.) • L.C.=compartmentalized relationships cause need for background info • (Germans, Swiss & Americans)

  8. Context shifting • Any shift in level of context is a communication: upscale=warming, downscale=cooling

  9. Monochronic vs. Polychronic • See handout • Both Germans & Americans=monochronic

  10. While both monochronic…. • Germans & Americans differ in relation to TIME • Germans: precise scheduling, slow pace • & Attention to detail & preoccupation w/ past (see quote on handout)

  11. ACHTUNG! • Grosse Generalizations komming…

  12. Americans from the German PerspectiveNegatives • Overly familiar, intrusive • Naïve (historically & politically) • Poorly educated, narrow-minded • Undisciplined, lacking taste • Shallow & over-confident • Needing ‘hand-holding’ in buss.

  13. Americans fr. the German PerspectivePositives • Friendly • Resourceful, energetic, innovative • Happier, more productive, greater freedom than most • Resilient • Amer. Society: great opportunity for success & upward mobility

  14. Germans from the American Perspective • Disciplined, well-educated • Neat, orderly • Systematic, well-organized • Reserved, private • Tough competitors

  15. Usefullness of this book? • If you’re an untravelled Amer. Buss. executive living in the 1990’s, this book may be for you… • Provides a cultural short hand for American businesspple (behaviors to enact & avoid to improve your bottom line!)

  16. For our students?? • For our students??--a more nuanced approach (that avoids saying “the Germans are…” would be better • But some cultural concepts (e.g.,high & low context) could be helpful

  17. Too conclude:a few mind-expanding quotes • “Until now [the publication of this book] there has been no way to translate behavior from one culture to another” (xix) • “Few people realize that space is perceived by all the senses, not by vision alone” (11) • “…Germans do not smile when introduced. Smiling is for friends” (39)

  18. Jennie vs. the Point of Power • After thirty years of avoidance, Jennie completes her first power point. She is not sure if she’s happy about it… • If she wants to continue down this dark & treacherous path, she will have to give in & get a tutorial…

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