Chapter 4 Communicating Across Cultures Mary Ellen Guffey

Chapter 4 Communicating Across Cultures Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e Copyright © 2003

Increasing Importance of Multicultural Communication • Technological advancements • General global interconnectivity • Globalization of markets • Multicultural workforce Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 2

Understanding Culture How is culture like a computer program? Society, gender, race, age, religion, and other factors control our reactions and behavior. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 3

Characteristics of Culture 1. Culture is learned. 2. Cultures are inherently logical. 3. Culture forms our self-identity and community. 4. Culture combines the visible and the invisible. 5. Culture is dynamic. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 4

Selected Dimensions of Culture Context • High-context cultures (in Japan, China, and Arab countries) tend to be relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. • Low-context cultures (in North America, Scandinavia, and Germany) tend to be logical, linear, and action-oriented. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 5

Selected Dimensions of Culture Individualism • High-context cultures prefer group values, duties, and decisions. • Low-context cultures tend to prefer individual initiative, self-assertion, personal achievement. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 6

Selected Dimensions of Culture Formality • Other cultures may prefer more formality. • North Americans place less emphasis on tradition, ceremony, and social rules. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 7

Selected Dimensions of Culture Communication Style • High-context cultures rely on nonverbal cues and the total picture to communicate. Meanings are embedded at many social levels. • Low-context cultures emphasize words, straightforwardness, openness. People tend to be informal, impatient, literal. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 8

Selected Dimensions of Culture Time Orientation • Time is unlimited and never-ending in some cultures. Relaxed attitude toward time. • Time is precious to North Americans. It correlates with productivity, efficiency, and money. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 9

High-Context and Low. Context Cultures High Japanese Arab Latin American Spanish English Italian French North American Scandinavian German Swiss Low Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 10

Improving Communication With Multicultural Audiences Oral Messages • Learn foreign phrases. • Use simple English. • Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. • Observe eye messages. • Encourage accurate feedback. • Check frequently for comprehension. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 11

Improving Communication With Multicultural Audiences Oral Messages • Accept blame. • Listen without interrupting. • Tell speakers if you don’t understand. • Remember to smile! • Follow up in writing. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 12

Improving Communication With Multicultural Audiences Written Messages • Adapt to local formats. • Use short sentences and short paragraphs. • Avoid ambiguous expressions. • Strive for clarity. • Use correct grammar. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 13

Improving Communication With Multicultural Audiences Written Messages • Cite numbers carefully. • Accommodate reader in organization, tone, and style. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 14

Making Ethical Decisions Across Borders • • Broaden your view of other cultures. Avoid reflex judgments. Find alternatives. Refuse business if options violate your basic values. • Conduct all business openly. • Don’t rationalize shady decisions. • Resist lawful but unethical strategies. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 15

Tips for Capitalizing on Workforce Diversity • • Seek training. Understand the value of differences. Don’t expect conformity. Create zero tolerance for bias and stereotypes. • Learn about your cultural self. • Make fewer assumptions. • Build on similarities. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 16

Proverbs Reflect Culture What do these proverbs tell us about this culture and its values? U. S. Proverbs Waste not, want not. He who holds the gold makes the rules. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. The early bird gets the worm. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 17

Proverbs Reflect Culture What do these proverbs tell us about this culture and its values? Chinese Proverbs A man who waits for a roast duck to fly into his mouth must wait a very, very long time. A man who says it cannot be done should not interrupt a man doing it. Give a man a fish, and he will live a day; give him a net, and he will live a lifetime. Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 18

Proverbs Reflect Culture Other Proverbs No one is either rich or poor who has not helped himself to be so. (German) Words do not make flour. (Italian) Wealth that comes in at the door unjustly, goes out at the windows. (Egyptian) Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 19

Comparing U. S. and Foreign Views How Many U. S. Persons View Themselves Informal, friendly, casual Egalitarian Direct, aggressive Efficient Goal- and achievement-oriented Profit-oriented Resourceful, ingenious Individualistic, progressive Dynamic, identify with work Enthusiastic, prefer hard sell Open How Many Foreigners View U. S. Persons Undisciplined, too personal Insensitive to status Blunt, rude, oppressive Opportunistic, obsessed with time Promise more than they deliver Materialistic Deals more important than people Self-absorbed Driven Deceptive, fearsome Weak, untrustworthy Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 20

Diversity Demographics Quiz 1. By 2050, what percent of the U. S. population will be made up of Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans, and other nonwhite groups? a. 47 percent c. 67 percent b. 57 percent d. 77 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 21

Diversity Demographics Quiz 1. By 2050, what percent of the U. S. population will be made up of Asians, Hispanics, African-Americans, and other nonwhite groups? a. 47 percent c. 67 percent b. 57 percent d. 77 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 22

Diversity Demographics Quiz 2. The most dramatic workforce change since the 1960 s is the growing number of _______ in the workforce. a. Hispanics c. African Americans b. seniors (65+) d. women Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 23

Diversity Demographics Quiz 2. The most dramatic workforce change since the 1960 s is the growing number of _______ in the workforce. a. Hispanics c. African Americans b. seniors (65+) d. women Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 24

Diversity Demographics Quiz 3. Of the 43 million Americans who have disabilities, 20 million are of working age (16 to 64). How many of this group are unemployed? a. 10 million c. 14 million b. 12 million d. 16 million Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 25

Diversity Demographics Quiz 3. Of the 43 million Americans who have disabilities, 20 million are of working age (16 to 64). How many of this group are unemployed? a. 10 million c. 14 million b. 12 million d. 16 million Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 26

Diversity Demographics Quiz 4. By the year 2050, what percent of the workforce will be 55 years of age or older? a. 15 percent c. 40 percent b. 25 percent d. 50 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 27

Diversity Demographics Quiz 4. By the year 2050, what percent of the workforce will be 55 years of age or older? a. 15 percent c. 40 percent b. 25 percent d. 50 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 28

Diversity Demographics Quiz 5. What percent of the total U. S. population speaks a language other than English at home? a. 4 percent c. 24 percent b. 14 percent d. 34 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 29

Diversity Demographics Quiz 5. What percent of the total U. S. population speaks a language other than English at home? a. 4 percent c. 24 percent b. 14 percent d. 34 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 30

Diversity Demographics Quiz 6. What are the two most racially and ethnically diverse states in the U. S. ? a. Florida, New York c. New York, California b. Florida, California d. New Mexico, California Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 31

Diversity Demographics Quiz 6. What are the two most racially and ethnically diverse states in the U. S. ? a. Florida, New York c. New York, California b. Florida, California d. New Mexico, California Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 32

Diversity Demographics Quiz 7. What are the two least ethnically and racially diverse states? a. North, South Dakota c. Maine, Vermont b. Wyoming, Nevada d. Arkansas, Illinois Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 33

Diversity Demographics Quiz 7. What are the two least ethnically and racially diverse states? a. North, South Dakota c. Maine, Vermont b. Wyoming, Nevada d. Arkansas, Illinois Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 34

Diversity Demographics Quiz 8. What percent of U. S. working-age women are in the labor market? a. 55 percent c. 75 percent b. 65 percent d. 85 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 35

Diversity Demographics Quiz 8. What percent of U. S. working-age women are in the labor market? a. 55 percent c. 75 percent b. 65 percent d. 85 percent Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 36

End Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4 e 37