ES 2002 Business Communication Intercultural Communication ES 2002

ES 2002 Business Communication Intercultural Communication ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural

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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 2

Seven Years in Tibet ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 3

Clothing Food Behaviour Attitudes Values Beliefs Meanings Norms Photo by Cliff Wassman ES 2002 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) ES 2002 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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 6

Outline • Fundamental cultural orientations • Verbal communication • Nonverbal communication • Culture’s influence on written business communication ES 2002 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 ES 2002 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 ES 2002 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 ES 2002 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 ES 2002 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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 12

ES 2002 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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 14

Non-verbal communication • Body language – Posture – Head movements • Eye contact • Laughter • Touch • Physical space ES 2002 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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 16

Non-verbal communication • Tone, volume and speed • Turn-taking and silence ES 2002 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 ES 2002 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 ES 2002 Business Communication: Intercultural Communication 19