Title: Communicating
1Communicating
- Across Cultures
-
- Linda C. Hoffman
2Even if some companies never do any
international business, they
still need a solid understanding of
cross-cultural issues in business because America
is, itself, a multicultural country here and now,
where people often fail to communicate across
cultural lines. (Judee Reel)
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4Similarities
5Low Context
High Context
- Favor indirect, vague, oblique language
- Implicit meaning
- Priority is to maintain harmony
- Favor direct approach
- Explicit meaning clarity is a priority
- May use frank, even blunt language
Relationship focused
Deal focused
6 Monochronic
Polychronic
- More concern about time
- Exactness important
- Punctuality may even demand an early arrival
- Less concern about time
- Time is flexible
- Relationships are more important than timeline
- Multi-tasking
FLEXIBILITY
7 Informal
Very Formal
- Spontaneous
- Flexible
- Equality
- Casual
- Protocol driven
- Pomp and ceremony
- Status
- Titles
RESPECT
8Para-verbal Communication
- Volume
- Non-verbal vocalizations
- Use of silence
- Conversational overlap
.
9Non-verbal Communication
- Distance
- Touch
- Eye contact
- Gestures
10Gestures
11When the verbal message
conflicts with the body language, only the body
language is understood
12Success in Multicultural Business Settings
Requires
- A drive to communicate
- Broad-based sociability
- Cultural flexibility
- Cosmopolitan orientation
- A collaborative negotiation style
13PERSPECTIVE
14Internet Resources
Country specific http//www.windowontheworldinc.c
om/countryprofile/index.html Gift-giving
http//culturalsavvy.com/gift_giving.htm Cross
cultural awareness http//culturalsavvy.com/index
.htm Bribery http//www.transparency.org
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17Gestures