Lecture Business and administrative communication: Chapter 7 - Kitty O. Locker, Donna S. Kienzler

Chapter 7 - Communicating across cultures. After studying this chapter, you will know: Why global business is important, why diversity is becoming more important, how our values and beliefs affect our responses to other people, how nonverbal communication impacts cross-cultural communications, how to adapt oral communication for cross-cultural communications, how to adapt written communications for global audiences, why it is important to...

Chapter Communicating across Cultures Copyright © 2015 McGraw­Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw­Hill Education Culture  Shapes values, priorities, and practices  Modern business requires dealing with other cultures 7­2 Successful Intercultural  Communicator Aware of values, beliefs, and practices in other cultures  Sensitive to differences among individuals within a culture  Aware that one’s preferred values    Are influenced by culture Are not always right 7­3 Successful Intercultural  Communicator, continued…  Willing to ask questions about preferences and behaviors  Flexible and open to change  Sensitive to verbal and nonverbal behavior 7­4 Importance of Global Business Exports are essential to businesses and the economy  Many companies depend on vendors who are located in other countries  Companies adapt products and services for local cultures  Managers often need international experience for top-level jobs  7­5 Sources of Workplace Diversity         Gender Race and ethnicity Regional and national origin Social class Religion Age Sexual orientation Physical ability 7­6 Ways to Look at Culture:  High­Context Cultures      Infer most information from social relationships Convey little information explicitly Prefer indirectness, politeness, ambiguity Consider oral agreements more binding than written ones Rely heavily on nonverbal signs Latin Ame rican Ja e s e pan Arabic 7­7 Ways to Look at Culture:  Low­Context Cultures Rely little on context  Spell out most information  Value directness: may see indirectness as dishonest or manipulative  Value written word more than oral statements  North Am erican an m r Ge Scandin avian 7­8 Ways to Look at Culture:  Cultural Dimensions      Power/Inequality Individualism/Collectivism Masculinity/Femininity Uncertainty Avoidance Long-term/Short-term Orientation 7­9 Values, Beliefs, and Practices  Often unconscious  Affect response to people and situations  Different cultures have different views of      Fairness Groups Competition Success Social status 7­10 Nonverbal Communication  Communication without words  Signals such as smiles and gestures  May be misinterpreted as easily as words  Important to be conscious of signals sent and received 7­11 Nonverbal Communication Types   Body language   Touch   how much – who touches whom Space   eye contact – facial expressions – gestures personal space Time  being on time – measuring time 7­12 Time  Monochronic culture  People focus on clock  Plan their time; avoid wasting it  Polychronic culture  People focus on relationships  Disregard clocks and planners X 7­13 Other Nonverbal Symbols Clothing  Colors  Age  Height  7­14 Oral Communication  Requires cultural understanding  Be aware of  Understatement and exaggeration  Compliments  Approaches to Negatives 7­15 Writing to International Audiences Most cultures more formal than U.S  Avoid  First names (use titles)  Contractions  Slang  Idioms  Sports metaphors  7­16 Writing to International Audiences,  continued…      Write in English unless fluent in audience’s language Reconsider patterns of organization Buffer negative messages; make requests indirect Re-think audience benefits; ones that motivate U.S audience may not work Allow extra response time 7­17 Learning about International Business  Communication  Beyond a set of rules  International business practices are constantly evolving/changing  Seek and talk to people from other backgrounds  Enhance understanding of multiple perspectives 7­18 ... right 7? ?3 Successful Intercultural  Communicator, continued…  Willing to ask questions about preferences and behaviors  Flexible and open to change  Sensitive to verbal and nonverbal behavior 7? ?4... for top-level jobs  7? ?5 Sources of Workplace Diversity         Gender Race and ethnicity Regional and national origin Social class Religion Age Sexual orientation Physical ability 7? ?6 Ways to Look at Culture: ... Importance of Global? ?Business Exports are essential to businesses and the economy  Many companies depend on vendors who are located in other countries  Companies adapt products and services for