CCSC 100 Cross Cultural Studies & Communication Lecture Notes PDF

(CCSC100) Cross Cultural Studies and Communication Course Outline MIDTERMS 1. Relationships: Individual or Collective? 2. Social Framework: High – Context or Low – Context? 3. Time: Linear, Flexible, or Cyclical? 4. Power: Hierarchical or Democratic?...

(CCSC100) Cross Cultural Studies and Communication Course Outline MIDTERMS 1. Relationships: Individual or Collective? 2. Social Framework: High – Context or Low – Context? 3. Time: Linear, Flexible, or Cyclical? 4. Power: Hierarchical or Democratic? 2 Course Outline FINALS 1. Using Language 2. Writing 3. Communicating Nonverbally 4. Negotiating 3 Relationships: Individal or Collective? 𝖣 Characteristics of Individualist Cultures 𝖣 Characteristics of Collective Cultures 𝖣 Guidelines: Individualist or Collective? 4  1. Characteristics of Individualist Cultures 6 Characteristics of Individualist Cultures The pivotal unit is the individual. The goal in most individualist cultures is to develop responsible citizens capable of assuming accountability for personal problems and issues. 𝖣 Life decisions. 𝖣 Individual identity. 𝖣 Breakable contracts. 6 Characteristics of Individualist Cultures Space and privacy are important. Because individualist cultures value personal freedom, most of them have a greater physical space and privacy requirement than that seen in collective cultures. 𝖣 In the home. 𝖣 In the office. 𝖣 In crowds. 7 Characteristics of Individualist Cultures Communication tend to be direct, explicit, and personal. One of the most powerful ways in which human beings express their individuality is through communication. How you express your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings is what makes you unique. 𝖣 Direct explicit messages. 𝖣 Linear logic. 8 Characteristics of Individualist Cultures Business is transactional and competitive. Results are paramount. It is the deal that counts— and business is commonly transacted by scrutinizing facts (due diligence, credit reports, quarterly earnings) and technical competence (past experience, educational credentials). 𝖣 Measurable results. 𝖣 Competitiveness. 𝖣 Separation of relationships and business contracts. 9  2. Characteristics of Collective Cultures 1 Characteristics of Collective Cultures The pivotal unit is the group. Members of collective cultures see themselves as elements in a closely-knit network with others; they are part of a strong cohesive unit (family, clan, profession, corporation, religion) that protects and supports them throughout their lives in exchange for their loyalty. 𝖣 Group decisions. 𝖣 Collective values. 11 Characteristics of Collective Cultures Space and privacy are less important than relationships. Collective cultures generally need less space than cultures that value individualism. After all, if the group you are part of is important to you, you may well want to be physically close to its members. 𝖣 In the home. 𝖣 In the office. 𝖣 In crowds. 12 Characteristics of Collective Cultures Communication is intuitive, complex, and impressionistic. Explicit and direct is less important communication in collective cultures. 𝖣 Indirect, ambiguous messages. 𝖣 Circuitous logic. 13 Characteristics of Collective Cultures Business is relational and collaborative. Most collective cultures believe that relationships, rather than deals or contracts, facilitate results. 𝖣 Subordination of data. 𝖣 Relational interpretation of data. 𝖣 Emphasis on the long term. 14 15  3. Guidelines: Individualist or collective? 1 Guidelines: Individualist or collective? When conducting business in individualist cultures, remember to: Focus on the transaction: Emphasize the contract or deal and support your proposal with hard data about short-term gains. Use data and logic: Appeal to competitiveness and present facts, numbers, statistics, benchmarks, best practices, and comparative analyses. Construct your persuasive argument using linear, cause- and-effect logic. 17 Guidelines: Individualist or collective? Communicate directly: Prefer direct, clear, and explicit messages. Remember that silence can cause discomfort and doubt. Value time: Since businesspeople from individualist cultures tend to view time as a precious commodity, estimate the length of time required for a decision or a task, build in “wriggle room” (consider doubling your estimate), and give a precise date by which an answer will be forthcoming. 18 Guidelines: Individualist or collective? When conducting business in collective cultures, remember to: Allow time for relationship building: Build plenty of time to develop the relationship; remember that trust is critical to business. Emphasize collaboration, mutual benefits, and potential Focus on long-term the contextgrowth. of a business relationship: Pay strict attention to form, protocol, and etiquette; these are essential to preserve “face”— personal identity and dignity. Provide a historical perspective and share background so that your business partners from collective cultures see 2 Guidelines: Individualist or collective? Make decisions consensually, contextually, and for the long term: Be prepared to allot a liberal amount of time to repeated presentation and discussion of the particulars of a deal. Communicate indirectly: Use silence to enhance comfort level in face- to-face communication. Remember to enhance harmony, preserve face, and provide context for the message using indirect and personal messages. 20 Guidelines: Individualist or collective? Avoid direct questions: Avoid asking questions that call for responses identifying accountability. Members of collective cultures are loath to assign blame and are anxious to protect the personal dignity of all members of their group. Be patient: Plan to spend double the time you think necessary on trips, meetings, presentations, and Q & A sessions. Collective culture members tend to view time as flexible, experiential, and plentiful. 21 Fin. Any questions? 22