Chapter 6 Intercultural Business Communication PDF

Concept of culture and intercultural business communication Culture can be defined as shared ways of thinking and doing things.Culture is measured in many ways such as genders, social class, religion, race, ethnicity, and geographic region.  Identify the concept of culture and interculture...

Concept of culture and intercultural business communication Culture can be defined as shared ways of thinking and doing things.Culture is measured in many ways such as genders, social class, religion, race, ethnicity, and geographic region.  Identify the concept of culture and interculture business commnication CONCEPT OF CULTURE INTERCULTURAL Business people Intercultural must understand communications both culture and involves exchanging communication, as message across culture encompasses different cultural social behaviours, boundaries, where norms, and beliefs. cultural backgrounds affect the interpretation of verbal and nonverbal signals.  The Process Of Intercultural Business Communication Three levels Enculturation Cultural of culture and Ethnocentrism relativism acculturation  i. Three Levels of Culture illustrates the shared values and assumptions of culture ii. Enculturation and Acculturation relate to each other and are associated with artificats. Basic assumptions are a deeper elements that some experts believe is the essence of culture. Values are stable,evaluation beliefs that guide our preferences for outcomes of courses of action in variety situation.They are consicious perception about what is good or bad,right or wrong. Artificate are the observable symbol and sign of a culture,such as the way visitors are greeted the physical layout,and how people are wearing  iii. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge other groups according to the other groups according to the standards, behaviors, and customs of one's group. iv. Cultural relativism Given the automatic influence of one's own culture is a philosophy that believes that when it comes to when people compare their culture with others. matters of right and wrong and other values of a moral They often conclude that their own is superior. An nature that there are no absolutes or any fixed truths, even more extreme reaction is xenophobia, a fear of but rather that all is relative. strangers and foreigners. Every cultural relativism has a different viewpoint and Clearly, businesspeople who take these views are not their individual viewpoints should be respected. Cultural Relativist view themselves as tolerant; they likely to communicate successfully across cultures. see other cultures not as wrong but as different. They also not judging a culture but trying to understand it on its own terms (putting self in their (other culture's) shoes/eyes.  BARRIERS OF INTERCULTURAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 01. Stereotypes & Prejudice Stereotypes are general beliefs about the characteristics, traits, or behaviors of a social group such as gender, race, or culture. Stereotypes can cause discrimination because of injustice in society. For example, women are not suitable to be leaders because many think that women cannot work hard and are not firm in doing something and worry that women will be more emotional in carrying out tasks. Prejudice is a negative thing that appears against stereotyped groups. For example, uneducated workers will definitely be looked down upon by others because they think uneducated workers do not have the skills to work. 02. Cultural Practices Cultural practices are practices that we can apply in life to supplement our daily lives. However, there are also cultural practices that we cannot apply. For example, Malay women can’t shake hands with men and you don’t have to feel offended or guilty for refusing to shake hands but instead you can put your hand on your chest and bow respectfully. 03. value System A value system that should be embraced by individuals, groups, society in daily life. The value of this value affects a person’s behavior in themselves. Example, honesty, patience, courage, responsible, and others. But, in workplace culture there also has barriers in values system. For example, managers brings family problems into the workplace by scolding and being emotional towards employees and this prevents employees from communicating well with employees. 04. aMBIGUITY & CONFLICT Ambiguity is something that is not clear and uncertain about what is happening to the situation. This ambiguity can cause confusion and doubt. For example, the managers tells the employees to attend a meeting that will be held in next week but does not tell the day, date, and time. Conflict is a process in which one party perceives that person interests are being opposed or negatively affected by another part. There is a negative elements that is not good happened such as disagreements, contention, fight happened. For example, the employees are not satisfied with the managers because not given a day off work during the festive season and have to work non-stop. IMPROVING INTERCULTURAL BUSINESS 01. Studying other cultures 02. Studying other languanges COMMUNICATION SKILL Effectively adapting people As commerce continues to become more communication efforts to another globalized and many countries become more Communicating successfully between cultures linguistically diverse, the demand for multilingual culture requires requires a variety of skill. not only knowledge about the culture communicators continues to grow as well. The ability to communicate in more than one People can improve their intercultural skills but also the ability and motivation to language can make people a more competitive job through out their career by study other cultures change their personal habits as candidate and open up a wider variety of career needed and languages, respecting preferences for opportunities. communication styles, learning to write and speak clearly listening carefully, knowing when to use interpreters and translators, and helping others adapt to their culture. Respecting preferences Using interpreters, 03. for communication 04. translators, and style translation software including the level of directness, the degree of People may encounter business situations formality, media preferences, and other factors that require using an interpreter or a varies widely from culture to culture translator. knowing their communication partners expect can Interpreters and translators can be help people to adapt to their particular style expensive, but skilled professionals provide watching and learning are the best way to invaluable assistance for communicating in improve people skills. other cultural contexts.  05. 06. 07. Speaking and Writing clearly Helping others listening carefully adapt to your it is essential when their people are writing to people whose first language is not English culture To ensure successful conversations between Everyone can contribute to successful Some of these recommendations can make the parties who speak different native languages or message be understood which are; intercultural communication. even regional variations of the same language, > choose words carefully Whether a younger person is speakers and listeners alike need to make > be brief unaccustomed to the formalities of a > use plenty of transitions accommodations. large corporation or a colleague from > address international correspondence properly Speakers should adjust the content of their > cite numbers and dates carefully another country is working on a team, messages and the style of their delivery to > avoid slang look for opportunities to help people fit accommodate the needs of their listeners and the > idiomatic phrases and business jargon on and adapt their communication style. circumstances of the conversation. > avoid humor