10 Intercultural Communication

8/7/2019 10 Intercultural Communication

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Management Communication

INTERCULTURAL

COMMUNICATION


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Effective intercultural communication means

Being able to recognise cultural variables

Understanding how those variables influence

business

Being able to maximise intercultural

communication strengths and minimise potential

difficulties

Increasing cultural sensitivity


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A hierarchy of cultural components

From a presentation by Oscar Schiappa-Pietra,Kennedy School of Government, August 2001

Architectural

and other

concrete expressions

Generally recognised

behaviours

Explicit beliefs

Deeply embedded, harder-to-recognise beliefs


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Examples of cultural components

Architectural and other concrete elements

Buildings, dress

Recognised behaviours

Rituals, taboos

Explicit beliefs

Religion, marriage, social duties

Deeply embedded beliefs


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Ways in which cultures vary

Individualism versus collectivism

High context versus low context

Perception of time

Perception of space

Importance of hierarchy

Nature of change

Importance and rigidity of gender roles

Nature of authority

Humans relationship to the natural world


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High / Low Context Cultures

Context = the environment in which thecommunication process takes place


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Hall: Comparing low to high context cultures

Low Context Tends to prefer direct verbal interaction

Tends to understand meaning at one level

only

Is generally less proficient in reading non-

verbal cues

Values individualism

Relies more on logic

Employs linear logic

Says no directly

Communicates in highly structured

messages, provides details, stresses literal

meanings, gives authority to written

information

Low German North American French Spanish Greek Chinese High

Context Context

Culture German-Swiss Scandinavian English Italian Mexican Arab Japanese Culture

High Context Tends to prefer indirect verbal interaction

Tends to understand meanings embedded at

many socio-cultural levels

Is generally more proficient in reading

nonverbal cues

Values group membership

Relies more on context and feeling

Employs spiral logic

Talks around point, avoids saying no

Communicates in simple, ambiguous, non-

contexted messages; understands visual

messages readily


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The complexity of culture

Culture refers to many elements that are

implicit and therefore not evident. People tend

to think their cultural patterns are natural and

correct, and that alternative ways are odd if not

wrong. People usually do not reflect on cultural

contrasts until they become sensitised to

intercultural diversity.

From a presentation by Oscar Schiappa-Pietra,Kennedy School of Government, August 2001


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How cultural differences can impact

professional interactions

Either completing a task or building a relationship

takes precedence

Either the written word or the spoken word ismore trusted

Persuasion is based on facts or on the reputation

of the individual

Meetings are for exploring an issue or for

demonstrating agreement

The degree to which hierarchy is important varies


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How cultural differences can impact teams

Team members may differ in:

their perception of the teams objectives

the way they communicate

how they view leadership

work habits

their manner of interacting with members of the

opposite sex

their level of formality with other team members

their willingness to socialise with other team members


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General guidelines for working interculturally

Dont assume different is wrong, odd, or

counterproductive

Listen and observe

Be curious: Read about other team members

cultures or talk to other people from that culture

Try to discuss differences but be respectful if

other team members are not comfortablediscussing them

Provide feedback that is I centred, not you

critical

10 Intercultural Communication

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