Business communication andBusiness communication andthe global context

Learning objectivesLearning objectives

What is intercultural communication

How culture effects on communication

What are national cultural variables

What are individual cultural variablesWhat are individual cultural variables

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

Many personal and national variables affect both senders and receivers of message.

Each Person, each country has its own Each Person, each country has its own written and unwritten

Rules of behavior

Instructions in communication

This happens due to difference in language, culture, status, education and age

A concept of cultureA concept of culture

In scholarly point of it is difficult to define communication and culture.

Research suggests that 164 definitions exist for word “culture”.for word “culture”.

In communication culture refers to the behavioral characteristics typical of group.

It implies that communications, oral, non-verbal with in a group are also typical and are often unique.

A concept of cultureA concept of culture

Culture generalizations applicable to an entire nation are impossible.

Knowing core characteristics of a country are basic to better international are basic to better international communication.

A concept of cultureA concept of cultureGuess where following communication and

cultural habits exists.(p.71)1. Where people sign their last (family) names

first?2. Where two signatures appears at the bottom 2. Where two signatures appears at the bottom

of a paper?3. Where people follow these stylesMonth/date/yearYear/month/dateDate/month/year

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

Studies found that we all are comfortable with persons we know and who hold similar belief.

Some basic human characteristics are Some basic human characteristics are common to all of us e.g. doctor all over the world understand the functions of human body.

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

Centre highlights that basic common human characteristics

Countries I & II have major cultural overlap, may be due to same language overlap, may be due to same language dress etc.

Countries III & IV have less commonality

Therefore it will be easy to work in countries I & II as an expatriate.

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

At outer edge all four countries are a part, this may be because of major differences, such as religion, values, beliefs verbal and non verbal communication.non verbal communication.

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication

In this figure countries I, II, and IV are highly similar; each to a high degree overlaps the other.

It may be that Christianity is the dominant It may be that Christianity is the dominant religion, the language is the same, cars drive on the same side of the road-even first names are used often etc.

Country III has less cultural overlap with other countries.

AmericanAmerican vsvs other cultureother culture

United States Concern with diversity

Tendency to be obsessed with time

Expect answers quickly

Other countries Less tolerance for

diversity

Time is flexible

Faxes and E-mail slowly Expect answers quickly to faxes, letters, or E-mail

Few vacation periods

Legalistic letters

Faxes and E-mail slowly increasing in developing countries

Many vacation days

More informal a handshake is good as letter

Some important websitesSome important websites

http://www.worldbusinessculture.com http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/