Chapter 8 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

1. Chapter 8 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

2. The Communication Process Sender Meaning Encoding Medium Feedback Receiver Interpretation Decoding

3. Overview of Communication Communicationis the process of transferring meanings from sender to receiver Examples DO: It is appropriate to talk about History, Architecture, or Gardening in Great Britain DON’T: In Great Britain, do not talk about Politics, Money, or Prices

4. External and Internal Communications External Ex.) gov’t attempts to secure agreements with other nations regarding international trade Internal US & China Ex.) Russian factory managers make greater use than US managers of direct, face-to-face communications

5. Verbal Communication Styles • Indirect and Direct • Elaborate and Succinct • Contextual and Personal • Affective and Instrumental

6. Interpretation of Communications The effectiveness of communication is determined by how closely the sender and receiver have the same meaning for the same message Ex.) Using individual incentive plans in collective cultures

7. Downward Flow of Communications The transmission of information from manager to subordinate CEO V.P. V.P. x y z x y z

8. Upward Communication • The transmission of information from subordinates to managers • to provide feedback, ask questions, or obtain assistance from higher-level management

9. Communication Barriers Language ex.) Someone on a foreign assignment that does not know the language that is spoken at the headquarters of the MNC Cultureex.) The differences between how a native and nonnative U.S. person write a letter

10. Communication Barriers Perceptual Using words that are misinterpreted by others ex.) Ford released a truck called “Fiera” into Spanish-speaking countries...it meant “ugly old woman” in Spanish! View of Othersex.) Some U.S . managers view their foreign subordinates as being less qualified than their US peers.

11. The Impact of Culture Cultural Values ex.)People in the Middle Eastern countries do not relate to and communicate with one another in a loose, general way as do those in the U.S. Misinterpretation ex.)U.S. managers doing business in Austria often misinterpret the fact that local business people always address them in formal terms...Sir, Mr., Mrs., Miss...

12. U.S. Proverbs Representing Cultural Values Proverb Cultural Value Time is money Time Thriftiness Don’t cry over spilt milk Practicality Waste not, want not Frugality Early to bed, early to rise, makes- Diligence; one healthy, wealthy, and wise work ethic A stitch in time saves nine Timeliness If at first you don’t succeed, Persistence; try, try again work ethic Take care of today, and Preparation- tomorrow will take car of itself for the future

13. Nonverbal Communication Kinesics= Study of communication Through body movement and facial expression Proxemics = Study of the way that people use physical space to convey messages Chronemics = Refers to the way in which time is used in culture Chromatics= The use of color to communicate messages

14. Achieving Communication Effectiveness NEED TO: Improve Feedback Systems Provide Language Training Provide Cultural Training Increase Flexibility and Co-operation