Cross Cultural Communication Group 4 指導教授：何妤蓁老師

The member of our group Name Student ID Contribution and devotion 林逸姁 Design/make the whole the PPT Devise/create case 1 李順和 Give some modified suggestion 林國明 Provide one case(but didn’t accept) 楊東晉 Devise/create point 3 孫寶璟 Devise/create case 2

The knowledge to understand cross- cultural phenomena The mindfulness to observe and interpret particular situations The skills required to adapt behavior to act appropriately and successfully in a range of situations

First, Wang Pin needs to understand what Westerner, especially American’s style. When Americans discuss ideas or express their opinions, they are often direct. When they disagree, they will argue about issues. Even though Westerners don’t have conflict all the time, differences of opinion are accepted as a natural part of life. In Chinese society, it is important to save face and give face to show respect or honor to others, especially superior. When a person shows anger or says negative things about others in public, that person is losing face of the others.

For the sake of the whole company benefits, Mr. Wang have to calm down. Mr. Wang should pay attention to Tony’s constructive criticism instead of the “his own face”. They both have to sit down and have a genuine conversation in private. Mr. Wang can also tell Tony his way of conveying ideas has to be modified to the point which not so pungent and direct. In that way, the group has mutual understanding about their respective culture and thought.

Case 2

John was assigned as a manager in Malaysia’s factory. This was his first time to lead the alien branch company. One day, he went around and inspect the product line and he found some smell from some female employees’ Muslim head scarves. He asked all the female employees on the spot to throw out their head scarves to avoid contaminated the circumstance and bring the bad impression for customers. He blurted out ” A bunch of pigs!” The order stirs almost all the Malaysia employees’ rage. They started striking and asked the leader’s apology. John couldn’t understand why they did so. He just confused about it. Soon, the head company’s CEO arrived here. He called a meeting to rescue the crisis. After the meeting, CEO apologized to all the Malaysia employees and explained all these caused from the cultural difference. He also promised that the company would take employees’ need into consideration. But for the healthy working circumstance, he asked female Malaysia employees to exchange clean and different colors headscarves every day. All the employees accepted it and returned to work. Then John went back to the mother’s company and was demoted for a lower position.

Analysis 1 Apparently, John didn’t comprehend and respect the alien culture. In management, he didn’t know how to communicate with the employees euphemistically. He took arrogant attitudes toward employees. In some countries, religion is all. Religion affects every aspects, including the behaviors, diet, and clothes. Female employees’ Muslim head scarves are the religion’s symbolic. “Pigs” are seen as unclean animals. So, John violated the taboo and made insult at employees.

Analysis 2 One successful global corporation depends on its super communication and management intelligence under multicultural circumstance. If somebody will be assigned to alien companies, the HR department should hold a series of training classes to let expatriates to be familiar with the other culture. If somebody will be assigned to alien companies, he should do perfect preparation, including the linguistic skill and respect for other culture. He should keep interaction with local colleagues willingly.

I have some experience to work with foreigner. First of all, I want to talk about the attitude for work. Most of the foreigners are work for life, but most the Taiwanese are life for work. Why I said this?? Foreign are very care about the work time and obey it. People work for 8 hours a day. When the times up, they will leave work and find some activities after work. They like balance and do it. But maybe the competition in Asia is stronger than East country. Many workers can’t leave work even though they work over 8 or 10 hours more in Taiwan. But in some case, this makes vicious cycle and make the worker do thing inefficiency.

Life for work……

Second, compare with most Taiwan companies, most foreign companies are more respect the regulations. Once the regulations are published. The worker will obey them. As I know, most of the Taiwan companies can’t do this so well. Most Taiwan companies ask their work to obey the regulations, but in some cases, workers are easy to break the regulations.

Third, in Taiwan companies, worker are very sensitive with relationship. They try to keep good relationship with everyone especially for some seniors even though they are not wrong. Most foreign are easier to express their opinion in this case. They will tell you how they think with the same thing. They are trained to be honest with each other even though they don’t have different opinions.

Thank you for your participation and listening.