Chapter 8 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

The Communication Process Sender Meaning Encoding Medium Feedback Receiver Interpretation Decoding

Overview of Communication Communication is 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

External and Internal Communications 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Others ex.) Some U.S . managers view their foreign subordinates as being less qualified than their US peers.

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...

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

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

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