1. Chapter 8
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

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

3. 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

4. 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

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. 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

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
Culture ex.) 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 Others ex.) 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