Session 4 Communicating Across Culture

Session 4:

Communicating Across Cultures AGUNG PRAPTAPA UNSOED Thursday, 2 April 2009

The important of intercultural communication Globalization of Market  Technological Advancements  Multicultural Work Force 

Understanding Culture Culture is complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society.  Culture is a system for creating, sending, storing, and processing information. 

Characteristics of Culture 

Culture is learned In Asia, same sex people may walk hande in hand.  In Arab, conversations are often held in close proximity, sometimes nose to nose. In western culture, too close means violation. 

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Cultures are inherently logical 

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Culture is the basis of self-identity and community 

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In Japan, Barbie doll was a failure because of the toothy smile Who we are and what we believe.

Culture combines the visible and invisible In Japan, harmony with the environment is important.  In India, people avoid stepping on ant or insects because they believe in reincarnation. 

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Culture is dinamic 

Culture change as a result of migration, disasters, and wars

Stereotypes Stereotype is an oversimplified behavioral pattern applied uncritically to group  Fixed and rigid  In Javanese: gebyah uyah  Example: 

All chinese is good in business

Prejudices Prejudice is stereotype that is based on errorneous belief or preconception  Rigid attitude  Example: 

Moslem supports terorism Chinese tends to cheat

Prototypes Mental representations based on general characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but rather are open to new definition.  Dinamic abd may change  Based on objective observations.  Example: 

Latin businesspeople often talk about their families before getting down to business. This prototype is generally accurate, butit may not universally apply and it may change over time.

Generalization Necessary for learning and education  When we find something new, then we try to make generalization 

Dimensions of Culture Context  Individualism  Communication style  Time orientation 

Context The dependence to environment of a situation  Low-context cultures depend less on the environment of a situation to convey meaning than do high-context cultures.  Low-context cultures: North America, Western Europe  High-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab.  People in low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, and action oriented. 

Comparing Low and High Context Culture Low Context        

Tend to prefer direct verbal interaction Tend to understand meaning at one level only Is generally less proficient in reading nonverbal cues Values individualism Relies more on logic Employs linear logic Says no directly Communicates in highly structured (contexted) messages, provide details, stresses literal meanings, gives authority to written information.

High Context  

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Tends to prefer indirect verbal interaction Tends to understand meanings embedded at many sociocultural levelss Is generally more proficient in reading nonverbal cues Values group membership Relies more on context and feeling Employs spiral logic Talks around points; avoid saying no Communicates in simple, ambiguous, noncontexted messages; understands visual messages readily.

Countries with Low – High Context Cultures

Individualism An attitude of independence and freedom from control.  Members of many low-context cultures value independence and freedom from control.  Tradition, ceremony, and social rules are more important in high-context culture. 

Individualism Low-Context Culture

High-Context Culture

Individualism  Individual action and personal responsibility

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Collectivist  Membership, group, teams  Group value, duties, and decision  Resist independence

Formality 

Some cultures place more emphasis on tradition, ceremony, and social rules.

Communication Style Westeners value a direct, straightforward communication style.  Westeners: sound of words  Asian: meaning of words. 

Time Orientation North American tend to correlate time with productivity, efficiency, and money.  In other cultures time may be perceived as an unlimited and never-enfing resource to be enjoyed. 

Achieving Intercultural Sensitivity 

Avoiding Ethnocentrism: The belief in the superiority of one’s owned race.

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Bridging the Gap Emphaty: trying to see the world through another’s eyes. Saving face: indirectly respect the feelings and dignity of others Patience: tolerance, patient, silent

Asignment 4: Act Int April 2009 CULTURE Please find a special thing from culture arround the world, that is considered important and interesting to be shared, so we can develop ourselves to be a successful business communicator. The answer should be in English and Indonesian (should be both). Please post here as comments. The latest is Wednesday 8 April 2009.  www.apbuscom.blogspot.com 

Thank you 

Agung Praptapa, the one who ALWAYS DO THE BEST Email: [email protected] Web: www.praptapa.com Blog: www.praptapa.unsoed.net Elearning Web Blog for Business Communication: www.apbuscom.blogspot.com

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TIPs for you today: “Never give up. Keep trying. Keep learning. Nothing is impossible. Every thing can be learned”