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    Cross Cultural Communication Intro

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    jefflebow
    The document discusses six fundamental patterns of cultural differences that can impact cross-cultural communication: 1) different communication styles, 2) different attitudes toward conflict, 3) different approaches to completing tasks, 4) different decision-making styles, 5) different attitudes toward disclosure, and 6) differences in perceptions of time and the importance of saving face. It notes that aspects like language usage, personal space, conflict avoidance, relationship building, decision delegation, and willingness to share personal information can all vary significantly across cultures. Understanding these differences is important for effective cross-cultural collaboration and avoiding misunderstandings.

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    Cross Cultural Communication Intro

    Uploaded by

    jefflebow
    131 views14 pages
    The document discusses six fundamental patterns of cultural differences that can impact cross-cultural communication: 1) different communication styles, 2) different attitudes toward conflict, 3) different approaches to completing tasks, 4) different decision-making styles, 5) different attitudes toward disclosure, and 6) differences in perceptions of time and the importance of saving face. It notes that aspects like language usage, personal space, conflict avoidance, relationship building, decision delegation, and willingness to share personal information can all vary significantly across cultures. Understanding these differences is important for effective cross-cultural collaboration and avoiding misunderstandings.

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    The document discusses six fundamental patterns of cultural differences that can impact cross-cultural communication: 1) different communication styles, 2) different attitudes toward conflict, 3) different approaches to completing tasks, 4) different decision-making styles, 5) different attitudes toward disclosure, and 6) differences in perceptions of time and the importance of saving face. It notes that aspects like language usage, personal space, conflict avoidance, relationship building, decision delegation, and willingness to share personal information can all vary significantly across cultures. Understanding these differences is important for effective cross-cultural collaboration and avoiding misunderstandings.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    131 views14 pages

    Cross Cultural Communication Intro

    Uploaded by

    jefflebow
    The document discusses six fundamental patterns of cultural differences that can impact cross-cultural communication: 1) different communication styles, 2) different attitudes toward conflict, 3) different approaches to completing tasks, 4) different decision-making styles, 5) different attitudes toward disclosure, and 6) differences in perceptions of time and the importance of saving face. It notes that aspects like language usage, personal space, conflict avoidance, relationship building, decision delegation, and willingness to share personal information can all vary significantly across cultures. Understanding these differences is important for effective cross-cultural collaboration and avoiding misunderstandings.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 14

    Cross Cultural Communication

    Based on Working on Common Cross-cultural Communication Challenges http://www.pbs.org/ampu/crosscult.html &

    Cross-cultural communication
    http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/crosscultural_communication/

    Hardware vs. Software (external behaviors vs. human constants) Don't Assume

    Our histories are a critical piece of our cultures.


    Historical experiences -- whether of five years ago or of ten generations back -- shape who we are. ...One's own culture provides the "lens" through which we view the world; the "logic"... by which we order it; the "grammar" ... by which it makes sense.

    As people from different cultural groups take on the exciting challenge of working together, cultural values sometimes conflict. We can misunderstand each other, and react in ways that can hinder what are otherwise promising partnerships. Oftentimes, we aren't aware that culture is acting upon us.

    Six fundamental patterns of cultural differences

    Different Communication Styles


    The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage. Another major aspect of communication style is the degree of importance given to non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication includes not only facial expressions and gestures; it also involves seating arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time

    Different Attitudes Toward Conflict

    Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, while others view it as something to be avoided. In the U.S., conflict is not usually desirable; but people often are encouraged to deal directly with conflicts that do arise. In fact, face-to-face meetings customarily are recommended as the way to work through whatever problems exist. In contrast, in many Eastern countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or demeaning; as a rule, differences are best worked out quietly. A written exchange might be the favored means to address the conflict.

    Different Approaches to Completing Tasks


    When it comes to working together effectively on a task, cultures differ with respect to the importance placed on establishing relationships early on in the collaboration. A case in point, Asian and Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing relationships at the beginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task completion toward the end as compared with European-Americans. European-Americans tend to focus immediately on the task at hand, and let relationships develop as they work on the task. This does not mean that people from any one of these cultural backgrounds are more or less committed to accomplishing the task, or value relationships more or less; it means they may pursue them differently.

    Different Decision-Making Styles


    The roles individuals play in decision-making vary widely from culture to culture. For example, in the U.S., decisions are frequently delegated -- that is, an official assigns responsibility for a particular matter to a subordinate. In many Southern European and Latin American countries, there is a strong value placed on holding decision-making responsibilities oneself. When decisions are made by groups of people, majority rule is a common approach in the U.S.; in Japan consensus is the preferred mode. Be aware that individuals' expectations about their own roles in shaping a decision may be influenced by their cultural frame of reference.

    Different Attitudes Toward Disclosure


    In some cultures, it is not appropriate to be frank about emotions, about the reasons behind a conflict or a misunderstanding, or about personal information. Keep this in mind when you are in a dialogue or when you are working with others. When you are dealing with a conflict, be mindful that people may differ in what they feel comfortable revealing. Questions that may seem natural to you -- What was the conflict about? What was your role in the conflict? What was the sequence of events? -- may seem intrusive to others. The variation among cultures in attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider before you conclude that you have an accurate reading of the views, experiences, and goals of the people with whom you are working.

    Time & Space


    In the West, time tends to be seen as quantitative, measured in units that reflect the march of progress. It is logical, sequential, and present-focused, moving with incremental certainty toward a future the ego cannot touch and a past that is not a part of now. In the East, time feels like it has unlimited continuity, an unraveling rather than a strict boundary. Birth and death are not such absolute ends since the universe continues and humans, though changing form, continue as part of it.

    Face and Face-Saving

    Another important cultural variable relates to face and face-saving. Face is important across cultures, yet the dynamics of face and face-saving play out differently. If I see myself as a self-determining individual, then face has to do with preserving my image with others and myself. If I see my primary identification as a group member, then considerations about face involve my group.

    Nonverbal Communication

    Nonverbal communication is hugely important in any interaction with others; its importance is multiplied across cultures. This is because we tend to look for nonverbal cues when verbal messages are unclear or ambiguous, as they are more likely to be across cultures (especially when different languages are being used). Since nonverbal behavior arises from our cultural common sense -- our ideas about what is appropriate, normal, and effective as communication in relationships -- we use different systems of understanding gestures, posture, silence, spacial relations, emotional expression, touch, physical appearance, and other nonverbal cues. Cultures also attribute different degrees of importance to verbal and nonverbal behavior.

    Socializing Norms
    Opening or closing conversations Taking turns during conversations Interrupting Using silence as a communicative device Knowing appropriate topics of conversation Interjecting humor at appropriate times Using nonverbal behavior Expressing laughter as a communicative device Group centered vs. mingling Drinking Norms

    Discussion
    Discuss examples of how these patterns of cultural differences have occurred in your life and/or might take place in the future (here or abroad, between national cultures or subcultures). One person in each group, please take notes which can be given to Jeff at the end of class.

    - Communication Styles - Completing Tasks - Decision Making - Disclosure - Face & Face Saving

    - Conflict - Time & Space - Socializing Norms - Nonverbal communication

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