CrossCultural Communication

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Cross-CulturalCommunication

• Dr. Russell Willerton
• ENGL 403

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Communicating Across Cultures

• The world is getting smaller, and the business
  world is getting more diverse.
• Effective communication across cultures will help
  your company make money and will make your
  business relationships more successful.

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Communicating Across Cultures

• Tendencies vs. Stereotypes
• There are general tendencies that members of a
  culture tend to show when they communicate.
• However, do not assume that all members of a
  culture are the same, and do not apply
  stereotypes to them.

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Communicating Across Cultures

• National and regional cultures
• Regional sub-groups may differ from national
  tendencies as a whole.

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General Principles for Cross-Cultural Comm.

• Avoid compound/complex verbs (put up, move up,
  lay out, etc.).
• Avoid using English idioms and slang (keep on
  your toes, breaking my back, be on pins and
  needles, etc.).
• Test your visuals for double-meanings before
  submitting the final version.
• Respect the culture of your audience. Avoid
  embarrassing them and yourself.

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Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture

• Geert Hofstede conducted research with IBM around
  the world. He identified these traits across
  cultures
• Power Distance
• Individualism vs. Collectivism
• Masculinity vs. Femininity
• Uncertainty/Anxiety Avoidance
• Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation

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Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture

• Scores are between 1 and 107 (some later scores
  go higher)
• a high score indicates that the culture tends to
  show this attribute
• a low score means the culture tends to not show
  it as much

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Sources

• http//www.cyborlink.com/besite/hofstede.htm
• http//www.siu.edu/departments/cola/psycho/psyc323
  /chapt04

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Power Distance

• A High Power Distance ranking indicates that
  inequalities of power and wealth have been
  allowed to grow within the society. These
  societies are more likely to follow a caste
  system that does not allow significant upward
  mobility of its citizens.

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Power Distance

• A Low Power Distance ranking indicates the
  society de-emphasizes the differences between
  citizen's power and wealth. In these societies
  equality and opportunity for everyone is
  stressed.

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Individualism vs. Collectivism

• Individualism focuses on the degree the society
  reinforces individual or collective, achievement
  and interpersonal relationships.

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Individualism vs. Collectivism

• A High Individualism ranking indicates that
• Individuality and individual rights are paramount
  within the society.
• Individuals in these societies may tend to form a
  larger number of looser relationships.

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Individualism vs. Collectivism

• A Low Individualism ranking typifies societies of
  a more collectivist nature
• There are close ties between individuals.
• These cultures reinforce extended families and
  collectives where everyone takes responsibility
  for fellow members of their group.

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Masculinity vs. Femininity

• Masculinity focuses on the degree the society
  reinforces, or does not reinforce, the
  traditional masculine work role model of male
  achievement, control, and power.

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Masculinity vs. Femininity

• A High Masculinity ranking
• The country experiences a high degree of gender
  differentiation.
• In these cultures, males dominate a significant
  portion of the society and power structure, with
  females being controlled by male domination.

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Masculinity vs. Femininity

• A Low Masculinity/High Fem. ranking
• The country has a low level of differentiation
  and discrimination between genders.
• In these cultures, females are treated equally to
  males in all aspects of the society.

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Uncertainty Avoidance

• Uncertainty Avoidance Index focuses on the level
  of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity within
  the societyi.e., unstructured situations.

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Uncertainty Avoidance

• A High Uncertainty Avoidance ranking
• The country has a low tolerance for uncertainty
  and ambiguity.
• This creates a rule-oriented society that
  institutes laws, rules, regulations, and controls
  in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty.

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Uncertainty Avoidance

• A Low Uncertainty Avoidance ranking
• The country has less concern about ambiguity and
  uncertainty and has more tolerance for a variety
  of opinions.
• This type of society is less rule-oriented, more
  readily accepts change, and takes more and
  greater risks.

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Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation

•  Long-Term Orientation (LTO) focuses on the
  degree the society embraces, or does not embrace,
  long-term devotion to traditional, forward
  thinking values.

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Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation

• High Long-Term Orientation ranking
• The country values long-term commitments and
  respect for tradition.
• This is thought to support a strong work ethic
  where long-term rewards are expected as a result
  of today's hard work.
• However, business may take longer to develop in
  this society, particularly for an "outsider".

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Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation

• A Low Long-Term Orientation ranking
• The country does not reinforce the concept of
  long-term, traditional orientation.
• Change can occur more rapidly as long-term
  traditions and commitments do not become
  impediments to change.

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High vs. Low Context

• High-Context Cultures
• situational and nonverbal cues convey primary
  meaning
• trust has to be established first
• negotiations are slow and ritualistic
• Low-Context Cultures
• meaning conveyed primarily through written and
  spoken words
• business conducted quickly
• expertise and performance are valued

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Proxemics or Interpersonal Space

• Each culture has expectations about appropriate
  interpersonal space
• Space bubbles (space needed between people to
  feel comfortable)

Personal
Social
Intimate
Public