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Management Communications and Intercultural Contexts

Zeenat Jabbar

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A Definition of Culture

“Culture is everything that people have, think, and do as members of their society.”

Professor Gary P. Ferraro

The Cultural Dimensions ofInternational Business, 3e

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Culture is composed of . . .

Material objectsIdeas, values, and attitudesExpected patterns of behavior

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Some Principles of Culture

All culture is learned.Culture is universal to human society.All cultures are constantly undergoing change.Some cultures change more quickly than others.

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Some Principles of Culture

Culture is not value-neutral.Not all cultures are equally complex.Virtually all cultures permit the development of sub-cultures.Culture can influence biology and biology can influence culture.

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Functions of Culture

Cultures universally respond to human problems and challenges by developing systems to deal with them.

Economic systemsMarriage and family systemsEducational systemsSupernatural belief systems

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Cultural Change

Cultures change because of internal forces such as discovery and innovation.Cultures change because of external forces such as diffusion and borrowing.

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Issues Affecting Cultural Change

Relative Advantage: Is it superior to what already exists?Compatibility: Is it consistent with existing cultural patterns?Complexity: Is it easily understood?

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Ethnocentrism

All cultures, to one degree or another, display ethnocentrism, or the tendency to evaluate a foreigner or outsider’s behavior by the standards of one’s own culture.All cultures also display the tendency to believe that they are somehow superior to all others.

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Ethnocentrism

We take our own culture for granted.We see our behavior as “correct” and others’ as somehow “wrong.”Ethnocentrism can enhance group solidarity within a society.Ethnocentrism can also foster prejudice, contempt, inaccurate stereotypes, and conflict.

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Domestic Cultural Variables

GenderEthnicityAgeAbilityPreference

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Dimensions of Culture

Individualism vs. CollectivismMasculinity vs. FemininityPower DistanceUncertainty AvoidanceShort-Term vs. Long-Term OrientationHigh vs. Low ContextImmediacy and Expression

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Cross-CulturalCommunication Skills

The capacity to accept the relativity of one’s own knowledge and perceptions The capacity to be non-judgmental A tolerance for ambiguity The capacity to communicate respect for other people’s ways, their country, and their values

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Cross-CulturalCommunication Skills

The capacity to display empathy The capacity to be flexible The capacity for turn-taking The humility to acknowledge what you do not know or understand

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Process Assumptions AboutCross-Cultural Interactions

The other person sees the situation the same way you do. The other person is making the same assumptions you are. The other person is (or should be) experiencing the same feelings you are. The communication situation has no relationship to past events.

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More Process Assumptions

The other person’s understanding is (or should be) based on logic, not feelings. The other person is the one who has the “problem” or who does not understand the logic of the situation. Other cultures are changing and becoming more like your own culture and, therefore, other people are becoming more like you.

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Communication Climates

Evaluative vs. Descriptive Control-oriented vs. Problem-oriented Strategy vs. Spontaneity Neutrality vs. Empathy Superiority vs. Equality Certainty vs. Provisionalism

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Variations In Value Orientation

Relationship of Humans to Nature

Subjugation to nature Harmony with nature Mastery over nature

Time Orientation Past Present Future

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Variations in Value Orientation

Basic Nature of Human Beings Evil Neutral or mixed Good

Activity Orientation Being Containing and controlling Doing

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Variations in Value Orientation

Relationships Among People Hierarchical Group Individualistic

Orientation to Space Private Mixed Public

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The Effective Global Executive Should Be Able to:

Develop and use global strategic skills. Manage change and transition. Manage cultural diversity. Design and function in flexible organizational structures. Work with others and in teams. Learn & transfer organizational knowledge.