Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 1

Cross-cultural Communications

Zsuzsanna Kósa PhD

BME Dept. Telecommunications and Media Informatics

Budapest, spring of 2015

Engineering Management BMEVITMMB03 BME Faculty of EE &IT MSc Majors

Economic & human themes

Definition of Culture by Hofstede

Dimension to measure National

Business Cultures

Differences in National Business

Cultures

Bridging the differences in

communications

Mutual interests in business

How to handle conflicts

Unacceptable approaches

Verbal communication

Eating & drinking together

Metacommunications

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 2

Overview

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/cro

ss-cultural-communication/

Different ways of thinking

and saying There is a diagram of

different cultural thought

patterns for different

language groups.

It can be a guide for

developing cultural

competence in cross cultural

communication,

as both a speaker and a

listener.

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 3

http://www.callearning.com/blog/

2010/06/communication-and-

cultural-thought-patterns/

Kaplan’s model

Levis Model of cultural diversity

Richard D. Lewis divides

cultures into three main

categories:

-Linear active

-Multi active

-Reactive

Each culture is a mix, but

there are in different

places

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 4

http://www.crossculture.com/services/n

egotiating-across-cultures/

Definition of Culture by Hofstede

The first layer is about the

symbols: what is seen on the

surface

The second layer is about the

„heroes“: who are the stars in

our mind

The third layer is described as

rituals: what is expected to do

in a situation

The core stands for the values

of a certain culture: what do

we feel sa good, fair, correct

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 5

http://laofutze.wordpress.com/2009/0

8/28/303/

„the onion”

Dimension to measure National Business

Cultures

Prof. Geert Hofstede was working at

IBM as a psychologist.

1967-1973 he collected and analyzed

data from over 100,000 individuals

from 50 countries and 3 regions.

He developed a model that identifies

four primary Dimensions to describe

cultures.

Later he added a fifth Dimension

that is based on Chinese approach

based on Confucian dynamism

The five cultural dimensions

are:

(PDI) Power Distance Index

(IDV) Individualism

(MAS) Masculinity

(UAI) Uncertainty Avoidance

Index

(LTO) Long-Term Orientation

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 6

http://www.boydassociates.net/stonehil

l/global/hofstede-plus.pdf

Differences in National Business

Cultures

First step is to understand,

that there are cultural

differences

- in way of thinking

- in behaviour

- in expectation

- in self evaluations

- in understanding of

metacommunications

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 7

http://scarcityrent.com/2008/07/22

/back-from-india/

10 main rules

in cross-cultural communications

- Be honest

- Be flexible

- Listen flexible,

- Respect differences

- Ask questions

- Build self awareness

- Avoid stereotyping

- Distinguis perspectives

- Think twice

- Recognize complexity

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 8

http://www.changeworksltd.com/c

ross-cultrual-programs/

Unacceptable approaches

It is unacceptable:

oNot to prepare yourself to the cross-

cultural diversity

o Expect your partner first fully

understand you, before you

understand him /her

o Ranking different cultures

o Be nervious from different

approaches at the table

But there are limits of

understanding:

- crime, violence, terrorism, drog

consuming … are not acceptable

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 9

http://wbfn.org/Mosaic/Mosaic-

FY09/November-2008/1-focus-11-

08.html

Verbal communication

First is be understandable

Accept the language

difficulties of the partner

Think on Kaplans’ model

of verbal communication

Answer directly the

questins you get, if it is

possible

Be polite as you can

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 10

http://www.crossculturalstrategies.com/

2010/08/03/cross-cultural-

networkmobile-communication-issues/

Eating & drinking together

Be honest with the eating

traditions: prevent indian

vegetarians from meat,

muslims and jewish from pork.

Speak about food

specialities of your countries,

but do not ask them to eat

Do not criticize the food

you get, ask less if it is strange

for you

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 11

http://www.awm-

pioneers.org/news/

Metacommunications

Be carefull with

metacommunications, it

may mean completely

different things.

Try to understand the body

language of the partner

Be carefull, not to disturb

your partner, with your

body language.

Dr. Kósa EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications 12

http://www.1000ventures.com/busin

ess_guide/crosscuttings/communic

ation_cross-cultural.html