The Role of CultureThe Role of CultureCross-Cultural Communication

Chapters 7, Hodgetts, Luthans and Doh, International Management: Culture, Strategy and Behavior , 6th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2006)

Adapted from PowerPoint slides by R. Dennis Middlemist, Professor of Management, Colorado State University

Mark McKennaBUS 162 (6), International and Comparative ManagementSan Jose State University

Communication Process and Communication Process and Verbal Communication Verbal Communication StylesStylesCommunication

◦ The process of transferring meanings from sender to receiver

Verbal communication styles◦ Context is information that surrounds a

communication and helps convey the message◦ Messages are often highly coded and implicit

in high-context societies, such as Japan and many Arab countries

◦ The message is explicit and the speaker says precisely what he or she means in low-context societies such as the United States and Canada

Explicit and Implicit Explicit and Implicit CommunicationCommunication

High-context/implicit communication

cultures

Low-context/explicit communication

cultures

Germans

Swiss Germans

Scandinavians

North Americans

French

English

Italians

Latin Americans

Arabs

Japanese

Adapted from Figure 7–1: Explicit/Implicit Communication: An International Comparison

Table 7–1Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles

Phases of Multicultural Phases of Multicultural DevelopmentDevelopment

Adapted from Table 7–1: Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles

Indirect vs. direct

IndirectDirect

Implicit messagesExplicit messages

Collective, high contextIndividualistic, low context

Succinct vs. elaborate

Elaborate High quantity of talk

Moderate uncertainty avoidance, high context

Exacting Moderate amount of talk

Low uncertainty avoidance, low context

Succinct Low amount of talk

High uncertainty avoidance, high context

Cultures in WhichMajor Interaction Focus Characteristic It

Verbal Style Variation and Content Is Found

Table 7–1Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles

Phases of Multicultural Phases of Multicultural DevelopmentDevelopment

Cultures in WhichMajor Interaction Focus Characteristic It

Verbal Style Variation and Content Is Found

Adapted from Table 7–1: Major Characteristics of Verbal Styles

Contextual vs. personal

Contextual Focus is on the speaker and role relationships

High power distance, collective, high context

Personal Focus is on the speaker and personal relationships

Low power distance, individualistic, low context

Affective vs. instrumental

Affective Language is process oriented and receiver focused

Collective, high context

Instrumental Language is goal oriented and sender focused

Individualistic, low context

Summary of Verbal StylesSummary of Verbal Styles

Australia Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

Canada Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

Denmark Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

England Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

Sweden Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

United States Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

Japan Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective

Korea Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective

Egypt Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective

Saudi Arabia Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective

Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationNonverbal communication

◦The transfer of meaning through means such as body language and use of physical space

Kinesics◦The study of communication through body

movement and facial expression Eye contact Posture Gestures

Chromatics◦The use of color to communicate messages

Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationChronemics

◦Monochronic time schedule Things are done in a linear fashion. Manager addresses Issue A first and then moves

on to Issue B Time schedules are very important and time is

viewed as something that can be controlled and should be used wisely

◦Polychronic time schedules People tend to do several things at the same time People place higher value on personal involvement

than on getting things done on time Schedules are subordinated to personal

relationships

Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal CommunicationProxemics

◦The study of the way that people use physical space to convey messages Intimate distance is used for very

confidential communications Personal distance is used for talking with

family and close friends Social distance is used to handle most

business transactions Public distance is used when calling across

the room or giving a talk to a group

Personal Space in the U.S.Personal Space in the U.S.

Intimate distance 18”

Personal distance 18” to 4’

Social distance 4’ to 8’

Public distance 8’ to 10’

Adapted from Figure 7–3: Personal Space Categories for Those in the United States

Achieving Communication Achieving Communication EffectivenessEffectivenessImprove feedback systems

◦Two basic types of feedback systems between home office and affiliates Personal (e.g., face-to-face meetings,

telephone conversations and personalized e-mail)

Impersonal (e.g., reports, budgets, and plans)

Language trainingCultural trainingFlexibility and cooperation