Workshop: INTERCULTURAL Workshop: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS – A.Pop BUSINESS – A.Pop
To know another’s language and not her culture is a very good way to make a fluent fool of oneself.
Appropriate vs
Inappropriate questions
Which department are you in?What do you plan to do while you are
here?How old are you?How long will you be here?How much do you earn?Are you married?Where are you staying?When did you graduate?
Cultural awareness : the way Cultural awareness : the way we think or behave is not the we think or behave is not the only wayonly way
◦OBSERVE, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT DIFFERENCES
EXCHANGING BUSINESSCARDSRole play: A Japanese – An AmericanFind your counterpart (National differencepairs)
Hofstede’s cultural dimensionsHofstede’s cultural dimensions
Power distance index
How people perceive power difference
Low power distance: Ireland, Austria, Australia – accept more consultative, democratic styles
High power distance
Malaysia
Accept autocracy
individualismindividualism
Ties between individuals are loose, everyone is expected to look after himself and family
Vs collectivism:◦from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive
in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.
masculinitymasculinity
Masculinity: ASSERTIVENESSAMBITIONCOMPETITIVENESSWEALTH (MATERIAL)
Feminityrelationshipsquality of life
Uncertainty avoidance indexUncertainty avoidance index
Society’s tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
Uncertainty acceptance
• few rules, flexibility•Accept different opinions•Employees change employer more often
•Uncertainty avoidance (hight)
•Laws, rules, safety and security measures
•Employees remain longer with present employer
Long term orientationLong term orientation
Long term vs short term
Thrift respect for traditionPerseverance protecting one’s Face
fulfilling social obligations
Geert Hofstede – Cultural Geert Hofstede – Cultural DimensionsDimensionshttp://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_dimensions.php?culture1=40&culture2=72
PDI Power Distance Index
IDV Individualism MAS Masculinity UAI Uncertainty Avoidance Index LTO Long-Term Orientation