Chapter 7: Intercultural communication and Business

Question 1

3 assumptions of communication

Answer 1

1. Communication as rule governed
2. Context prescribes appropriate communication rules
3. Communication rules are culturally diverse

Question 2

Work-Related Value

Answer 2

Individualism vs. Collectivism:

Individualism:
-Clear boundaries btw ur job and ur colleague’s job.
(but in Japan, it’s job of a department)

-Greeks are not used to working in teams.

Question 3

Work and Material Gain

Answer 3

• Americans view work as a virtue that will pay off.

- Most Mexicans see work as a necessary evil.

Question 4

Quality vs. Efficiency

Answer 4

-For Americans, efficiency and getting the job done for the lowest cost is the ultimate goal.

BUT French are more interested in designing. They feel that as long as the product is well designed, it will be competitive.

• Germans insist on quality.
• Many Ep businesses routinely plan for 10 and 20 years ahead (too long for Americans!)

Question 5

Honesty vs. Harmony

Answer 5

• Koreans take considerable care not to disturb one’s KIBUN (sense of “wellness” in a person).
  e. g: rare to give bad news in the morning, usually given in the afternoon so that the recipient can recover his kibun at home.

-For the context-sensitive Japanese, even if they signed the deal, the changing circumstances allows for changes in agmt.

Question 6

Business etiquette

Answer 6

• Practice a prescribed set of behaviours (e.g: handshake, greeting staff each morning) in Latin America and many African countries.
• Careful to avoid excessive familiarity, especially in initial meetings (e.g: no slouching)
• French also do not like informality, use of first names.

Formality can be extended to lang used (“Usted” for “you” in Spanish-speaking Central and South America)