cross cultural business communication 09

8/7/2019 CROSS CULTURAL business communication 09

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What is Business Communication?What is Business Communication?

Unlike social / personal communications,Unlike social / personal communications,Business Communication implies formalBusiness Communication implies formal

and precise communication.and precise communication. What is Business behavior?What is Business behavior? It refers to normal and formal interactionsIt refers to normal and formal interactions

between 2 business partners.between 2 business partners.


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BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONBUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Factors affecting business communicationFactors affecting business communication

Nature of IndustryNature of Industry Cultural InfluencesCultural Influences

Status of the Industry and EconomyStatus of the Industry and Economy Nature of Mutual RelationshipNature of Mutual Relationship


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Precautions to be takenPrecautions to be taken

Understand the cultural nuancesUnderstand the cultural nuances Respect the local customsRespect the local customs Extra familiarity to be avoidedExtra familiarity to be avoided

Clarify all details such as commercialClarify all details such as commercialterms, technical terms, monitoringterms, technical terms, monitoringmechanism etc.mechanism etc.


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ContdContd

Types of Business CommunicationTypes of Business Communication

[Cross cultural][Cross cultural]

Deal Focused vs Relationship FocusDeal Focused vs Relationship Focus

DealDeal FocusedFocused isis tasktask orientedoriented andand openopen toto dodo

businessbusiness withwith strangersstrangers.. WhileWhile RelationshipRelationshipFocusedFocused CulturesCultures areare peoplepeople orientedoriented andand preferprefertoto evaluateevaluate thethe businessbusiness partnerspartners beforebefore gettinggettingdowndown toto businessbusiness..


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ContdContd

DF prefers direct, frank, straight forwardDF prefers direct, frank, straight forwardlanguage while RF prefers indirect, subtlelanguage while RF prefers indirect, subtleround about style. They prefer avoidinground about style. They prefer avoidingsaying NO.saying NO.


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Rigid time vs Fluid TimeRigid time vs Fluid Time

While punctuality is critical and schedulesWhile punctuality is critical and schedulesare seriously taken, business meetings notare seriously taken, business meetings notinterrupted in Rigid Time Cultures.interrupted in Rigid Time Cultures.

In fluid time Cultures less emphasis is onIn fluid time Cultures less emphasis is onpunctuality and deadlines are not anpunctuality and deadlines are not anobsession.obsession.


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Cross Cultural CommunicationCross Cultural Communication

Special focus on greetings, non verbalSpecial focus on greetings, non verbalcommunication and respect to hierarchy.communication and respect to hierarchy.


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Distance BehaviourDistance Behaviour

Personal space is important and variesPersonal space is important and variesfrom one culture to anotherfrom one culture to another Physical distancePhysical distance


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BUSINESS BEHAVIOURBUSINESS BEHAVIOUR


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ProtocolProtocol

Dress CodeDress Code

Latin countriesLatin countries Style and Quality of cloths andStyle and Quality of cloths and

accessories are importantaccessories are important Middle EastMiddle East Quality and Price of Brief case,Quality and Price of Brief case,Watch, Pen & Jewellery are important.Watch, Pen & Jewellery are important.

GermansGermans Rate high persons whose shoes areRate high persons whose shoes are

well polished.well polished. AsiaAsia slipslip--on shoes, since it is customary toon shoes, since it is customary to

remove shoes in many places.remove shoes in many places.


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Business cardsBusiness cards

Exchange of cards very crucial in business.Exchange of cards very crucial in business.

In Japan & Korea, cards given to the mostIn Japan & Korea, cards given to the mostimportant member of the team first, at theimportant member of the team first, at thebeginning of the meeting and then to others. Nobeginning of the meeting and then to others. Noperson should be given a card again unlessperson should be given a card again unless

there is a change in the position as otherwise itthere is a change in the position as otherwise itis taken as an insult. There are protocols foris taken as an insult. There are protocols forgiving and receiving cards.giving and receiving cards.


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Contd..Contd..

Cards are presented face upwards and inCards are presented face upwards and inbilingual and the person receiving the card isbilingual and the person receiving the card is

expected to read the name and place it beforeexpected to read the name and place it beforehim or her through are the meeting.him or her through are the meeting.

Europeans are less formal and exchange ofEuropeans are less formal and exchange ofcards only at the end of the meeting. Germanscards only at the end of the meeting. Germansinclude the full academics and professional titlesinclude the full academics and professional titlesand expect to be address by them.and expect to be address by them.


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GiftsGifts

RFRF culturescultures valuevalue exchangeexchange giftsgifts moremore thanthan DFDFculturescultures.. GiftsGifts includeinclude qualityquality pens,pens, brandedbranded

liquorliquor [not[not inin MuslimMuslim countries]countries] ,, homehome countrycountryproductsproducts.. GiftsGifts areare exchangedexchanged afterafter thetheagreementagreement isis signedsigned inin EuropeEurope andand inin JapanJapan andand

AsiaAsia afterafter thethe meetingmeeting.. AmericaAmerica doesdoes notnot havehave aa

giftgift givinggiving cultureculture andand professionalsprofessionals arearedebarreddebarred fromfrom acceptingaccepting oror givinggiving giftsgifts..


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ContdContd

JapanJapan even gift rapping is important andeven gift rapping is important andthe gift is received in both the hands.the gift is received in both the hands.

While in Japan, like in Europe, the gift isWhile in Japan, like in Europe, the gift isopened in the presence of the giver,opened in the presence of the giver,elsewhere it is opened later.elsewhere it is opened later.

Forms of addressForms of address

Is culture specific and enough care shouldIs culture specific and enough care shouldbe taken to avoid an embarrassment.be taken to avoid an embarrassment.


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PrecautionsPrecautions

Use knowledgeable interpreter whereUse knowledgeable interpreter whererequiredrequired

Avoid short cuts and maintain steadyAvoid short cuts and maintain steadyscheduleschedule

Dress code, opening remarks, closingDress code, opening remarks, closingremarks should be rehearsed before actualremarks should be rehearsed before actualmeetings.meetings.

cross cultural business communication 09

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