SESSION 4:

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

AGUNG PRAPTAPAUNSOEDThursday, 2 April 2009

THE IMPORTANT OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Globalization of Market Technological Advancements Multicultural Work Force

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE

Culture is complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society.

Culture is a system for creating, sending, storing, and processing information.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE Culture is learned

In Asia, same sex people may walk hande in hand. In Arab, conversations are often held in close proximity,

sometimes nose to nose. In western culture, too close means violation.

Cultures are inherently logical In Japan, Barbie doll was a failure because of the toothy

smile Culture is the basis of self-identity and community

Who we are and what we believe. Culture combines the visible and invisible

In Japan, harmony with the environment is important. In India, people avoid stepping on ant or insects because

they believe in reincarnation. Culture is dinamic

Culture change as a result of migration, disasters, and wars

STEREOTYPES

Stereotype is an oversimplified behavioral pattern applied uncritically to group

Fixed and rigid In Javanese: gebyah uyah Example:

All chinese is good in business

PREJUDICES

Prejudice is stereotype that is based on errorneous belief or preconception

Rigid attitude Example:

Moslem supports terorism Chinese tends to cheat

PROTOTYPES

Mental representations based on general characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but rather are open to new definition.

Dinamic abd may change Based on objective observations. Example:

Latin businesspeople often talk about their families before getting down to business.

This prototype is generally accurate, butit may not universally apply and it may change over time.

GENERALIZATION

Necessary for learning and education When we find something new, then we try to

make generalization

DIMENSIONS OF CULTURE

Context Individualism Communication style Time orientation

CONTEXT

The dependence to environment of a situation

Low-context cultures depend less on the environment of a situation to convey meaning than do high-context cultures.

Low-context cultures: North America, Western Europe

High-context cultures: Japan, China, Arab. People in low-context cultures tend to be

logical, analytical, and action oriented.

COMPARING LOW AND HIGH CONTEXT CULTURE

Tend to prefer direct verbal interaction

Tend to understand meaning at one level only

Is generally less proficient in reading nonverbal cues

Values individualism Relies more on logic Employs linear logic Says no directly Communicates in highly

structured (contexted) messages, provide details, stresses literal meanings, gives authority to written information.

Tends to prefer indirect verbal interaction

Tends to understand meanings embedded at many sociocultural levelss

Is generally more proficient in reading nonverbal cues

Values group membership Relies more on context and

feeling Employs spiral logic Talks around points; avoid

saying no Communicates in simple,

ambiguous, noncontexted messages; understands visual messages readily.

Low Context High Context

COUNTRIES WITH LOW – HIGH CONTEXT CULTURES

INDIVIDUALISM

An attitude of independence and freedom from control.

Members of many low-context cultures value independence and freedom from control.

Tradition, ceremony, and social rules are more important in high-context culture.

INDIVIDUALISM

Individualism Individual action and

personal responsibility

Collectivist Membership, group,

teams Group value, duties,

and decision Resist independence

Low-Context Culture High-Context Culture

FORMALITY

Some cultures place more emphasis on tradition, ceremony, and social rules.

COMMUNICATION STYLE

Westeners value a direct, straightforward communication style.

Westeners: sound of words Asian: meaning of words.

TIME ORIENTATION

North American tend to correlate time with productivity, efficiency, and money.

In other cultures time may be perceived as an unlimited and never-enfing resource to be enjoyed.

ACHIEVING INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Avoiding Ethnocentrism: The belief in the superiority of one’s owned race.

Bridging the Gap Emphaty: trying to see the world through

another’s eyes. Saving face: indirectly respect the feelings and

dignity of others Patience: tolerance, patient, silent

ASIGNMENT 4: ACT INT APRIL 2009 CULTURE

Please find a special thing from culture arround the world, that is considered important and interesting to be shared, so we can develop ourselves to be a successful business communicator.The answer should be in English and Indonesian (should be both). Please post here as comments. The latest is Wednesday 8 April 2009.

www.apbuscom.blogspot.com

THANK YOU

Agung Praptapa, the one who ALWAYS DO THE BEST Email: praptapa@yahoo.com Web: www.praptapa.com Blog: www.praptapa.unsoed.net Elearning Web Blog for Business Communication:

www.apbuscom.blogspot.com

TIPs for you today: “Never give up. Keep trying. Keep learning.

Nothing is impossible. Every thing can be learned”