1. Three significant trends related to the increasing importance of intercultural communication
· Globalization of Markets
Doing business beyond borders, acquisitions, mergers, and alliances are obscuring the nationality of many companies. To be successful in this interdependent global village, companies are increasingly finding it necessary to adapt to other cultures.
http://acjournal.org/holdings/vol3/Iss3/spec1/kluver.htm
· Technological Advancements
New transportation and information technologies are major contributors to the development of our global interconnectivity. E-Commerce and Intranets have changed the way we do business and the way we communicate.
· Intercultural Work Force
Language is not the only communication barrier when establishing multinational companies. Trust, safety, quality standards, and different values on workplace benefits issues between employees at home and abroad are the potential fallout. Every culture has its own workplace customs, expectations, and savvy managers specially trained on these topics.
http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=15344&SectionID=1
2. Understanding Culture
Knowing as much as possible about our own culture will help to understand other cultures.
http://blue.butler.edu/~jfmcgrat/culture.htm
· Five characteristics of Culture
I) Culture is learned. Rules, values, and attitudes of a culture are learned and passed down from generation to generation.
II) Cultures are inherently logical. The rules in any culture originated to reinforce that culture’s values and beliefs. They act as normative forces.
III) Culture is the basis of self-identity and community. Cultures determine our sense of who we are and our sense of community.
IV) Culture combines the visible and invisible. To outsiders, the way we act is visible, but the deeper values of what we act are invisible.
V) Culture is dynamic. Cultures will change by advancements in technology and communication.
· Stereotypes, prototypes, prejudices and generalization
Stereotypes are oversimplified behavioural patterns applied uncritically to groups.
Prototypes describe general characteristics that are dynamic and may change.
· Dimensions of culture
Context: Examples of low context cultures are North America, Scandinavia, and Germany. Examples of high-context cultures are Japan, China and Arab countries
Individualism: An attitude of independence and freedom from control characterizes individualism. In low-context countries, people believe that initiative and self-assertion result in personal achievement. In high-context cultures, people emphasize membership in organizations, groups, and teams. They encourage group values.
Formality: Tradition, ceremony and social rules are more important in some cultures.
Communication style: People in low and high-context cultures use words differently.
Time orientation: Punctuality is an important Western value.
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/intercultural/dimensions.html
3. Achieving Intercultural Proficiency
Being aware of our own culture and how it contrasts with others is an important step in achieving intercultural proficiency. Recognizing barriers to intercultural accommodation and striving to overcome them is another step.
· Avoiding ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism, the belief in the superiority of one’s own race, tends to cause us to judge others your own values.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/719701/ethnocentrism_in_intercultural_communication.html?page=2
· Bridging the gap
Because culture is learned, you can learn new attitudes and behaviours though training.
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=4&did=998978171&SrchMode=1&sid=5&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1215793728&clientId=10306
4. Improving Communication With Intercultural Audiences
Cultural communication skills are learned in order to help different national people to understand others.
· Nonverbal Communication
An expression has no speaking involved, but reveals messages from attitude and words.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication
· Oral Messages
Deliver messages by speaking.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/centre/gihe/griffith_graduate/toolkit/oral/why.htm
· Improve written messages in intercultural environments
Adapt writing skill and proficiency into other cultural preference, and use common skills to communicate.
5. Capitalizing On Work Force Diversity
In the current business world, companies have different cultural employees and employers. The large diverse workforce today involves many dimensions- race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, national origin, physical ability, and countless other quality.
http://www.businessweek.com/adsections/diversity/diversehome.htm
Dividends of diversity
Work with diverse people in workforce can improve understanding of cultures.
Divisiveness of diversity
Beware of the discontent when deal with diverse people.
7 Tips for improving communication among diverse workplace audiences
1) Seek training
2) Understanding the value of differences
3) Don’t expect conformity
4) Learn about your cultural self
5) Make fewer assumptions
6) Built on similarities
7) Adapt communication style
.
