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COMMUNICATION ACROSS
CULTURE
Chapter 4
Group # 4
Eraj Shamim
Maryam Zaidi
Mubashra Aslam
Nazia Khan
Salka Fareed
Raheel Khan
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Chapter 4 Prentice Hall 2003
What is Communication?
“Communication describes the
process of sharing meaning by
transmitting messages through
media such as words, behavior,
or material artifacts.”
Three Basic Steps :
Individual
Group
Organization
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CROSS- cultural COMMUNICATION
(also frequently referred to
as intercultural communication)
“Its seek to understand how people
from different countries and cultures
behave, communicate and perceive
the world around them cultures”
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The Communication Process
Chapter 4 Prentice Hall 2003
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Noise
“Anything that interferes with,
slows down, or reduces
the clarity or accuracy of a
communication. ”
Noise can be external or
internal, and it can disrupt the
communication process at any
point.
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Importance of Cross-Cultural
Communication
Cross-cultural communication in business
happens between any two companies
regardless of their location. To effect
productive business relationships, every
organization needs to be sensitive to the
potential issues of cross-cultural
communication
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1. Common Ground:
When a company engages in cross-cultural communication, the first thing to establish is
the common ground with the new business partner. It begins with the most effective ways
to communicate. Breaking through on common ground can help the two sides to establish
a productive dialogue that will enhance the business relationship.
2. Informational Context:
Different corporate cultures require different levels of information. Developing the proper
informational context is critical when communicating with a new business partner, and it
begins by understanding the work culture of your business partner and how information is
processed.
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3. Trust:
When a new business partner takes the time and effort to establish good cross-cultural
communication, it helps to elevate the level of trust and respect between the two partners.
Respect for other companies' business processes is critical in establishing an efficient work
relationship.
4. Quality:
Working within the guidelines of a new business partners corporate culture helps to
improve communication at all levels of both organizations. The quality of the
information improves when it is delivered in a manner that each company is
accustomed to. Not only does the quality of the information passed between the two
companies improve, but the quality of the relationship with clients and other
vendors that are affected by the relationship also improves.
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Cultural Variables Affecting Chapter 4 Prentice Hall 2003
Communication
On a different level it is also useful to be aware of cultural
variables that can affect the communication process by
influencing a person’s perceptions. Some of these
variables have been identified.
1. Attitude
2. Social organizations
3. Thought patterns
4. Roles
5. Language
6. Non-verbal communication
7. Time
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1. Attitudes:
Attitudes underlie the way we behave and communicate and the
way we interpret messages from other people. Ethnocentric
attitudes are a particular source of noise in cross-cultural
communication.
2. Social Organization:
Our perceptions can be influenced by differences in values,
approach, or priorities relative to the kind of social organizations
to which we belong.
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3. Thought Patterns
Every culture have different thought patterns and logics towards
anything vision and traditions are different from one another. Mostly
depend on experience education and family background.
4. Roles: (manager’s perception)
Manager reflects the culture of its own organization. How manager
perceive is very important, he should properly understood all the
objectives. Wrong perception result in miscommunication
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5. Language:
Spoken or written language is a frequent cause of
miscommunication. accurate translation is a bridge to cover
cultural gaps. language also conveys cultural and social
understandings.
6. Time:
Another variable that communicates culture is the way people
regard and use time.
Mono-chronic time systems
It is related to time commitment .
Poly-chronic time systems:
Rather than giving importance to time this system gives priority
to persons.
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7. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION:
Behavior that communicates without words. As it is said:
“A picture is worth a thousand words”
It includes:
1. Kinesics behavior
2. Proxemics
3. Paralanguage
4. Object/material
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1. Kinesics behavior:
It refers to communication through
body movement, postures, facial
expressions, gestures and eye
contact.
2. Proxemics:
It deals with the influence of
power and space in
communication.
High contact (minimizing the
gaps and good understanding)
Low contact
(it prefers less involvement with
each other)
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3. Paralanguage:
It refers to how something is
said rather than the content. for
e.g. The rate and tone of
speech.
4. Object/material:
Environment speaks through
effects and material as how
much object or product
attracts the person. Such as
office design, furniture,
appearance, etc.
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Managing Cross-Cultural
Communication
Step towards effective inter cultural communication includes
1. Developing cultural sensitivity
2. Careful encoding
3. Selective transmission
4. Careful decoding of feedback
5. Follow-up actions
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1. Cultural Sensitivity :
Encode the message in a form that will most likely be understood
as it is intended
This means the manager must:
Be aware of their own culture
The recipient’s culture
The expectations surrounding the situation
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2. Careful Encoding :
The sender must consider the receiver’s frame of reference to
make the best choice regarding
Words
Pictures
Gestures
Remember that language translation is only part of the process,
consider the nonverbal language as well
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3. Selective Transmission :
The channel medium should be chosen after considering:
The nature of the message
Level of importance
Context and expectations of the receiver
Timing involved
Personal interactions
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4. Careful Decoding of Feedback:
Best means for obtaining accurate feedback is face-to-face
interactions
Best means for avoiding miscommunication is to improve your own
listening and observation skills
Three types of miscommunications:
Receiver misinterpreted the message
Receiver encoded response incorrectly
Sender misinterprets the feedback
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5. Appropriate Follow-Up Actions:(eye contact, posture,
tone, etc)
Interaction posture – ability to respond in a descriptive, non-
evaluative, and non-judgmental way
Orientation to knowledge – understand that your beliefs and
perceptions are only valid for you and not everyone else
Empathy
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Cultural conflict
Chapter 4 Prentice Hall 2003
Jonathan H. Turner defines it as:
“Differences in cultural values
and beliefs that place people at
odds with one another".
In another words, conflict may
arise whenever there are cultural
differences.
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Causes of Conflict
Misunderstandings through language, attitude and way of
communication.
Cultural ignorance and insensitivity
Lack of awareness of different societal lifestyle practices
Differences in cultural practice
Differences in perception
Misinterpretation can take place
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Achieving cross-cultural
communication effectiveness
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Conclusion
Effective cross culture communication is a vital skill for international
managers and domestic managers of multi cultural work forces
because miscommunication is much more likely to occur among
people from different countries or racial backgrounds that among
those from similar background. So it is important to be alert to how
culture is reflected in communication.
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