Transcript Culture
Chapter Three Communicating Across Cultures Learning Objectives Discuss three significant trends to the increasing importance of multicultural communication. Define Culture. Describe five significant characteristics of culture, and compare and contrast five key dimensions of culture. Explain the relationship between ethnocentrism, tolerance, and stereotypes in achieving multicultural sensitivity. Identify the six stages of multicultural transformation. Learning Objectives Illustrate how to improve nonverbal and oral communication in multicultural environments. Illustrate how to improve written messages in multicultural environments. Discuss multicultural ethics, including ethics abroad, bribery, prevailing customs, and methods for coping. Explain the challenge of capitalizing on workforce diversity, including its dividends and its divisiveness. List tips for improving harmony and communication among diverse workplace audiences. 1. The Increasing Importance of Multicultural Communication Some of the most significant obstacles involve misunderstandings and contrary views resulting from multicultural differences. Learning more about the powerful effect that culture has on behavior will help you reduce friction and misunderstanding in your dealing with people from other cultures. Globalization of Markets • What are the causes of the globalization trend? Favorable trade agreement (GATT) Growth of the middle class Development of new transportation and formation technology • What are the benefits and threats of globalization? Technology Advancements Transportation and information technology Communication technology Web Intranets Multicultural Workforce 2. Understanding Culture Characteristics of Culture Culture Is Learned. Cultures Are Inherently Logical. Culture Is the Basis of Self-Identity and Community. Culture Combines the Visible and Invisible. Culture Is Dynamic. Cultures Are Inherently Logical. Acknowledging the inherent logic of a culture is extremely important when learning to accept behavior that differs from one’s own cultural behavior. Culture Is the Basis of Self-Identity and Community. Culture is the basis for how we tell the world who we are and what we believe. Culture Combines the Visible and Invisible. Visible: things we do in daily life and work Invisible: deeper values that pervade everything we think and do. Culture is Dynamic. Migration, natural disasters, and wars Attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs Open society v.s. closed society Dimensions of Culture Context Individualism Formality Communication Style Time Orientation Individualism Initiative, self-assertion, action, personal responsibility, freedom Collectivist, group values, duties, decisions, consensus P107 3.2 Formality Communication Style Words v.s. Context Literal v.s. Figure of speech Straightforwardness v.s. Evasiveness Alphabetic v.s. Pictographical Time Orientation How time is structured and used tells the personality and attitude of the whole society or nation.