Preview

Importance of Cross Cultural Communications

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1219 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Importance of Cross Cultural Communications
Effective cross-cultural communication is one of the most important issues dealt with in business, particularly when a firm operates at an international level. Communication is a process with three key elements, which includes a source, an audience, and a channel. Communication derived from businesses will have listeners that include, but are not limited to customers, employees, suppliers, and the community (Caddy et al.). These listeners contribute to the success of a firm, which is why there is so much emphasis put into creating appropriate channels of communication. This effect is further amplified when dealing at an international level, where the effect of culture and time has more bearing.

What makes effective communication important is the fact that it affects all aspects of the business function. Therefore, failing in just one of these areas can create repercussions that reverberate throughout the whole company. This essay will examine the importance of cross-cultural communication, and how it is intertwined with a firm's HR management, strategic planning, operations, ethical decisions, and marketing campaign.

Human resource management deals with people within the organisation first and foremost. For a Human Resource manager, managing the cultural aspect of communication becomes is vital because of the effect it can have on each individual employee. In an international work environment, there will likely be a number of employees from different parts of the globe sharing the same space (Parzhiger 2002). This can be a source of friction within a work environment, particularly when you consider that ethnocentric attitudes can exist within a workplace (Han et al 2007). Such friction within the communication process can manifest itself through racism, bias, prejudice, and discrimination (Parzhigar 2002). Not only are such actions considered illegal, but it can also contribute to low morale within the workforce. This eventually leads to unmotivated and therefore



Bibliography: addy, I Cull, M Tibbits, G 2008, Business Academic Skills, 1st edn, Pearson Education Australia, Sydney 'Communicating Effectively in the Global Workplace ', 2008, in Bovee, C(ed), Communication Today ,9th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle Rivee, New Jersey. Eunson, B 2005, Communicating in the 21st century, John Wiley and Sons Australia ltd., QLDHan, J, Wild, J, Wild, L 2007, International business: the challenges of globalization, Pearson Prentice Hall, New JerseyHodgets, RM Luthans, F 2003, International management: culture, strategy, and behaviour, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New YorkNakamoto, M 2008, 'Modernisers span a cultural divide ', Financial Times, 22 May, Parhizgar, KD 2002, Multicultural behaviour and global business environments, International Business Press, New York

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Lauring, J. Journal of Business Communication. Intercultural Organizational Communication: the Social Organizing of Interaction in International Encounters, Jul2011, Vol. 48 Issue 3, p231-255. 25p. 1 Diagram. DOI: 10.1177/0021943611406500.…

    • 2137 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Being diverse is the best way to be in this competitive world we live in today. Every day business owners and upper management personnel discuss the necessary tactics that will take their organization to the next level in terms of profitability and production. In order to carry out certain guidelines and expand their brand name, owners must grasp the concept of international business. Why is international business significant? International business is the most significant subject when discussing our modern day business world. In order toprosper in a profitable manner international business is almost mandatory. Performing business across the national boundaries will definitely help organizations achieve resources. However, every global businessperson must consider the proper negotiation tactics to be successful. As a modern global businessperson, one must understand the international business issues and the importance of good communication skills. Furthermore, knowing the audience’s background is an essential part of international communication . The structure of an international presentation may make or break your first impression. For instance, if the audience includes a great amount of people proven analyses and other data from specialists will help make a great first impression because they rather make progress towards decisions instead of assumptions. Another key aspect of doing international business is body language.Body language is not the same in different cultures, which makes it by no means universal. For example, in the United States we may greet each other with a right-hand handshake while others may take this as disrespect in another country. Therefore, enhancing international communication skills is crucial to a firm’s success.…

    • 781 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Today, the merging of computers with telecommunications technology has been a major contributor to globalization because modern technological advancements have made instant communication possible. People take it for granted that they can pick up a phone and connect to someone else halfway around the world instantly, hearing them as clearly as neighbor next door. Technological trends are breaking down international barriers daily, and these trade links make contact with foreigners possible. Globalization has resulted in an enormous volume of cross-cultural communication, but these elements of communication have also opened the door to a variety of potential problems. In a society characterized by pluralism (where the meanings of various behaviors and practices are as diverse as the people demonstrating them), incorrect assumptions could easily lead to miscommunication (Lankard, 1994). Global communication has been achieved, but understanding various cultures is paramount for success in any organization. Failure to learn how deal with cultural differences can cost a company its reputation as well as losses in revenue, and this paper will attempt to forecast possible cultural changes within Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc., a large international company, and analyze how a multicultural workforce might affect teamwork and internal/external communications within the organization.…

    • 2211 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Business organizations, like other social systems require a fast and effective communication process in order to successfully reach their targets. International business organizations require effective communication in a number of levels. Effective communication among people of the same culture and language is sometimes…

    • 1428 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Carte, Penny and Fox, Chris, (2004), Bridging the Culture Gap: A Practical Guide to International Business Communication, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, Retrieved November 17, 2006 from: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0749441704/ref=sib_dp_top_toc/002-9731822-8892040?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S009#reader-page…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In today’s global business world society and the workplace are changing in many important ways. One of the most visible and perhaps most important ways is the increasing diversity. This offers us challenges as well as opportunities. Recently, the concept of intercultural communication in global business has completely witnessed a fundamental change compared to before. It was predicted that women, minorities, and the disabled will dominate the workforce. Organizations that are viewed as biased against these groups will not attract the competent workforce and can face not only legal troubles also the life span of their business can be greatly reduced. Today, it is vital that organizations prove their ability communicate intercultural in order to be successful in a constantly changing business environment. This is why it is important that we train our management to deal with people from many different places. Many believe enhanced communication abilities will prove profitable, in which case it's in the companies' own interest to support it. Communication is necessary if the organization is to prosper. Intercultural communication in the global business world is accomplished by adding diversity and understanding of the many different cultures that are in the work force. Potential contributors are most often not naturally attracted to an enterprise that they do not perceive as having a culture and micro society that would be comfortable, interesting, and supportive.…

    • 1856 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Career Reflection Plan

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This course (BCOM/275) discussed many important aspects of communication verbal and nonverbal, cross-cultural communication, and barriers to effective communication to name a few. One aspect in the forefront of my mind is communication also takes place within different contexts like physical, chronological, and functional, to name a few, but the cultural context (corporate culture) applies directly to the surveys and results discussed earlier. According to Cheesbro, O 'Connor, and Rios (2010), “Obviously corporate culture is a significant influence in determining productivity, morale, and personal satisfaction” (p. 10). Choosing the proper job that corresponds with my interests and ideal work culture can lead to more personal satisfaction. BCOM/275 provides ideas about proper communication that can lead to success and aid one in becoming an effective communicator. It is important to become an effective communicator to be successful and flourish within my current or ideal work culture.…

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Since global business transactions continually increasing, the need for effective communication to meet global demands is also increasing. Managers and employees must know how to effectively communicate…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Stuart B.E., Sarow, M.S., & Stuart, L (2007) Integrated Business Communication In a global marketplace p.10, 11…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    1. Market globalization now allows companies to sell and produce goods all over the world. Globalization has increased business’s exposure to cultural diversity, which means that more businesspeople interact with co-workers, customers, suppliers, and others from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. As a result of these two trends, communicators must be more aware of cultural differences when communicating with contacts inside and outside the organization.…

    • 2187 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    mary

    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages

    ‘Bridging the gap’ talks about the challenges of cross-cultural communication by Warren Troob . He thinks that cross-cultural communication is very important for expanding business, and therefore business people need to prepare adequately. Secondly, he argues that every culture has it is own meaning, customers and values. In addition, he claims that people are used to their way of doing things, so they are be inflexible when other people does different way with them. At this time, people should not to judge another culture immediately, but should take the time to know. He also asserts that no two people are the same in every culture. The next point is that people should go into other countries, to grasp more opportunities. Finally, he argues that businessmen should improve cross-cultural communication if they want to develop in other cultures.…

    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the group oral presentation. This easy discussed three concepts related to nonverbal communication. Relevant theories inform our understanding of these concepts and each individual’s performance. The first concept aspects of nonverbal communication introduced the different aspects in nonverbal communication. The second concept barriers to nonverbal communication discussed how barriers occurred and two parts of barrier. The last one cultural difference in nonverbal communication explains the importance to effective deal with cultural difference in business today. The next part is reflection on group performance and individual performance. In this part some real examples have been discussed. This essay is for 2040 MGT Business Communication individual assignment. This essay is on the basic business area and interpersonal communication.…

    • 1751 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    When travelling in other countries, we often perceive differences in the way people live and work. In the United States dinner is commonly eaten around 6.00pm; in Spain, it’s not served until 8.00 or 9.00pm. In the United States most people shop in large supermarket once or twice a week; Italians tend to shop in smaller grocery stores nearly every day. Everybody has their own culture so businesspeople must keep in mind of their client’s culture. This paper exploring the aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs and language of cultural will affect business practices and national competitiveness.…

    • 1959 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Communication is important while managing an organization on an international basis. When different cultures come together there are specific things one can do to successfully ease conflict that may arise. In a study done by Ruben and Kealey (Ruben & Kealey 1979) they discussed seven dimensions of communication competence that shows how an intercultural organization can deflate the possibility of conflict. In this section we will briefly discuss these seven dimensions and relate them to how they can be of help for an intercultural organization.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    complexity of business communication is based on a focal interest point, which is different from…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays