Deck 10: Cultural Lnff Uences an Communication Contexts: Responding to the Setting

Question 1

Working with others, determine some of the cultural problems that can arise in both a multinational and a domestic workforce. What are the problematic differences and similarities between the two workforces?

Answer 1

Culture refers to a set of values, belief, norms and standards followed by individuals. Culture binds, shape and control acts of individuals in a certain manner. Culture stands for certain rules and regulations under the restrictions of which actions are expected from the individuals.
Some of the points of difference between multinational and domestic workforce are as following:
• Business protocols: Business protocols include dress, code of conduct, etiquette and ceremony. Individual might not get any problem about language in his office or workplace but he is surely going to face this language problem in his surrounding arena. For example, multinational companies are informal and are very flexible towards these aspects as compared to a domestic company.
• Language: Multinational Company has a diverse workforce; therefore, carry a varied range of language, whereas, a domestic company operates domestically therefore, has a single or few local languages.
• Business cultural : Business culture refers to the organization structure, leadership styles, decision-making process, degree of formality and informality. Therefore, cultures that a business follows entire depend upon the degree of control that they want to exercise. For example, a multinational company could promote a transparent and openness in their work culture and may motivate the lower management to participate in decision-making process. Whereas, in a domestic company may want centralize decision-making authority and can reserve each rights and duty to the entre.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution: Resolving a dispute in a multinational company is complex as negotiation process is carried out by the respective bargaining style. Whereas, in a domestic company it is usually easy to resolve the dispute.
The similarity between both the two workforces is the intercultural communication where the workforces of both companies interact with each other, and try to know maximum about the other.

Question 2

What are some of the typical behaviors of U.S. negotiators that might create problems in a negotiation session with business representatives from another culture? What recommendations would you make for dealing with these problem areas?

Answer 2

People of Country U are very open minded, intelligent and smart. They love doing business in a growing manner.
Behaviors of Country U that create problems in a negotiation session with business representatives from other culture are as follows:
• Degree of informality: U has informal culture. They believe on maintaining an informal relation. Therefore, they have an informal attitude towards a code of conduct, titles, honors and rituals.
• Assertive communication style: Country U is known for its assertive communication style. Therefore, most of their communications end up with shouting, forceful and disagreement. Hence, this behavior of the country U makes people uncomfortable.
• Power distance: Country U believes on egalitarianism where they encourage openness among participants, value informal interaction between superior and subordinates.
Styles of communication during negotiation entirely depend upon the type of country and its cultural values. Some of the recommendations that that country U should follow while dealing with other cultures are as follows:
• While negotiating, the country should value other culture and should behave according to them. Therefore, they should maintain a formal relationship depending upon the participating country.
• They should give and welcome participating countries to express their views and should maintain a peaceful interpersonal harmony while dealing.
• They should follow hierarchical approach while negotiating. Hence, should respect the position and status of a participant.

Question 3

Working with others, develop a protocol for entering into negotiations with a team of Brazilian, Chinese, or Indian negotiators. What considerations must you give to their business culture in developing your plan?

Answer 3

Culture refers to a set of values, belief, norms and standards followed by individuals. Culture binds, shape and control acts of individuals in a certain manner. Culture stands for certain rules and regulations under the restrictions of which actions are expected from the individuals.
Negotiation with Country B: While entering into a negotiation with country B following points should be handled with utmost care:
• Citizens of country B look for the possible details in every situation rather than adopting a universal set of rules or behavior in every situation.
• B's citizen values relationship over a task. Therefore, while negotiating individual should try to build a good and healthy relationship.
• B's citizen favors group over individual aspiration. Therefore, individuals should try to negotiate with them in a group rather than negotiating individually.
Negotiation with Country C: While negotiating with Country C, consider the following points with due care:
• C's culture believes on doing things systematically. Therefore, a negotiation should be started by formally introducing each other.
• For country C, a status of team member is important. Therefore, leaders who will start the negotiation should be the most experienced and elderly member of a group.
• Extra care should be taken while dealing with sensitive issues. Issues should be conveyed in an indirect-manner.
Negotiating with country I: Country I value personal relationship over professional relationship. Therefore, following points should be considered while negotiating Country I's nationals
• Collect the information about the attitude of negotiator. This will help a negotiator to understand the thought process of the opposition and to act accordingly.
• Build a strong relationship with the negotiating team leader.
• Authority and responsibility flow from top to bottom in country I. Therefore, regard the decision of each level of managers.

Question 4

Because many managers must now deal with a variety of cultures, they must learn to adapt to a variety of cultural differences in the workplace and at the bargaining table. Which cultural values and behaviors are the most important for the intercultural manager to learn about?

Question 5

Looking back upon your school experiences, devise a plan to integrate the various cultures in a multicultural classroom into a classroom community.

Question 6

In a graduate seminar, a college professor has a new graduate student from China with excellent reading fluency in English but limited oral proficiency. What should be the professor's expectations of the Chinese student's participation in seminar discussions?

Question 7

Working with others, devise a plan that would reconcile the different learning preferences of students in a sixth-grade classroom with the following student balance: six Latinos, eight European Americans, five African Americans, four Japanese, and one Iranian.

Question 8

What training is necessary for health care providers to become effective intercultural communicators?

Question 9

Identify the differences that exist between your various beliefs about the causes and treatment of illness and those found in another culture.

Question 10

What policies should be in effect at a health care facility to determine when interpreters should be used?

Question 11

Examine your worldview and determine how important spirituality is to your health care.

Question 12

Why might it be important to incorporate more than one medical belief system into the treatment plans of patients in a multicultural health care setting?

Question 13

Interview people from other cultures and ask them if they have encountered communication problems when seeking health care.

Question 14

What are some cultural differences in beliefs about death and dying? How do these different belief systems affect the manner in which caregivers relate to their clients?

Question 15

Ask members of other cultures how they view death and dying. Determine the role family plays in their approach to end-of-life decisions.