2. International Management, 5th ed.
Part Two:
The Role of Culture

3. International Management, Intercultural Communication
Hodgetts and Luthans
International Management,
5th ed.
Chapter Eight
Intercultural Communication

4. Objectives of the Chapter
DEFINE the term “communication,” and examine some examples of external and internal communication
REVIEW examples of verbal communication styles and explain the importance of message interpretation
ANALYZE the common downward and upward communication flows used in international communication
EXAMINE the language, perception, culture, and nonverbal barriers to effective international communications
PRESENT the steps that can be taken to overcome international communication problems

5. Overall Communication Process
Process of transferring meanings from sender to receiver
Many problems in the international arena that interfere with successful communications
Organizational communication involves both the external and internal flow of information
External communication
Government attempts to secure agreements with other nations regarding international trade
One-way government directives
Internal communication
Influenced by cultural differences that are important to recognize

6. Figure 8-1 The Communication Process
Medium
Receiver
interpretation
Sender
meaning
Encoding
Feedback

7. Overall Communication Process (cont.)
Verbal Communication Styles
Context
Information that surrounds a communication and helps to convey the message
High-context societies
Messages often are coded and implicit
Rely on indirect style
Low-context societies
Message is explicit and the speaker says precisely what s/he means
Rely on direct style
Three degrees of communication quantity
Elaborate
Exacting
Succinct

8. Figure 8-2 Explicit/Implicit Communication: An International Comparison
Swiss Germans
Germans
Scandinavians
North Americans
French
English
Italians
Latin Americans
Arabs
Japanese
High context/implicit
communication
cultures
Low context/explicit
communication
cultures

9. Overall Communication Process (cont.)
Verbal Communication Styles (cont.)
Contextual style
Focuses on the speaker and relationship of the parties
Personal style
Focuses on the speaker and the reduction of barriers between the parties
Affective style
Characterized by language which requires the listener to carefully note what is being said and to observe how the sender is presenting the message
Instrumental style
Goal-oriented and focuses on the sender

10. Table 8-3 Verbal Styles Used in 10 Select Countries
Indirect
vs.
Direct
Elaborate
vs.
Succinct
Contextual
vs.
Personal
Affective
vs.
Instrumental
Country
Australia Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Canada Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Denmark Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Egypt Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective
England Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
Japan Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective
Korea Indirect Succinct Contextual Affective
Saudi Arabia Indirect Elaborate Contextual Affective
Sweden Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental
United States Direct Exacting Personal Instrumental

11. Communication Flows Downward Communication Upward Communication
Transmission of information from manager to subordinate
Primary purpose is to convey orders and information
Upward Communication
Transfer of meaning from subordinate to superior
Primary purpose is to provide feedback, ask questions, or obtain assistance

12. Figure 8-3 Communication Epigrams
America
China
United
Nations
France

13. Communication Barriers
Language Barriers
Knowledge of the home country’s language is important for personnel placed in a foreign assignment
Poor writing is a greater barrier than poor talking
Problems occur frequently when translating a message from one language to another
Cultural Barriers
Approaches to writing letters differ both across and within cultures
Americans communicate more bluntly than the English and Japanese

14. Communication Barriers (cont.)
Perceptual Barriers
Perception
A person’s view of reality
How people see reality varies and influences their judgment and decision making
Advertising Messages
Messages frequently misinterpreted
View of Others
Perception influences communication when it deals with how individuals ‘see’ others
Problems occur when international managers perceive their subordinates
Perception of women differs across countries

15. Communication Barriers (cont.)
Impact of Culture
Cultural Values
Values directly and indirectly affect communication between people from different cultures
Use of time
Misinterpretation
Can affect the way we perceive others and themselves
Can affect day-to-day communications

16. Communication Barriers (cont.)
Impact of Culture (cont.)
Nonverbal Communication
Transfer of meaning through means such as body language and the use of physical space
Kinesics
Study of communication through body movement and facial expressions
Oculesics
Deals with conveying messages through the use of eye contact and gaze
Haptics
Communicating through the use of bodily contact
Proxemics
Use of physical space to convey messages
Four distances people use in face-to-face communication

17. Figure 8-4 Personal Space Categories for Those In the United States
Intimate distance
18”
Personal distance
18” to 4’
Social distance
4’ to 8’
8’ to 10’
Public distance

18. Communication Barriers (cont.)
Impact of Culture (cont.)
Nonverbal Communication (cont.)
Chronemics
Way in which time used in a culture
Monochronic time schedule - things are done in a linear fashion
Polychronic time schedule - people tend to do several things at the same time and place higher value on personal involvement than on getting things done on time
Chromatics
Use of colors to communicate messages
Many colors have different meanings in different cultures

19. Achieving Communication Effectiveness
Improve Feedback System
Particularly important between parent companies and their affiliates
Two types of feedback systems
Personal
Impersonal
Provide Language Training
English has become the international language of business
Written communication is extremely important
Unavoidable loss of meaning when messages are translated from one language to another

20. Achieving Communication Effectiveness (cont.)
Provide Cultural Training
Certain commonalities exist among certain groups of cultures
Latin culture
Anglo culture
Increase Flexibility and Cooperation
Each party must be prepared to give a little