Business Communication Chapter 3:Intercultural Communication

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To succed in a global market, business communicators will need to be more aware of what?

Their own culture and how it differs from others.

What developments have helped businesses overcome national boundaries?

market borders blurring, acquisitions, mergers, alliances and buyouts are obscuring the nationality of many companies.

Why must American companies in global markets adapt to other cultures?

To be successful they must know what other cultures like, believe in, what appeals to them, taste preferences, religious beliefs.

The benefits of an increased understanding of culture include_____.

reducing friction in your dealings with people from other cultures

To be competitive, many organizations have formed multinational alliances.

True

Communicators in low-context cultures __________.

tend to value individualism

To improve tolerance, you will want to practice __________.

empathy

The social custom of protecting or building the image a person holds in his or her social network is called __________.

saving face

Sentences with fewer than __________ words and paragraphs with fewer than __________ lines are most readable.

20; 8

Most industrialized countries, including the United States, have formally agreed to a ban on the practice of what?

bribery of foreign government officials

By 2050 the U.S. workforce is expected to __________.

include more African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and other minorities

Define Culture

"The complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society"

Almost every culture understands the value of time, correlating it with productivity, efficiency, and money.

False, In other cultures time may be perceived as an unlimited and never-ending resource to be enjoyed.

What is ethnocentrism?

he belief in the superiority of one's own race is known as ethnocentrism, a natural attitude inherent in all cultures.

Learning the nonverbal skills of another culture is much more difficult than learning its verbal skills.

False,Verbal skills in another culture can generally be mastered if one studies. but nonverbal skills are much more difficult to learn

To ensure comprehension in international trade, it's a good idea to use words (such as twenty items) instead of figures (20 items).

False, In international trade it's better to use figures instead of words when referring to numbers.

The United States has taken the global lead in fighting corruption in business.

True

A diverse staff is better able to read trends and respond to the increasingly diverse customer base in local and world markets.

True

What are the problems with diversity?

too often it causes divisiveness, discontent, and clashes

Define a prejudice?

A stereotype that is rigid and based on incorrect beliefs or preconceptions.

If speaking a with person who uses english as a second language and doesn't seem to understand you well, what should you do?

Apologize for the communication and use short, familiar words.

A person who depends on the context of a situation to convey meaning is probally a member of a ____ context culture?

High, high context cultures depend on the context of a situation to help convey their meaning.

The Sarbanes Oxley act forbids what?

Off-the-book bribes

German busniess people typically place high value on what?

Independence

Dominos add squid as a topping choice for japanese customers is an example of what?

Trying to adapt to another culture.

Culture is shaped by attitudes that are learned when?

In childhood

If a freind doesn't tolerate other cultures well, you should advise them to practice ____.

Empathy

A good way to improve comprehension in written messages to international audiences it to use sentences with

19 of less words

NAFTA expands free trade between

Canada, Mexico and the United States

If you live and work in the U.S., being adept at intercultural communication is necessary because of

The increase in number of foreign born persons working in the United States

Which two advancements contribute to global inter-connectivity?

New transportation and information technologies

What are the two most popular destinations for foreginers seeking a better life?

The U.S. and Canada

When are the attitudes learned in culture internalized?

Adulthood

How are conversations held in Arab cultures different from conversations held in american culture.

Conversations in Arab culture are held in close proximity, in American culture we don't like people to be that close to us.

In Japan what should women do when they smile or laugh?

Cover their teeth so that their teeth are not exposed. Exposing one's teeth in not only immodest but also agressive.

Why do people in india avoid stepping on on ants and insects?

They beleive in reincarnation and are careful of all forms of life.

What are the five dimensions of culture?

Context, indvidualism, formality, communication style, time orientation.

In relation to the dimensions of culture, what does context refer to?

The stimuli, enviorment or ambience surrounding an event.

Name three low context cultures?

North America, Scandinavia, and Germany

Name three high context cultures?

Japan,China, and Arab countries

What does it mean to be a low context culture?

Your culture depends little on the context of the situation to convey meaning. They assume people must be explained everything

What does it mean to be a high context culture?

High context cultures see the listener as already contexted, and therefore does not need to be given background information.

In high context cultures, how are communication cues transmitted?

By posture, voice inflection, gestures and facial expressions,

What type of thinking pattern do low context communicators have?

Linear Logic, meaning they go from point A to B to C till they get to the conclusion.

What type of thinking pattern do high context communicators use?

Spiral Logic, circling around a topic indirectly.

What is individualism?

An attitude of independence and free from control.

What are collectivist?

Groups that emphasize memberships in organizations, groups, and teams. (group oriented societies)

How do the japanese view signing documents and exchanging business cards?

As important rituals

What might offend a mexican business man

Asking to immediately get down to business, instead of having small talk first.

In Europe when should you call someone by their first name?

Only after the person invites you too.

In Japan why do lower level employees never speak up to their boss?

Deference and respect are paid to power and authority.

Why wouldn't you want to present an Arab businessman with a contract?

Contracts insult them, they feel that a persons word is more binding.

What type of communication style do North Americans prefer?

Straightforwardness, they are suspicious of evasveness, and distrust those who may have a hidden agenda.