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“The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn.” ~Author Unknown. Announcements.
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“The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn.” ~Author Unknown
Announcements • Today we will begin preparing for a project. We will introduce the project today and then you will have a couple of weeks to work on it. I will give you details later in class.
Group Discussion • Can you think of a time when you noticed someone making a cross-cultural mistake or misunderstanding with a foreigner? (The story can be about yourself or someone else; no need to use names)
Business Communications Week 12: Chapter 6 Cross-Cultural Business Communication
Chapter 6 Introduction • “The culturally diversified workforce has brought greater vitality to business, but at the same time, business people are facing many problems in their cross-cultural business communication.” pg 274 • CULTURE is defined as: “customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.” • Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed., 1997
Before we discuss Cross-Cultural Communication, we must remember some key points… • 1. While a culture as a whole may be very similar, it is important to remember that everyone is an individual. • Culture is not related just to a country. For instance, cultures differ in Henan, Heilongjiang and Guangdong. The same is true in U.S. between South, West, etc. • 3. It is dangerous to generalize. We can’t say, “all Chinese are this way.” There are always variations in people. • 4. Clearly, culture strongly impacts business communication. Part of knowing your audience is keeping this in mind. Chapter 6 Introduction
6.1 Misunderstandings and conflicts between Americans and Japanese Individualism vs. Collectivism • Americans are known for individualism • Praise publicly and correct privately. • Japanese are known for collectivism • Never single out an individual, even to praise. • Note the Minicase - pg. 275
6.1 Misunderstandings and conflicts between Americans and Japanese Eloquence vs. Silence Eloquence • “Americans are known for being fond of talking.” • An eloquent speaker is considered a good communicator. • Americans are likely to respond to continued silence with more talking.
6.1 Misunderstandings and conflicts between Americans and Japanese Eloquence vs. Silence Silence • Japanese are known for keeping silent. • Japanese proverb: “He who knows does not speak, and he who speaks does not know.” • Silence is “an earnest way to think about what others have said.” • The more Americans talk, the more Japanese may remain silent.
6.1 Misunderstandings and conflicts between American and Japanese Privacy vs. Openness • Americans favor more privacy • Japanese favor more openness • Examples: • Office setup • Knock and enter • For Americans, when the door is open, anyone is free to enter. When door is closed, you should knock and wait to be asked to enter. Americans are offended by the custom of knocking and then entering without waiting for a response.
6.2 Different Cultural Concepts Showing Yourself vs. Being Modest • Westerners “show themselves” and try to impress people. This is an important skill in Western Business. • Easterners (such as Chinese) are more modest. • This group will most likely relate success to their company. • A very famous CEO once said, “Only in China did I understand it’s a real virtue not to show yourself. The Chinese talk less but work more…” Page 282
6.2 Different Cultural Concepts Going Dutch vs. Chinese Hospitality Americans - pay for themselves more Chinese - pay for their friends more • Chinese hospitality may be so great that westerners give negative comments out of misunderstanding. In business, the one who issues the invitation is usually expected to pay. • Expense accounts and tax deductions apply for “business expenses.” • At a later date, the other reciprocates.
6.2 Different Cultural Concepts Friendship vs. Relationship • Americans - known for instant friendship • “Easy come, easy go.” • Chinese – See relationships as being “long-term.” • In the West, business friendships are much different from personal friendship. • We do business with many people; those friendships “fade” when we aren’t doing business any more. • Only relationships that are long-term are personal friendships. We usually have separate business friends and personal friends. • Most of us separate business and family. We are just not accustomed to combining business and close friendships.
Aspects China U.S.A Interpersonal "Relationship" comes first "Economics" comes first On "Humility" "Humility" viewed as a virtue "Humility" is a sign of weakness; there is every reason for the able to be proud What to Respect Respect for seniority, wisdom, ability Respect for success, achievement, wealth On "Family" Children should learn to respect the elder, love the young, and rely on the "extended family" Children should learn to be independent The Strong and the Weak It is not righteous to bully It is an honor to win; business is all a competition Discipline (in following procedures) Strong Depends on the individual Priorities Mixed: business, individual, nationalistic, and political Almost strictly business
What about that project…? • For the next 4 weeks, most of our class time will be used for the project. • Attendance will be very important.
Project Guidelines • Our project is related to cross-cultural business communication. • You will be working on a team of 3-4 people. • Your team will be given a country. • Your team will do some research on the business culture of the country. This will be a typed report. • Your team will give a sales presentation in class as if you were selling a product or service in that country. This will be a PPT presentation. • Specific guidelines are on the handouts. They are also on the website.
Let’s Form the Teams! BE 1 Team 1: Edison, Rose, Whitney, CassizeTeam 2: Sally Li, Lynn, Grace, CinderellaTeam 3: Amy, Swan, Jessica, YoyoTeam 4: Cherry, Naomi, Nathalie, JaneTeam 5: Eshine, Abby, Lacy, LindaTeam 6: Apple, Lillian, Banyan, JoyceTeam 7: Carajean, Jelly, Vivi, LewisTeam 8: Michael, Connie, Marcy, SunnyTeam 9: Charles, Tiffany, Ensure, AngelaTeam 10: Chelsea, Eileen Li, Shirley, VivianTeam 11: Cora, Bonnie, Kandi, DarcyTeam 12: Catherine, Buck, Jennifer, KarenTeam 13: Joan, Scott, Erika, KristinTeam 14: Katrina, Lisa, Eileen Wang, Helen
Let’s Form the Teams! BE 2 Team 1: Steven, Amelia, Penny, AnnTeam 2: Lisa, Tammy, Donny, CathyTeam 3: Rosa, Joy, Irene, MichaelTeam 4: Ida, Grace, Mitchie, KitTeam 5: Andrew, Ivy, Rain, EmmaTeam 6: Iris, Sherry, Joly, BeckyTeam 7: Echo, Wendy, Miranda, MerriTeam 8: Fae, Lizzy, Casey, JohnTeam 9: Anna, Tony, Sabrina, RosalieTeam 10: Nicole, Leila, Bonnie, PatriciaTeam 11: Judy, Linda, Tom, NatalieTeam 12: Flora, Nancy, Tess, ChelloryTeam 13: Jane, Debby, Ariel, HarrietTeam 14: Lily, June, Carol, Miracle
Let’s form the teams! BE 3 Team 1: Sara, Ella, Sophia Sun, Roni Team 2: Sophia Fan, Derek, Collette, AnneyTeam 3: Robin, Rachelle, Jackie, DavidTeam 4: Christina, Melissa, Suzy, GraceTeam 5: Sally Chen, Renee, Jennifer Wang, Bella Team 6: Vera, Kara, Angel, GalaTeam 7: Lisa, Janet, Shannon, SunnyTeam 8: Susan, Marlon, Cindy, JessicaTeam 9: Mike, Yaffy, Nancy, Spring Team 10: Emma, Sandra, Luke, TracyTeam 11: Caedmon, Ashley, Jane, DonnaTeam 12: Holly, Jona, Jenny, SamTeam 13: Shirley, Ada, Angela, EdisonTeam 14: Beryl, Kelly, Jennifer Yin
Let’s form the teams! BE 4 Team 1: Mary, Heidi, Cindy Su, ElaineTeam 2: Cindy Cao, Franklin, Summer, Rebecca Team 3: Selena, Helen, Christy, AmandaTeam 4: Linda, Melody, Apple, DinaTeam 5: Janice, Della, Donna, LydiaTeam 6: Nissa, Daphne, Fiona, WendyTeam 7: Rita, Naomi, Olive, SusanTeam 8: Nina, Rand, Hope, ErinTeam 9: Teresa, Kyle, Melissa, Zoe ZhangTeam 10: Catherine, Iris, Stephanie, JerryTeam 11: Dillion, Rose, Owen, KaraTeam 12: Alisa, Sarah, Amy, JackTeam 13: Daisy, Kerry, Jessica, TonyTeam 14: Zoe Lee, Julia, William
Project Schedule • Week 12 (this week): Get together in your team and work on your research and presentation. • Week 13: Bring a “first draft” of your research to class, and we will spend some class time planning the presentations. • Week 14: Presentations, Research report due for all groups. • Week 15: Presentations
Help with your research… • Refer to the guidelines paper. • Here is a very good website that has information on business culture of your country: executiveplanet.com • Look in the section, “Essential business culture guides for the international traveler”
First Steps Today… • Choose 1 or 2 topics of the research for each team member. The research will be done during this week. • Choose a company name. • Choose a product or service you want to represent. • Write a short product or service description.
Next week… • You should have a “first draft” of your research collected so that you can work on it together in class. • I will help you to fit the different parts of the report together. • We will also be talking about how to make a good PPT presentation.
HOMEWORK • Begin your research and meet with your team this week to begin planning your sales presentation.