CULTURE and COMMUNICATION

1. CULTURE and COMMUNICATION “The reasonable person adapts himself to the world, while the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.” –George Bernard Shaw

2. What is Culture? • Culture is the "lens" through which you view the world. • It is central to what you see, • How you make sense of what you see, • How you express yourself. "Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs." – Tom Wolfe

3. Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Difference What is different? 1. Communication Styles 2. Attitudes toward conflicts 3. Decision making styles 4. Approaches to knowing What is hidden below the surface? 1. Beliefs 2. Values 3. Expectations 4. Attitudes

4. Culture Involves Unwritten “Rules” for Social Norms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKUvKE3bQlY Culture can be defined as the beliefs, values, and practices of a particular group of people at a particular point in time.

5. COMMUNICATON Communication is the sending of a message from a source to a receiver with the least possible loss of meaning. THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS The speaker sends a message that is in some kind of code. The listener decodes the message and responds, thereby giving the speaker feedback.

6. What is effective communication? • An Art, Science and Practice Effective speaking Understanding people’s perceptions Effective listening

7. CODES USED IN COMMUNICATION Verbal Communication • Words • Voice Non-Verbal Communication • Gestures • Postures • Facial Expressions • Eye Contact • Vocal Characteristics • Personal Appearance • Touch

8. Culture and Organizational Culture • Culture is what people believe, what they find important, and how they behave. • Organizational culture is the beliefs, values, and practices unique to a particular company, industry, or organization. • Basically, organizational culture is the personality of the organization. • Culture is comprised of the assumptions, norms, and tangible signs (artifacts) of an organization’s members and their behaviors.

9. Types of Organizational Culture Academy: • Employees are highly skilled and tend to stay in organization while working way up the ranks. • Organization provides a stable environment where employees can develop and exercise their skills. • Examples: hospitals, universities, large corporations

10. Types of Organizational Culture Baseball Team: • Employees are “free agents” who have highly prized skills and can easily get jobs elsewhere. • Fast-paced, high turnover, high-risk. • Examples: Investment banking, advertising, etc.

11. Types of Organizational Culture Club Culture: • The most important requirement is to fit in. • Employees start at bottom, work their way up. • Promotes from within, highly values seniority. • Examples: Military, law firms, etc.

12. Types of Organizational Culture Fortress Culture: • Employees don’t know whether they’ll be laid off. • Organizations often undergo massive reorganization • Great opportunities for those with timely, specialized skills. Examples: Savings and loans, car companies, etc.

13. Culture and Communication • Culture is an important component of successful writing, communication, job performance, and general satisfaction. • Organizational culture affects every rhetorical decision a writer makes as she or he plans, drafts, and revises technical documents, provided the writer is savvy. • Cultural awareness is an important component of teaching technical writing rhetorically.