Verified Document

Communication Breakdown And Cultural Disconnect Term Paper

Communication The Hunter-Worth situation is an interesting example of cultural communication breakdown. In this instance, the breakdown has led to several problems. There is conflict between Hunter-Worth and the Mexican plant, and there is a shortage of the toy. The problems are related. The communication breakdown has resulted in Hunter-Worth management not knowing what the problem with the toy is. While Moore might not think so, resolving the conflict is going to be critical to getting the toys, which is the ultimately objective.

The case can be analyzed in the context of the differences between communication styles and business cultures in the U.S. And Mexico. There are several issues. First, there is the issue of hierarchy and formality. In Mexican culture, hierarchy and formality are important. This means that communications are governed according to a set of rules. Vicente assumed, for some reason, that these same rules applied to the U.S., or that the U.S. management would be aware of the nuances of communication protocol. Conversely, Moore had no such knowledge. The result was that both sides are entirely unsatisfied with the communication in this case. Vicente feels that Moore is being harsh and should have known what to do -- Moore rightfully cannot understand this position. For his part, Moore has violated Mexican communications norms and this has caused an emotional outburst from Vicente.

The good news here is that Vicente's childish outburst will be forgive by Moore. The lack of formality in American culture means that such outbursts are usually forgivable, and in this case there is little doubt that if Vicente gets the job done, he will be forgiven. The bad news is that the communication gap still exists. Moore still feel disrespected on two fronts. The first is that Vicente had not been informing him of the supply problems -- Vicente was avoiding conflict where Moore sees this is ducking responsibility. Vicente is also offended, as he sees Moore as having violated protocol and having humiliated him. Moore still has no toys and little idea why he has no toys, and Vicente now has an angry buyer, and a supply problem that he apparently cannot resolve...

My personal assessment score was 39, which signals a lack of apprehension, to a point that is outside the norm. So I definitely have trouble with the idea that Vicente would find it less humiliating to deliver an inadequate supply of toys late than to discuss the supply problems with Moore. Actions speak louder than words in the U.S., and this Mexican communication protocol seems entirely counterproductive. Vicente is not, however, viewing this strictly from the productivity point-of-view. He does not necessarily view his job as to enhance shareholder wealth. Moore, of course, does take this view. This difference lies at the root of the problem. Vicente claims that he cares about deadlines, but he does so more for personal prestige than Moore, who mostly cares because it represents lost revenue opportunities.
Bridging this communications gap is going to be difficult, because neither man has taken any effort at all to learn about the communication styles and cultural perspectives of the other. They are both a part of the problem, and while Moore is probably willing to admit this, Vicente probably is not. Herein lies the problem -- Vicente is the one who is avoiding communication and failing to address the critical supply problems. He is the one who needs to improve his communication skills by removing the barrier that formality represents.

There are a few steps that need to be taken here. First, Moore needs to call Vicente back He needs to deal with the situation directly, explaining the grounds and norms of communication. Vicente should probably be aware that his company is in business not just to provide him with a nice house, but to earn money. Vicente might be thinking that there is a relationship that needs to be formed here, but ultimately the issue at hand is that his performance has been lacking. Moore should not focus on that, but rather focus on the ultimately objective, which is getting the problems resolved. So Moore needs to direct the conversation towards what those problems are, what Vicente has done about it and…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Communication in Organizations the Case
Words: 1713 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Al, (2008). With such events still expected, the lessons to be drawn from this case is that extensive cross-cultural consultation needs to be conducted among the representatives from both sides hence ensuring there is a cultural balance and no disregard for one culture. Timely, open and continuous communication needs to be fostered between the two sides as this will give chance to iron out the few differences that may emerge. References Bambacas, Mary

Flight Crew Resource Management
Words: 4295 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

CRM Flight crew resource management is the science of training flight crews to interact and communicate in a highly authoritarian environment while at the same time making use of the intelligence and professional resources of all the members of a flight crew. In the cockpit, the captain is in unquestionable control of the airplane because he is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the flight, including hardware, equipment and personnel on

Nature of Organizations and the Contemporary Environment
Words: 1265 Length: 4 Document Type: Case Study

Nature of Organizations and the Contemporary Environment Cultural norms play an important part in interpersonal relationships and mechanisms at work. Culture is the collective mental programming of an individual's mind, which distinguishes one person from another. Individuals have defined sets of beliefs and about the society: nature works and the standards of behavior derived from these values. This shows that culture greatly affects social norms and economic behaviors like the propensity

Treadway Tire Company Case Analysis
Words: 2037 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Essay Topic Examples 1. Exploring Leadership Challenges in Treadway Tire Company: This essay topic focuses on the leadership aspects highlighted in the Treadway Tire Company case. It discusses how leadership styles, decision-making processes, and communication methods within company management have contributed to the issues faced by the Lima Tire Plant. Consideration of hierarchical dynamics and recommendations for leadership improvements to mitigate turnover rates of line foremen would be examined. 2. The Impact of

Training and Development in Small Businesses
Words: 2002 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Networks of Boston Key elements of training and development geared toward improving the performance The three important Elements in training and development include: Strategic Analysis This factor will help the employees understand the strategic position of Tech Networks. It is critical to diagnose environmental changes and establish their influence on the company and employees. In training, strategic analysis establishes a view of the key variables that could affect the future and present performance

Causes And Effects Of Media Addiction
Words: 1583 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Introduction In today's digital age, the constant presence of media in our lives has led to a growing concern about media addiction. Whether it be social media, video games, or streaming services, the allure of endless entertainment and instant gratification can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical well-being. One of the major causes of media addiction is the highly addictive nature of the content itself. Social media platforms, for

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now