Stereotypes were found to interfere with online communication, and enhance the potential for cultural misunderstandings (Leidner, 1999). Navigation design, visual design, and information design had an effect on trust that varied among different cultures viewing a website (Cyr, 2008). This research suggests a need for culturally relevant web design, particularly in the area of retail sales. The buyer-seller network contains critical information that will help the consumer to establish trust with the retailer.
Hwa-Froelich & Vigil (2004) divide communication relationships into three basic types. Responsibility relationships are among those who are responsible for family members. This can be seen as a spectrum. On one end in the individual perspective and the other is the collective approach. In collective societies, directives are usually phrased as suggestions, rather than direct orders (Hwa-Froelich & Vigil, 2004).
Interpersonal Relationships involve a perceived expectation of the role of the each participant. This continuum involves social distance/power. One is expected to be less formal with those closer to us. We use different interactions and phrases than we would if we were speaking to an employer or other authority figure (Hwa-Froelich & Vigil, 2004). Professional interpersonal interactions are the third type of relationships addressed by the authors. Professionals must continually analyze the style and type of communication that must take place.
Lien Shen (2007) advanced the idea that technology is more than a tool or a means to deliver one's ideas, but that they are themselves constructed to obtain cultural meaning through differences in understanding of visual material. A study of Japanese animation in the United States provides a means to examine this effect. It was found that the aesthetics in Japanese animation continued to develop new meaning through culture.
The United States could be considered to be arguably the center of the cyber culture (Kanter, 2001). It has been observed that American culture is the only culture in the world where the young teach the old (Kanter, 2001). The young adopt the new technology and then often find themselves teaching the older generation how to use it. Kanter made the observation about e-culture that it is made up as one goes along. It is continually evolving into something different.
In a cross-cultural online community, certain cultural expectations exist that are that are the basis of disconnects in communication (Rogers, Tinney, & Gibbons, 2008). Certain types of platform functionality are being developed that help to facilitate the communication of knowledge in an online cross-cultural community. This approach facilitates the transformation and development of intercultural competence, which improves the quality of communication in cross-cultural groups.
Goal setting an important factor in the ability to succeed in cross-cultural communication. Students must actively strive to achieve a better understanding of cross cultural communication will help to prepare them for the business world.
"As businesses globalize and the demand for employees prepared for international assignments steadily increases, training programs designed to enhance and support students' goals to develop their cross cultural skills may be useful in maximizing these skills" (Kitsantas, 20004, p. 441).
One of the most profound differences in communication styles and a key source of misunderstandings occurs with communication between westerners and Asians. Westerners tend to post more messages on discussion boards than Asian students (Warden, Chens & Caskey, 2005). Asian students, "have been trained to minimize self-expression while avoiding actions that could lead to criticism or embarrassment" (Warden, Chens & Caskey, 2005p. 222).
Effective cross cultural communication means a process.
"There is a simple truth to cross cultural dialogue. It is that all who start on an imaginative journey towards another culture must first leave home. They must be prepared to loosen their sense of belonging" (Hassam, 2007, p. 72).
These are only a few of the many examples that exist of cultural combinations that can result in misunderstandings. Clashes between western, cultures, with the high values that they place on independence, and Asian cultures that place value on collectivism have the greatest potential for the development of misunderstandings.
Intercultural communication is a learning process for both the host and guest countries (Zhu, 2002). Many texts only focus on the guest country and the difficulties in adjusting to a new environment. However, even those in the host country must make an extra effort to achieve effective communication. Cross cultural communication is a balancing act of compromise. In countries where a strong sense of nationalism exists, it can be difficult to loosen some of the strict ideas that are a part of that culture's national...
Cross-Cultural Communication With increased competition being witnessed in many industries, Multinational companies are setting shop to new foreign markets as a way of increasing their profitability and remaining competitive. Many countries have liberalized their markets, and present advancement in technologies has made it easy for companies to open new branches in foreign markets. However, this also comes with it challenges, particularly relating to cross-cultural communication. Effective cross-cultural communication is very important
As these examples convey, it is highly important that anyone who will be engaged in cross cultural communication be familiar with the nuances in behavior or even the lack of behavior of other nationalities as dictated by their cultures. In American business culture, communication tends to be more dynamic compared to the Japanese (Lee, 2). Most Americans expect a lively discussion when they are involved in negotiations. In American business
In that regard, fundamentally different interactions between the genders is one element of cultural practices that differs most substantially from national culture to culture and even among individuals of different ethnic or religious backgrounds within the dominant national culture. Typically, individuals of Muslim and Jewish religious traditions (and others) avoid any incidental or polite physical contact between members of the opposite gender, even though such gestures (like handshaking) might be
J Lastly, in chapter 9, Hendon, Hendon & Herbig (1999) focus on "what" or the contract, of cross-cultural negotiations. The authors claim the only purpose of cross-cultural negotiations is to product a "contract" or an agreement, which they define as an "exchange of conditional premises in which each party declares it will act in a certain way" only on the condition that the other parties involved agree to live up
opportunities to improve the cross-cultural and cultural-awareness training at Hilton Hotels International, Inc. This study was important because Hilton Hotels compete in 78 countries across six continents and hosts guests from virtually every country in the world during a given year. In order to continue to its efforts that began in the late 1990s to rebuild its eroded brand, Hilton Hotels has sought to exceed customer expectations at every
Post-Experience Culture shapes people’s identities and influences their behavior. It is a people’s way of living, and refers to their shared beliefs, language, norms, values, materials objects passed down generations, and behaviors. The U.S is made up of people from different backgrounds such as the African Americans who make up 13% of the population, Whites 80%, Hispanic or Latinos 16%, Asians 5%, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders 0.2%, and American Indians or Alaskan
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