Engineering Management BMEVITMMB03

BME Faculty of EE &IT MSc Majors

Economic & human themes

Cross-cultural Communications
Zsuzsanna Ksa PhD
BME Dept. Telecommunications and Media Informatics
Budapest, spring of 2015

EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

Dr. Ksa

Overview
Definition of Culture by Hofstede
Dimension to measure National
Business Cultures
Differences in National Business
Cultures
Bridging the differences in
communications
Mutual interests in business
How to handle conflicts
Unacceptable approaches
Verbal communication
Eating & drinking together
Metacommunications
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/cro
ss-cultural-communication/

Dr. Ksa

Different ways of thinking

and saying
There is a diagram of
different cultural thought
patterns for different
language groups.
It can be a guide for
developing cultural
competence in cross cultural
communication,
as both a speaker and a
listener.

EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

Kaplans model

http://www.callearning.com/blog/
2010/06/communication-andcultural-thought-patterns/

Dr. Ksa

Levis Model of cultural diversity

Richard D. Lewis divides
cultures into three main
categories:
-Linear active
-Multi active
-Reactive
Each culture is a mix, but
there are in different
places
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://www.crossculture.com/services/n
egotiating-across-cultures/

Dr. Ksa

Definition of Culture by Hofstede

The first layer is about the
symbols: what is seen on the
surface
The second layer is about the
heroes: who are the stars in
our mind
The third layer is described as
rituals: what is expected to do
in a situation
The core stands for the values
of a certain culture: what do
we feel sa good, fair, correct
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

the onion

http://laofutze.wordpress.com/2009/0
8/28/303/

Dr. Ksa

Dimension to measure National Business

Cultures
Prof. Geert Hofstede was working at
IBM as a psychologist.
1967-1973 he collected and analyzed
data from over 100,000 individuals
from 50 countries and 3 regions.
He developed a model that identifies
four primary Dimensions to describe
cultures.
Later he added a fifth Dimension
that is based on Chinese approach
based on Confucian dynamism

The five cultural dimensions

are:
(PDI) Power Distance Index
(IDV) Individualism
(MAS) Masculinity
(UAI) Uncertainty Avoidance
Index
(LTO) Long-Term Orientation
http://www.boydassociates.net/stonehil
l/global/hofstede-plus.pdf

EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

Dr. Ksa

Differences in National Business

Cultures
First step is to understand,
that there are cultural
differences
- in way of thinking
- in behaviour
- in expectation
- in self evaluations
- in understanding of
metacommunications
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://scarcityrent.com/2008/07/22
/back-from-india/

Dr. Ksa

10 main rules
in cross-cultural communications
- Be honest
- Be flexible
- Listen flexible,
- Respect differences
- Ask questions
- Build self awareness
- Avoid stereotyping
- Distinguis perspectives
- Think twice
- Recognize complexity
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://www.changeworksltd.com/c
ross-cultrual-programs/

Dr. Ksa

Unacceptable approaches
It is unacceptable:
oNot to prepare yourself to the crosscultural diversity
o Expect your partner first fully
understand you, before you
understand him /her
o Ranking different cultures
o Be nervious from different
approaches at the table
But there are limits of
understanding:
- crime, violence, terrorism, drog
consuming are not acceptable
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://wbfn.org/Mosaic/MosaicFY09/November-2008/1-focus-1108.html

Dr. Ksa

Verbal communication
First is be understandable
Accept the language
difficulties of the partner
Think on Kaplans model
of verbal communication
Answer directly the
questins you get, if it is
possible
Be polite as you can
EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://www.crossculturalstrategies.com/
2010/08/03/cross-culturalnetworkmobile-communication-issues/

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Dr. Ksa

Eating & drinking together

Be honest with the eating
traditions: prevent indian
vegetarians from meat,
muslims and jewish from pork.
Speak about food
specialities of your countries,
but do not ask them to eat
Do not criticize the food
you get, ask less if it is strange
for you

EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://www.awmpioneers.org/news/

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Dr. Ksa

Metacommunications
Be carefull with
metacommunications, it
may mean completely
different things.
Try to understand the body
language of the partner
Be carefull, not to disturb
your partner, with your
body language.

EM - 4.5 Cross-cultural Communications

http://www.1000ventures.com/busin
ess_guide/crosscuttings/communic
ation_cross-cultural.html

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Dr. Ksa