CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Cross-cultural communication: the importance of cultural awareness in the world of business

Cross-cultural communication: the importance of cultural awareness in the world of business

Introduction

Business is all about earning profits by satisfying the customers. The business in the 21st century is more globalized that brings people of diverse culture closer. The organizations are moving and expanding their operations to different countries in search of large market for their products and services. To analyse the culture in this regard is highly critical for the organisations to conduct business. Every country has its own norms, values and the way of interpreting things that are embedded in the society. It is important for the business person to learn about the culture in which they are working. Valuing the cultural diversity is the critical factor for the success of a business venture.

Culture

Every individual has its own unique traits, interests and background. Human is a social animal, lives and interact in a group. Every group has some social structure, language and rules. Culture is the unwritten rules of group behaviours and standards that define it as a “moral circle”. The culture has a strong influence on the behaviour in the organization (Rahmati et.al 2012, p.n.d).

Impact of culture in the business context

Communication

Businesses are expanding and, so the communication is also altering. Business people travel to different countries and interact with different cultures. Acknowledging communication differences is the foremost principle to stay away from any misconception. Every culture has its own language of expression that creates huge cultural differences in communiqué between people of different regions make. To be on safe, it is important to study the culture of the business partner, address, greet and communicate in his language gives a good impression. A hierarchical structure also has an effect on communication, during meeting, know the senior partner responsible for decision making and give respect to his status.

Time management

The business partner's team has ten minutes late, the deal has been invalid. The concept of time management in different cultures is one of the significant factors in business communication. The time strictness or flexibility depends upon the way these cultures perceive and give value time schedules. It is preferred to arrive before the time when the meeting is held for the first time. Later it can be adjusted by considering the cultural differences. Some business cultures are more conscious about time, while others allow flexibility at managing schedules (www.internations.org).

Personal Space

Can I greet my business partner with a hand shake or should I wait for his response? Cultures are also influenced from an individual's faith, values and religious believes. It is essential to respect the limits of every culture. Differences in etiquette are also a crucial aspect in understanding the cultural difference. Giving people personal space is important business etiquettes. Perception about hand-shakes and hug are contrasting in different cultures. Some take it casual and respectful, where in some cultures this is considered as crossing a line. Observing the environment is helpful to avoid ...