The techniques and strategies used when doing business vary from one culture to the other. Workplace relations are improved when sales, technical, and human managerial resources are trained to be conscious of fields and practices likely to be affected by differences across cultures and communication. Correspondingly, entrepreneurs reinforce international connection as they can foresee and identify areas that have common ideologies. Notably, businesses are basically, strengthened when individuals from diverse cultures discover new strategies to solve old problems. Creating elucidation by merging cultural perspective aid one in viewing issues from other peoples perspective.
Cultural Diversity and Ethnocentrism
The primary cause of the challenges faced in intercultural communication is the failure of diverse cultures to identify with culturally determined disparities in the communication traditions, thought processing, and practices (Yang, 2017). Additionally, some of the parties involved in the trade have an ethnocentric view that they cling to when conducting business. Ethnocentrism refers to the idea that one's cultural group is innately superior to the other cultures. The belief affects people who do not appreciate different cultures and also the bigoted. Ethnocentrism is illusory precisely for the reason that associates of any culture distinguish their activities as logical, as that practice works to their advantage (Yang, 2017). Human beings often accept the beliefs of the surrounding culture as the ultimate absolute values. Given that every country has a different customized set of principles, often conflicting from the values upheld in other nations, the concept of foolish and wise, proper and improper, and right and wrong turn out to be blurred. Questions arise when conducting international business regarding the appropriate way to determine the standard and beliefs that are suitable for all cultures and those that follow wok ethics (Yang, 2017).
Communication Variables
The process of communication in the international business environment is affected by a set of variables for include, setting, language, technology, social organization, social history, morals, nonverbal communication behavior and conceptions of authority (Li, 1996). By evaluating the impact and roles of the variables; entrepreneurs can improve their ability to relay messages and take part in business with people from various cultures.
Language
The use of different languages acts as a barrier to proper communication. China uses the Chinese language as the central dialect in the country. In the event a trader is from a different nation there will be a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding due to linguistic differences (Wilberger " Wood, 2015). Challenges of verbal communication can be classified into culturally-based discrepancy amongst individuals of a similar dialect gross translation challenges; and subtle variation of language. However, business consultants advise their clients to consider the services of good translators when in regions that use different words (Wilberger " Wood, 2015). Communication is active when the sender and receiver have a common language. Business people trading in regions that use different dialect opt to hire translators to assist them when interacting with other traders.
Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is vital in the interaction as the cues aid to clarify ambiguous and unclear messages. Intercultural communication is expressed through what an individual says, and only represents a fraction of the word conveyed. Indeed, clothing choices, eye contact, body language, personal space and touching behavior communicate information, despite the difference in culture. A wise business person will set aside time to acquit him/herself with the prevailing mindset before conducting trade with people of different cultures. Misinterpretation of non-verbal may result to conflict or soar up existing disagreements. Chinese people believe that it is not proper to inflict grief pain on others (Li, 1996). Therefore, one may find them relaying a death message with a smile. On the other hand, westerners understand a smile as a friendly gesture and a happy mood. The westerners and Chinese people, in this case, will conflict if the two parties fail to understand the difference in their clues. Therefore, it is vital to comprehend values and cultural starting-points to understand emotions showed in cross-cultural relations (Li, 1996).
Personal and Fate Responsibility
Another significant variable affecting interactions across cultures is personality and face responsibility. The term refers to the extent to which people have control over their lives and activities against the control people have over external factors. The variable is essential as it aids in understanding cultural disagreements. For example, when a person invested in a free will path with someone philosophical in orientation, misunderstanding is more likely as the first party expects accountability and action. The other person is supposed to respect the natural array of things (Wilberger " Wood, 2015). However, the first person could be regarded as irrelevant and coercive as extravagant in his thoughts.
Intercultural Business Practices in Passport China
Forbes contributor Kinsey carol said that “Inter-Cultural diversity shapes every aspect of global communication”. The differences in practices explain the reason why China a high context setting prefers a face to face type of interaction over the use of electrical technology. Industrial counties like the United States and Canada use electronic technology in their business. China also favors informal agreements and personal bonds over the carefully written legal documents used In the United States. Kinsley says that ‘The Chinese intercultural relation aims at understanding and looking for meaning and in what is not said — in bod (Yang, 2017)y language, in silences and pauses, and in relationships and empathy,”. Nevertheless, the United States places its emphasis on sending and relaying accurate and direct message such that non-verbal clues are not needed to clarify the information being conveyed. Additionally, the U.S. commerce leaders mostly end up having a communication ensnare as they disregard the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with individuals from high context setting like China and Japan (Yao, 2017).
Interactions amid business people from a low-context culture like Canada and USA usually is more direct and specific as Attention focuses on formal talks and documents rather than relationships (Wilberger " Wood, 2015). Conversely, In Japan or China, spoken words get little consideration than nonverbal body language, relationships, and mutual understandings. Additionally, Chinese and Japanese people are conventionally skilled at commerce (Li, 1996). They are well known for buying and selling goods and services at the best prices in the market. One of the reasons that make Chinese one of the most thriving countries in business is the language they use. The Chinese business people will always flatter and compliment prospective clients which make the buyers, vulnerable. Sometimes they do not mean all those flattering words they use (Yao, 2017).
China uses third part meditation as a way of resolving conflicts while the US use confrontations, trials, and courts to solve disagreements. A third party does not have any emotional involvement in the dispute. Thus he /she can judge the situation soundly without biases (Li, 1996). Additionally, this method can save time; cost and most of the time restore the relationship between the trading parties. The use of legal processes such as trials and courts is expensive, tedious and may end up destroy already existing business relationships. In the USA conflicts result in either a loose or a win state for the parties. On the other hand, China meditation method results in either a win-win or a loss to win state. The Chinese people are also unable to express disagreements using verbal means. Therefore, they use non-verbal clues. On the contrary, the Business people from the United States are argumentative and willing to communicate disputes orally (Yao, 2017).
Significant business deals in China are sealed when a sound business relationship is established, between both parties. Although the contract is hard to form, it is long lasting. Additionally, the Chinese sense of timing is not exact: they do not keep time in the meetings. The USA substitute relationship from formal arrangements that are easy to form though not long lasting (Li, 1996). The business people in the region also have a sense of timeliness especially during meetings and business deals.
Conclusion
Communication is vital in determining the success of a countries business, and it can be transmitted either verbally and non-verbally .However there are several factors that affect the intercultural communication that includes personality and fate responsibility, language barrier and misinterpretation of non-verbal communication. Therefore, International business people must be particularly careful when conducting intercultural trade as every practitioner has a subtle form of ethnocentricity which he /she does not recognize. Additionally, it is essential to perceive ideas and view the world beyond culture disparity. People need to comprehend how the insight of a specific message is altered in regards to the culturally resolute viewpoint of the people communicating. Business people in China opt to conduct trade face to face rather than the use of electronic technology. Additionally, the traders prioritize establishing a long-lasting relationship with their trade partners. As a result, they have thrived in the commerce industry.
References
Li, J. (1996). Passport China. San Rafael: Word Trade Press.
Wilberger, S. J., " Wood, V. R. (2015). Globalization, cultural diversity and organizational commitment. Theoretical underpinnings , 6 (2), 154-171.
Yang, P. (2017). Intercultural nonverbal communication competence as intercultural responsiveness in the second language learning classroom. In Intercultural responsiveness in the second language learning classroom. IGI Globa , 127-147.
Yao, Y. A. (2017). English as a Lingua Franca in Mainland China: An Analysis of Intercultural Business Communicative Competence (IBCC). Shangai: In 82nd Annual International Conference.
