Business Communication and the Global Context

1. Business
Communication
and the Global
Context

2. Learning Objectives
 What is culture?
 How cultural differences affect
business communication?
 National Cultural Variables
 Individual Cultural Variables
 Nonverbal communication
differences between different
cultures

3. A Concept of Culture
Culture refers to the behavioral
characteristic typical of a
group.
This definition implies that
communication, Verbal and
nonverbal within a group also is
typical of that group and is
unique.

4. Culture and Communication
 People’s background, experiences, and
culture influence their communication,
thinking, and behavior.
 Apply the you-viewpoint, learn about
different cultures, and recognize that
individuals differ within each cultural
group.

5. National Cultural Variables
 Education
 Law and regulation
 Economics
 Politics
 Religion
 Social Norms
 Language

6. Education
Many managers in foreign countries are not
very well educated

7. Law and regulation
 In both the developed and
developing nations, various
government regulations affect
business communications and the
sale of products.
 For example, advertising directed at
children is restricted in the United
States, Canada, and Scandinavia.

8. Economics
 Availability of capital, transportation and
the standard of living per capita vary
from nation to nation.
 The opportunity to borrow money, the
rate of inflation, and the exchange
rates influence business and a
country‘s ability to communicate
concerning that business.

9. Politics
 Which political changes have occurred
within the past 5 years?
 How supportive is the government of
outside investors or of joint ventures?
 What are the protocols and the
conventions that individuals must
respect in the host country?

10. Religion
 Are you aware of the major religious
beliefs that could affect your business
relationships?
 Will the religious holidays affect your
rhythm of conducting business?
 What personal behavior is acceptable
and unacceptable?

11. Social Norms
 In various ways any national
environmental constraints – education,
law and regulations, economics, politics,
religion – affect a nation‘s social norms.
 Are you aware of the social hierarchies of
the country?
 Is there a rank order of importance for
participants at meetings?
 Who will really make the business decision?

12. Language
 Obviously, unless both sender and
receiver understand a common
language, the opportunities for
successful business communication are
significantly limited.

13. Individual Cultural
Variables
 Time
 Space
 Food
 Acceptable Dress
 Manners
 Decision Making
 Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

14. Time (Chronemics)
 What impact will time have upon
business decisions?
 It should not take you long to recognize
which is the time conscious culture
and which is the one less concerned
with precision in time. Knowing
cultural perceptions of time help you
understand why some responses are
slow – by your standards.

15. Space (Proxemics)
 How close may strangers stand to you?
 How do you react in Saudi Arabia when
someone‘s breath intentionally brushes
you in conversation?
 How do you like being literally pushed
into a train in Tokyo?
 How would you react to the people
hanging onto the outside of a bus in
Pakistan?

16. SMALL
PERSONAL
SPACE
LARGE
PERSONAL
SPACE
Arabs
Indians
and
Pakistanis
South
Europeans
South
Americans
Asians
North
Europeans
Personal space (Continued)

17. Proximity

18. Food
 Are you aware of the eating habits of
your hosts?
 Are there table conventions you should
be aware of?
 Are there foods you might find
disagreeable?

19. When to eat

20. Informal Table Setting

21. Formal Table Setting

22. Good Table Manner

23. 12 Basic Rules in Table
Manners

24. 1. Sit up straight
 Try not to slouch or lean
back in your chair.

25. 2. Don't speak with your mouth
full of food
 no one likes to see a ball
of masticated meat in
your mouth.

26. 3. Chew quietly, and try not to
slurp
 Making noises is not
only unappetizing,
and distracting, but it
can also interrupt the
flow of conversation.

27. 4. Keep bites small
 it is smart to keep bite
sizes to a moderate
forkful.

28. 5. Eat at a leisurely pace
 It is good for the
digestion
 It shows your host
that you want to enjoy
the food and the
company.

29. 6. Don't wave utensils in the air
 especially knives or if
there is food on them.
 You might knock over
glasses, pierce
waiters or launch a
pea into the eye of
your date.

30. 7. Keep your elbows off the table
 Elbows take up table
space and can be a
danger in knocking
plates or glasses.
 Elbows on the table
give you something to
lean on and tend to
lull you into slouching.

31. 8. Don't Reach
 Not only is it as impolite,
but there is always the
possibility of upsetting
glasses or running your
sleeve through
someone's mashed
potatoes.
Dad, please
pass the
bread basket.

32. 9. Don't forget “please” and
“thank you”
 These are handy
words in most
situations, but
especially vital at the
table where common
courtesies are noticed
by everyone present.

33. 10. Excuse yourself when
leaving the table
 You don't want people
to think that you are
tired of their company.
 If you must leave the
table, make your
excuses somewhat
obvious and appear to
be pressing.
Excuse
me.

34. 11. Compliment the Cook
 Even if the food is
perfectly awful, say
something nice.
 You don't have to lie,
simply find the positive
side of the burnt food.
 It is always pleasant to
end a meal on a
positive note.

35. 12. Wipe your mouth with your
napkin
 Ever notice that
disgusting smudge on
the edge of your glass?
This can be avoided by
first wiping your lips with
your napkin.

36. Food Finishing Styles

37. Food Finishing Styles in
Pakistan

38. Acceptable Dress
 It is better to ask about the mode of
dress for an occasion in your host
country than to risk making an
embarrassing mistake.
 How much skin may be exposed in both
an informal and in a formal situation?
 Are certain colors disturbing?
 Will the (certain) attire be accepted?

39. Business AttireBusiness Attire

40. Attire and Appearance
 Dress is according to status
 Casual Dress is never appropriate

46. Manners
 Children shake your hand in Germany,
hug you in Italy, and often stay in the
background in Pakistan/India.
 Be prepared to sit close together in Asia.
 What is the protocol regarding the
introduction of persons in a business
situation?
 What are the ―rules‖ of gift giving?

47. Hand Shake
It is customary to say As-Salamu Alaykum.
Men shake hands with each other.
Women generally hug and kiss.
Pakistanis take their time during greetings and
ask about the person’s health, family, and
business.
GREETING

48. if asked about family, health and business and the
answer is "Allah ka shuker hai" (Thank God) or
"Alhamdulillah“ (Praise to God).
When leaving a gathering it is customary to say
Khuda Hafiz (May God Protect You).

49. BUSINESS MEETING
Used English.
Appointments are necessary and should be made in
writing
3 to 4 weeks in advance.
The best time to schedule meetings is in the late
morning.
If at all possible, try not to schedule meetings during
Ramadan.
Meetings are formal so avoid wearing jeans.
Eye contact while speaking.

50. Before the meal, it is traditional amongst the nation's
Muslim majority to recite "Bismillah Ar-Rahman al-
Rahim" (In the name of Allah Who is most beneficial
and merciful).
The hands are washed thoroughly beforehand.
when invited to dinner or a small gathering must
15minutes early.
Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table
begins.
DINING

51. Selecting and Presenting Business Gifts

52. If invited to a Pakistani's home, bring the hostess a small
gift such as flowers or good quality chocolates.
Men should avoid giving flowers to women.
Do not give white flowers as they are used at weddings.
If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that
it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female
relative.
Gifts are not opened when received.
Gifts are given with two hands.
GIFT GIVING

53. • Unwrapping gifts
Saudi Arabia - Gifts are opened in private.
USA - Gifts are opened in public
•Appreciated Gifts
Indonesia - Gifts, such as tokens memento of your country or
your company logo
• Gifts to avoid
UAE - Alcohol / perfumes containing alcohol and pork and
pigskin products to be avoided
China - Do not give anything in sets of four or gifts that carry
the association of death, funerals such as clocks, cut
flowers, white
objects.

54. Decision Making
 Americans are typecast as moving too
quickly in asking for a decision.
 In Japan, decision time is held back as
group consensus moves toward a decision.
 Is the pattern for making decisions
consistent from one company to another?
 Is placement of the major decision maker
consistent in meeting situations?
 Is an inductive or a deductive pattern of
decision making preferred?

55. Non-Verbal Communication Differences

56. Eye contact may have different
meanings in different cultures.

57. Some muslim countries have laws about
not to have eye contact between
opposite genders.

58. MEANINGS OF HAND GESTURES IN
DIFFERENET CULTURES

59. 1)THUMBS-UP
2)A-OK
3)THE ‘’V’’ SIGN
4)THE MOUTZA
5)THE CORNA
6)THE DOG CALL
SOME HAND GESTURES

60. 1)THUMBS-UP
UK, USA, Pakistan:
‘’Okey’’, ‘’All right’’,’’Brilliant’’
West Africa, parts of South America,the Middle East:
Slang
Germany: No: 1

61. 2) A-OK
UK,USA, Pakistan:
‘’Everthing is good’’,
‘’Great’’,
‘’Absolutely fine ‘’
France,Belgium: ‘’Zero’’, ‘’Worthless’’
Brazil, Turkey, a few Mediterranean countries,
Russia: Slang
Japan: Money

62. 3) THE ‘’V’’ SIGN
USA, Pakistan and most of the World: ‘’Victory’’,
‘’ Peace and love’’
UK,Australia,Ireland,New Zealand:
Slang ( If the outside of your hand is facing your
target)

63. 4) THE MOUTZA
Many parts of Western World:
‘’Waving’’
(with an abrupt arm extension)
‘’Enough is enough’’, ‘’ Let me stop you right there’’,
‘’ Talk to the hand because the isn’t listening!
Greece: Slang
Pakistan, many parts of Africa:
Insulting meaning

64. 5) THE CORNA
USA:
‘’Rock on ‘’
the mascot of the University of Texas
symbolizing ‘’ the Lonhorn’’
Buddhism, Hinduism:
It is used to dispel evil and known as Karana
Mudra.
The Mediterranean:
‘’ Your wife is cheating on you.’’

65. Ask me about the topic
if you want.