Multicultural and Global Communication

2 MULTICULTURAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS

Student Learning Objectives

• Explain how cultural differences affect business communication.

• Identify cultural barriers to communication.

• Explain basic guidelines for effective multicultural communication.

• Discuss communication challenges in a global environment.

• Describe key strategies for effective global business communication.

INTRODUCTION

• Cultural diversity affects business communication in the workplace; customers, clients, and colleagues represent at least five core dimensions of cultural differences: race, ethnicity, gender, age, and physical challenges.

• Technological advances enable rapid voice, data, and text communication worldwide. Multicultural and global business communication is a common occurrence.

• Business success depends on effective communication with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

• In addition to understanding the cultural background of colleagues and customers or clients, members or workers must adapt to the corporate culture of the organization.

• Culture, as used in this chapter, refers to the customary beliefs, social norms, values, traits, and behavior patterns that distinguish people or organizations. Historical values, beliefs, and behavioral expectations stem from tradition and past experiences of family background and norms of the society in which we live.

• Cultural background affects how we see the world and influences our needs, interests, and values.

• Ethnicity and race affect communication patterns. Race defines people with the same language and history, as well as similar physical characteristics. Ethnicity refers to nationality and often relates to the home country of ancestors. Ethnicity overlaps with race and is defined in the dictionary as a national or racial group of people.

• Within all ethnic and racial cultures, gender, age, and physical challenges also affect communication. People may differ in expectations,...