Avoiding Cross Cultural Miscommunication
Subject: Avoiding Cross-Cultural Miscommunication
It has been brought to our attention in Human Resources that our organization will begin international business at the beginning of the new year, which is just less than five months away. There are several negative situations that can occur within our organization due to cross-cultural miscommunication. When cross-cultural communications do not translate as intended, people can take with them a complete different message which can cause costly mistakes. Sometimes the wrong choice of words will be used and can cause severe embarrassment. If our organization uses poor translators, we could experience some tragic consequences in our business (Daniels, Radebaugh, & Sullivan, 2007). I would like to be proactive in avoiding cross-cultural miscommunication by making some recommendations in cross-cultural communication. However, before I make some recommendations, I would like to discuss cultural awareness. 112
It is important to understand that the key elements that define culture are the learned norms based on atitudes, values, and beliefs of a group of people (Daniels, Radebaugh, & Sullivan, 2007). Ultimately, an organization that does not try to understand these elements will surely fail if they become an international company. Another area a company must avoid or overcome is ethnocentricity. According to The Columbia Encylopedia (2000), ethnocentrism is the feeling a specific group has about their values and feels that they are superior to those of other groups. It is quite possible that it can cause an attitude of superiority. If this organanization chooses to ignore important factors, thinks that their home-country objectives should be the only objectives that should count, and thinks that change is easy, we might possibly find ourselves missing out on greater opportunities. 110
Our attitudes, values, customs, and beliefs shape the culture of our organization. At this point, I recommend that
It has been brought to our attention in Human Resources that our organization will begin international business at the beginning of the new year, which is just less than five months away. There are several negative situations that can occur within our organization due to cross-cultural miscommunication. When cross-cultural communications do not translate as intended, people can take with them a complete different message which can cause costly mistakes. Sometimes the wrong choice of words will be used and can cause severe embarrassment. If our organization uses poor translators, we could experience some tragic consequences in our business (Daniels, Radebaugh, & Sullivan, 2007). I would like to be proactive in avoiding cross-cultural miscommunication by making some recommendations in cross-cultural communication. However, before I make some recommendations, I would like to discuss cultural awareness. 112
It is important to understand that the key elements that define culture are the learned norms based on atitudes, values, and beliefs of a group of people (Daniels, Radebaugh, & Sullivan, 2007). Ultimately, an organization that does not try to understand these elements will surely fail if they become an international company. Another area a company must avoid or overcome is ethnocentricity. According to The Columbia Encylopedia (2000), ethnocentrism is the feeling a specific group has about their values and feels that they are superior to those of other groups. It is quite possible that it can cause an attitude of superiority. If this organanization chooses to ignore important factors, thinks that their home-country objectives should be the only objectives that should count, and thinks that change is easy, we might possibly find ourselves missing out on greater opportunities. 110
Our attitudes, values, customs, and beliefs shape the culture of our organization. At this point, I recommend that