Essay: Case Study
Intercultural Communication
Ms. Küpper (Group E)
Bonn, 23 June 2013
Essay: Case Study
Mr. G’s organization was planning a major international congress abroad, but the communication through e-mails and other efforts with the local organizers was almost impossible or late. Several agenda and lists have been passed over. Mr. G felt depressed about the situation assigning the companies finances to this project without having enough information. After weeks Mr. G became aware what the counterpart has planned for the agenda and he was surprised and concerned about the detailed and long business meals and cultural trips without any information or expenditures, knowing that the companies budget is limited. Asking for more information, the local organizer of the counterpart ignored Mr. G’s requests, even the solicitation to speak with the boss, was rejected due to busyness and non-existent importance. At the end of the conference Mr. G was surprised in the positive way, that the conference finally was a complete success. Why were the communication and the procedure of organizing the conference between the two parties so different? According to the theory of Edward T. Hall is this, a classical example of monochronic and polychronic cultures. In polychronic cultures like in the example of the venue, time is flexible. It is accepted to do various things at once, agendas and business meals were extended at the pleasant way or laid, and cultural events will be organized without consultation. Also communication, via emails like in the example of Mr. G, is not always enjoyable with people from this culture, because of the different meaning of time. Time is wasted and not taken seriously because it can be changed in seconds; they have a constant state of flux. Scheduled events or plans can be discarded or changed immediately. They interact with several customers at once, and are entangled with each other. Arranging dates therefore is very
Ms. Küpper (Group E)
Bonn, 23 June 2013
Essay: Case Study
Mr. G’s organization was planning a major international congress abroad, but the communication through e-mails and other efforts with the local organizers was almost impossible or late. Several agenda and lists have been passed over. Mr. G felt depressed about the situation assigning the companies finances to this project without having enough information. After weeks Mr. G became aware what the counterpart has planned for the agenda and he was surprised and concerned about the detailed and long business meals and cultural trips without any information or expenditures, knowing that the companies budget is limited. Asking for more information, the local organizer of the counterpart ignored Mr. G’s requests, even the solicitation to speak with the boss, was rejected due to busyness and non-existent importance. At the end of the conference Mr. G was surprised in the positive way, that the conference finally was a complete success. Why were the communication and the procedure of organizing the conference between the two parties so different? According to the theory of Edward T. Hall is this, a classical example of monochronic and polychronic cultures. In polychronic cultures like in the example of the venue, time is flexible. It is accepted to do various things at once, agendas and business meals were extended at the pleasant way or laid, and cultural events will be organized without consultation. Also communication, via emails like in the example of Mr. G, is not always enjoyable with people from this culture, because of the different meaning of time. Time is wasted and not taken seriously because it can be changed in seconds; they have a constant state of flux. Scheduled events or plans can be discarded or changed immediately. They interact with several customers at once, and are entangled with each other. Arranging dates therefore is very