“Communicating Across Cultures” by Sir David Bell of Pearson.
An educational businessman from America went England to attend some presentations or meetings where after the meeting the work was been encouraged saying “quiet good” which is different in American English and British English as in American English quite good means very good but in British English it means awful so the people in England were disappointed and thought that the presentation was not upto the standard. The point in the issue is that the common understanding of the idea and language is different in different cultures. Thus all the companies should mix up different culture people so people can understand different cultures.
In the Bell’s example illustrates the different cultural thinking where pantomime tradition and since ancient times in plays leading man is being played by lady and vice-versa wherein American people thought that all these people enjoying are freaks and the play is politically incorrect. As in nonverbal communication is considered in Indian culture while greeting people put their hands together with a slightly bow of their head and saying “Namaste” which shows respect amongst each other while in Western culture while greeting people is quite important to shake hands, make an eye contact and kiss on checks is necessary.
When a company has definite values of business which would lead to equality amongst employees belonging to different cultures the communication would be difficult amongst everybody and people would not be able to reach an expectation of their colleagues but gradually with the time span goes people would know an individual’s perspective, values and beliefs which would help them to build an right expectation further it creates respect amongst employees. So according to me yes it is good idea to grow a company with multicultural environment and let people know other people.
Businesses with multicultural people have its