cross-culturalcommunication1

Figure 1: Value Differences between Western and Non-Western CulturesWestern Cultural ValuesNon-Western Cultural ValuesImpact on Project Management.IndividualismCollectivism/Group+AchievementModestyXEquality/EgalitarianismHierarchyWinningCollaboration/Harmony+Guilt (internal self-control)Shame (external control)XPrideSaving faceXRespect for resultsRespect for status/Ascription+Respect for competenceRespect for eldersTime is moneyTime is lifeAction/DoingBeing/AcceptanceSystematic/MechanicHumanisticTasksRelationship/LoyaltyInformalFormalDirectness/AssertivenessIndirectnessFuture/ChangePast/TraditionControlFateSpecific/LinearHolistic+VerbalNon-verbal+(+) = Positive impact of combining both values on outcomes(-) = Negative impact of combining both values on outcomes (culture clash)(X) = No direct impact on outcomes Adapted from Kohls (1981); Marquardt and Kearsley (1999)Australian Academic Culture“Hello everybody! I want to share something that I got from my cross culture studies. I think its really important if you want to go study abroad in Western countries, such as Australia.When you go to an Australian University, you have to be aware of their academic culture, because its really different from Indonesia. When you do your assignments, you have to be careful. Its not like here where we usually write a descriptive report and we explain in detail about the issue. Here, if we present as many details as possible, we will get a good mark. Well. Its totally different in Western academic culture. The explanation or details are not important. You have to critique all viewpoints that you heard or read about and then formulate your own opinion. As long as you can present your supporting arguments, it doesnt matter whether you choose the “for” or “against” side. You are free to give your opinion. In fact, you are expected to do so. In seminars, you also have to contribute by asking and arguing with others ideas. Debate and critique are the keys to success in study in Australia. So. start from now on, guys. (Hesdi)There are several things that we have to remember before we meet a lecturer or tutor for consultation in western academic culture. These are:1. Try to identify your problem and the alternative solution on your own because they wont do it for you! They only will help you to choose the best solution, not find the solution for you! 2. Give logical reasons for your problem and if you need to negotiate, try to admit your weak position and show that you are motivated to fix up your problem. That is very different with Indonesian academic culture because in our culture, we let our lecturer decide everything for us. (Chiqa)Origins of Indonesian Academic CultureIn my opinion, the Hindu guru/murid relationship is the philosophical basis of the Indonesian education system. From my experience, in Yogya and among the Javanese, students are people who learn from an expert. This can be seen in terms like “Begawan” (guru), “cantrik” (murid), “menimba ilmu” (take knowledge from a source, or an expert). It can also be seen in the saying: “taking water from a well” (menimba air). It is common to call an expert “Begawan”, for example, Begawan ekonomi Soemitro (Prof. Soemitro is a senior Indonesian expert in Economic). However, there is a paradigm shift happening now and some lecturers think students should not learn only from one “Begawan”. They dont want to just clone students with the same expertise as themselves. So, students are being encouraged to learn in many schools. Despite this change, the aim of study is not for students to construct knowledge themselves through academic debate, which is the main goal of western academic culture. Differences in Face to Face CommunicationDont Smile When you Say You are Sorry!This was an unforgettable experience I had with my cyber friend. Hes Australian and we usually use camera and voice chat while chatting. One day, I was supposed to apologize because I didnt answer his call twice. I was in class at that time and were not allowed to answer any calls during the lesson. So, I said “sorry” to him with a little smile but didnt look at him. I got shocked when he suddenly yelled at me, “youre lying”. Later, in the cross-cultural class, I learnt that I shouldnt have done it in that way. Australians tend to look at the person and say sorry without smiling. (Yo)In Australia if you smile when you say sorry people think you dont really mean it or that you are hiding something. Eastern and Western CulturesThe way people ask for help is a good example of the kind of cross cultural problems that are caused by the different points of view of Eastern and Western cultures. Indonesians have a tendency to give an order or a command if they ask for help from someone beneath them. The Indonesian point of view is based on the idea that society is divided into classes. The higher class or the powerful class has a privilege to command the lower class, for example servants or employees. Asking for help usually begins with a command form, e.g. Do it right now!Bring that glass for me!Copy this material for me!In Australia however, the number one rule is avoid giving a direct command when you ask for help no matter who you are talking to. In their culture they have to treat people equally and show respect for their personal autonomy. Australians prefer to ask indirectly, e.g. Could you do this now?Would you bring that glass for me please?Would you mind copying this material for me?(Yuni)How to Make a Negative Request in AustraliaWhat if your roommate in Australia makes a lot of noise or plays noisy music at midnight and you get annoyed about it, how should you tell them? You should say: “Im sorry to tell you but your noise/music every night is really bothering me and I cant sleep well. Would you mind turning it down?” In Australia, if you want to complain about something or someone you should say how it is disturbing you because it is taboo to blame them directly. It seems like youre interfering in their personal life.(Triana)Yes, you will get a much better reaction in your dealing with westerners if you start by describing how their behaviour makes you feel rather than criticising the behaviour itself. ( Vlad)Visiting an Australian HomeCould you please tell me how to behave the first time I visit someones house in Australia? WatiIt is customary in Australia to show a guest around the house soon after they arrive. This may include a tour of more public areas like the kitchen, bathroom, living and dining rooms but it also might include private areas like the bedrooms. It is not polite however for a guest to openly and curiously look around the house without being first invited. Even if you need to go to the toilet or bathroom you should ask permission from your host firstThe most important thing to remember is dont touch any personal belongings unless you are invited to, even if its just a photo album sitting on a coffee table within your easy reach! This also means dont openly show too much curiosity about someones possessions. Its OK to look at photos and books that are on display but you usually would not handle them without first seeking permission. Once you get to know someone better, it becomes more OK to touch some of his or her more publicly displayed possessions-but only if you ask first. Personal journals, bags and wallets usually stay off-limits, even between friends and family. In Australia, once children are teenagers, they expect their parents to respect their right to private personal belongings and also to a personal space that is not intruded upon by others.Cultural Awareness Raising Quiz1 If someone says “Lets go dutch” when they invite you out to dinner, they mean:a. Lets go to a Dutch restaurantb. Lets wear Dutch traditional costumec. Lets pay for our meal separately2. You are walking down the street with an Australian friend when she/he slips on the pavement. Would you:a. Laugh because you are embarrassed b. Give them your hand and ask if theyre o.k.c. Pretend not to notice3. Youve arranged to visit a friends house. At the last minute something comes up and you cant go. Would you:a. Go to your friends house, say sorry you cant stay and leaveb. Telephone as soon as possible to explain why you cant comec. Dont do anything maybe your friend will forget4. You are at a party at an Australian friends house when someone offers you a beer. You are a Muslim. Would you:a. Accept out of embarrassmentb. Politely refuse and ask for an alternative c. Explain that drinking alcohol is forbidden by the Koran5. If someone asks you “Have you got the time?” They want:a. You to help them with a problemb. To invite you out for a datec. To know what time it is6. You are waiting in a queue to use a public telephone. Someone arrives and tries to jump in front of you. Do you:a. Let them use the phone firstb. Politely explain to the person that you were waiting firstc. Complain loudly to the other people waiting in the line 7. You have ordered a meal in a restaurant. When it arrives you try it and it tastes terrible. Would you:a. Tell the waiter/waitress that it is terrible and wait to see what she does about it.b. Dont eat it and leave as soon as possible c. Eat it anyway and dont complain8. A police person stops you for speeding in your car, do you:a) Smile broadly and look as non-threatening as possibleb) Put on a serious expression and give him/her your licence c) Give him/her your licence with Aus $50 folded insideAnswer KeyHow to begin a conversation in Australia and IndonesiaI was surprised when I learnt that it was taboo to ask questions in your first meeting with Australian people. How can we be acquainted with someone if we dont ask questions? We Indonesian people usually ask questions to encourage friendship. That is our way to start conversation. In Australia, however, we cant do that. Asking questions in the first meeting with a stranger means intruding on someones privacy. What Australian people do is to state general comment about something. Afterwards, we have to wait for the persons response. If there isnt a response that means there isnt a conversation. To be honest, it is very funny for me as an Indonesian person!(Rony Megawanto)Yes I agree Rony, it does seem funny from an Indonesian point of view! To understand why its like that though, we have to remember that in Australian culture you show your respect for others by respecting their space and privacy. First its really important when you approach someone to read their non-verbal language to make sure that they really want to be approached. Then you have to work out if they feel like having a conversation. By making general comments you are giving them the chance to show if they want to talk or not. If they dont respond much that means they dont feel like talking at that moment. In Australian culture it is OK if someone just wants to be left alone sometimes. We see that as normal and healthy. If they do want to talk, we can ask questions but were careful with personal questions because we dont want to intrude on their privacy. So for example if we want to find out where they live instead of asking, Whats your address?” we might ask, “Do you live around here?” That way they dont feel pressured to give a direct answer if they dont want to. In the same way instead of asking “Whats your name?”, we might just introduce ourselves with a digression, for example, “Oh by the way, Im _”. Then they can either choose to introduce themselves or not.Differences in Face to Face Communication Vertical and Horizontal Relationships in Indonesia and AustraliaAustralian Egalitarianism - A well-known Australian Prime Minister fraternising with the peopleOne of the noticeable differences between Indonesian and Anglo Australian culture is the way the two see relationships. Its very natural in Indonesia to talk about some people being “above” or higher than others. People are expected to recognize someone elses higher status or seniority by using a nice tone of voice, by not saying too much and by not opposing or contradicting. This is called “hormat” which is usually translated into English as “to show respect” or proper politeness. In Indonesia, people are not equal in face to face communication.In contrast, Australian culture follows the principle of egalitarianism. This means that people are seen to be equal and are free to communicate and express their ideas with anybody. For example a garbage man can talk openly to a prime minister. Similarly, a student can openly debate with a teacher or a university lecturer. It is hard for Australians to accept that one person is higher than or above others. (Rusfandi) Asking for Help and Saying Thank YouThe thing about Australia that surprised me, when I learned about it in CC study, is the way Australians ask for help. I thought before that Westerners were very informal in their manners and language, as Id always seen in Hollywood movies. But I was wrong; I didnt realize that although they are very informal in daily speaking they have to use special words when asking for help. For example: “Would you please”, “Could you please”, “Would you mind”, and so on. The word “please” is a very common word in asking for help, and if we dont use it, Australians will think that were being very rude. And after we receive what we asked for, we must say “thank you” or “thanks”. This is quite different in Indonesia, people do not say “thank you” as often as Australians do. Moreover, Australians speak like this to all people, whether they are children or elderly people, a taxi driver or the prime minister. What are you staring at?A few weeks ago I was staying at a local guesthouse when an Australian family arrived. I was very curious about them so I watched them as they picked up their key from the reception area and I also looked into their room as I walked past when they moved in with their luggage. The whole family then came outside and sat down in the restaurant. I watched them curiously as they ordered lunch. Suddenly the father of the family came right up to me and angrily said “What are you staring at? Why was he so angry with me? AgusIn many parts of Indonesia it seems to be acceptable to openly and curiously look at strangers because their actions belong to a collective public arena, which others have the right to observe. In Australian culture however it is extremely rude to openly and curiously look at someone you dont know. By directly looking at this family over a period of time, especially by looking into their room as you passed, you made them feel you didnt respect their right to privacy and that you were staring at them. Some Australians interpret this kind of looking behaviour, no matter how harmless it is intended to be, as an aggressive assault on their privacy and may even challenge you to a fight. When dealing with strangers, Australians try very hard to only glance and perhaps smile briefly at the stranger and then carefully avert their eyes. This is particularly the case if that stranger has a physical disability. If the stranger meets their eye and returns their smile, they may make conversation but if they dont that person will be left respectfully alone. Australians only look openly at strangers if they think they wont be observed.A question about eye contact in AustraliaI tend to make eye contact when I speak or listen to someone. By doing that I think I show the speaker or listener that I appreciate him or her or that Im paying attention. Should I do the same thing in Australia? How about if Im talking to my lecturer or tutor, is it different? Marnie In Australia it is important to use direct eye contact to show you are an open honest person. Maintaining a steady gaze on someones face is particularly important when you are listening otherwise they may think you are not paying attention or that you are not interested in what theyre saying. When you are speaking, it is OK to let your eyes move around a bit, as long as you keep coming back to the other persons face from time to time. If you avoid direct eye contact when speaking, Australians may think you are trying to hide something or that you lack self-confidence. These rules apply whether you are speaking to someone of high or low status because egalitarianism is a very important Australian cultural value. This means Australians tend to relate to each other horizontally not vertically like in Indonesia, regardless of differences in age or status. In Australia showing too much deference to another person because of their status is almost a taboo. If you act like this you will make Australians feel very uncomfortable and embarrassed and if you keep acting in this way people may avoid you. Australians usually have an aversion to being treated as if they were higher than someone else and tend to regard this behaviour as the bowing and scraping of crawlers-that is people who ingratiate themselves with others to get what they want. If you want a comfortable easy relationship with your lecturer, learn to treat them as a colleague:-use their first name (if this is how they introduce themselves), use direct eye contact and an open, relaxed body posture. Remember in Australia we show respect for someones importance by not wasting their time and by respecting their right to space and privacy.Australian Communication StyleMost Australian are very decisive and determined in their communication style. They say yes or no very confidently and they refuse something if they dont want or like it. In contrast as an Indonesian, I find it very difficult to show my “I dont like it” feeling. I am afraid of making people disappointed and upset. Australians are also very open. They will say bad or good depending on what they think. In Indonesia however, people try to please their new acquaintances by only saying good things. OCT 08Hierarchy in China - Boss & SubordinateAuthor: Frank Mulligan Despite the obvious improvements in the infrastructure in China, the business culture in the country continues to pose a challenge for non-Chinese.Every issue, from task implementation to to Face to hierarchy, is approached in a different way in China. This is not a criticism, but a statement of basic fact.Figure 1 above is meant as an attempt to deal with one issue within the larger subject of cultural differences. It is humorous but not trivial. It neatly summarizes the way that Westerners and Chinese approach the issue of hierarchy.No detailed description is necessary but in practice it works like this. If you are reading this post from outside China you are likely to choose (not definitely) the blue option as the most accurate representation of the relationship between boss and subordinate.The majority of people in China would choose red. The only proviso being that Northern Chinese and younger Chinese citizens are more comfortable with the blue option than Southerners and the older generation.Being comfortable with does not equate to accepting the more egalitarian boss/subordinate relationship.One serious, negative consequence of the structure on the right is that exactly the person sought by Multi-National Companies (MNCs), ie. the Confident Contrarian, is pushed out because he or she threatens the accepted structure. So every MNC is looking for for the same person ie. the one that is straining at the leash to take some responsibility, and see what he/she can actually achieve under hi