Cross-Cultural Communication

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Dr. Geert Hofstede outlines the issues at play in communication and their reflection in a variety of national circumstances, professing the old adage, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". The author points out that the UAE, Mexico and Spain differ greatly from each other in their approaches to the workplace, home life, politics and social standards, but each possess the ability to respect the other. The paper stresses that success is ultimately obtained by deferral to the other culture for the sake of one's ability to communicate and extending cultural niceties such as dressing conservatively in Spain and not reminding the Mexicans of their tortured history of external control.

From the Paper:

"Men hug, time is relaxed, and because of the vivacious atmosphere, business negotiations starkly contrast those of the UAE, and instead of embracing silence, redefine hectic chaos. Many people will talk at once, and food is almost always involved. Communications, like the Spanish lifestyle, embrace length and quality; they are not efficient or up-to-the-minute like the hyperspeed world would expect. Business meetings may incorporate the four official languages of the Spanish, although Catalan and English are frequently deferred to for corporate use. The atmosphere, though friendly, is also rift with social processes constantly at play; colleagues of different company rank do not mix together at social functions, even if the event is a business dinner."

More papers on Cross-Cultural Communication:

• Analytical Essay # 126018 : "Cross-Cultural Communication"
• Research Paper # 69500 : "Research Project in Cross Cultural Communication"
• Article Review # 116834 : "Cross-Cultural Communication"
• Research Paper # 60140 : "Cross-Cultural Communication: Turkey and Germany"

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