It is clear that when he made the "don't have a cow" comment, John Smith was not aware of the status of cows in Indian culture -- or he temporarily forgot about it. This situation is the perfect example as to how can different cultural values impede communication. Instead of focusing on the promotional campaign -- the core of the first dispute -- the two parties became engaged in a more intense dispute which prevented them from addressing the work related matter on the table. In a theoretical formulation, the conflict aroused as Smith failed to obey one of the most important rules of intercultural communication -- that of being aware of and respecting the cultural symbols and values of his culturally diverse colleagues (Hahn, 2009). Within the workplace, the effects were those of accentuated conflicts and tensions, as well as the adjacent reduced performances of the people involved, but also the observes.

4. Resolution to the Problem

Several steps could have been taken to avoid the occurrence of the cultural conflicts; and despite the fact that they were not taken, it is advisable for them to be implemented from now on in order to avoid similar situations. It is imperative to resolve the issues of cultural barriers in the way of effective communication in the workplace due to the ability of these conflicts to create larger problems. "A simple handshake or joke can now cause problems from legal to lose of business" (Harris, 2009). Given this status quo then, it is necessary for...

Conclusions
Within the contemporaneous community, which supports the free circulation of merchandise, capitals and human resources, the issue of cultural diversity is gaining momentum. Aside the fact that it can create comparative advantages, cultural diversity can also lead to internal conflicts and it is as such necessary to implement strategies that efficiently deal with the issue.