Organizational Culture, Change, and Cross-Cultural Communication

Cross-Cultural Communication in the Workplace

An increasingly globalized marketplace and multicultural society demand a solid understanding of others' cultures, particularly with regard to interpersonal communications. These issues are especially important in the workplace, where effective communication requires a careful balance of appreciation and recognition of cross-cultural differences that may affect the exchange. Although common courtesy and common sense will go a long way in preventing inadvertent cross-cultural communication gaffes, it is also important to understand the more salient workplace behaviors that may be regarded as offensive by people from other cultures.

Questions that resulted:

1. What types of workplace behaviors are universally acceptable, if any, irrespective of the culture(s) involved?
2. What types of workplace behaviors are generally prohibited based on cultural factors?
3. How can the views of cultural theorists such as Geert Hofstede and others help inform the cross-cultural communication process in the workplace?

Relative positions with respect to the presented information:

My personal views were largely in conformity with the information presented in the lectures and readings, supported by previous empirical observations and professional experiences. Indeed, although a "one-size-fits-all" approach to cross-cultural communications is not available, a "Golden Rule" mentality helps to ensure that inadvertent missteps and misunderstandings do not occur by encouraging communicators to seek out the relevant information they need concerning important cultural practices and behaviors that must be observed. In other words, when people are motivated to become better communicators across cultures, they will seek out the knowledge they need to do so.

New knowledge gained from the material presented:

An overarching theme that emerged from this learning component concerned the importance of mutual respect and understanding in any communication exchange, but particularly in cross-cultural workplace environments where a wide range of religious-, cultural-, and gender-based issues may affect the communication process. Culture-specific information can be gained where needed, but common sense and intuition also play an important role.

Reactions to the lecture topic:

Triggers for Change

My original thinking on triggers for change directly related to "what's-in-it-for-me" types of factors, and the extent to which these desirable outcomes can be communicated to all of the stakeholders in a change initiative will likely determine the extent to which that initiative is successful. Although this fundamental aspect of triggers for change remains intact, it quickly became apparent that change is a difficult process in any organizational setting because most people resist change unless they can perceive some benefit in it for themselves. This makes good sense, because change requires extra effort and often yields limited payoffs, particularly at first.

Questions that resulted:

1. What are the most important factors that must be considered in administering a trigger for change?
2. What common internal and external events can trigger change?
3. What are the differences between good and bad triggers for change?

Relative positions with respect to the presented information:

Besides the material covered in the presented information, it is apparent that triggers for change can result from the entire constellation of the human condition at any given point in time, making the ability to recognize potential conditions that can spawn such triggers an important skill in a dynamic marketplace.

New knowledge gained from the material presented:

Organizations must remain flexible and nimble in order to respond to external events through the effective marshalling of internal resources. The triggers that result in change can occur in fits and starts, or the process can proceed in a streamlined, orderly fashion that promotes productivity, morale, and therefore profitability. Understanding change management principles is essential for navigating these dynamics effectively.

Reactions to the lecture topic: