Cross-Cultural Communication in Business: A Case Study of China and Australia

Running head: COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS
Communication in Business
Student’s name:
Name of the university:
Author’s note:

1COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS
Introduction
In recent time, global business is related to find the ability to communicate efficiently and
multi-culturally. According to Bargiela-Chiappini and Nickerson (2014), changes and
advancement in the political system, economic relationship and technological options have been
breaking the cultural barriers and businesses are transforming from individual capitalism to
global capitalism. Mary owns The Aroma Shop along with a small factory in Wagga Wagga and
she wants to expand the business in China as she thinks her products; chilli sauces, chutneys,
pastes and jams. Mary wishes to go to China in order to meet Mr Lau. Therefore, the aim of the
essay is to focus on potential cross-cultural communication using Hofstede model. This essay
strives to provide a recommendation to Mary to make a favourable first impression when she
would visit China to meet Mr Lau.
Business etiquette in China
Conducting the business and initiation in a business meeting in China is a daunting task.
It is very important to follow the business etiquette in China to start the conversation during the
meeting for business purposes. First impression and appearance are important in Chinese
business culture; therefore, the people must wear high-quality clothes conservatively to indicate
the modesty and status. When meetings are arranged for the business purposes, the people should
not wear the fashionable clothes and the clothes should be simple, conservative, modest clothing
that would be suitable for this meeting. During the business meeting in China, people enter the
meeting place in the order of seniority and the people must demonstrate the great respect to the
business leader in Chinese delegation. The highest rank holder of the meeting always introduces
the rest of the member before starting the meeting (Weller 2018). In the Western culture, the
handshake is done in a firm manner, whereas, in China; the handshake is not firm and the people
are expected the handshake will be short and soft. The eye-contact during the handshake will be
brief whereas the strong eye contact can be taken as a challenge in China. During the
introduction, Chinese people may greet the people with applause, it is expected that all the
people should applaud in return. As pointed out by Liu and Almor (2016), meeting always
begins on time in China; therefore, foreign people must be tremendously punctual in this
scenario as being late will be considered as rude.
If the person visits China for the business purposes from foreign countries, it is needed
that this person should carry the business card both in English and in the Mandarin language.
The business card must be shared in two hands with Chinese side up. During the meeting, the
persons must take the business card in two hands with respect also as the business cards are
treated as the extension of the individual (Van Hoorn 2017). The faces of the members during
the meeting must be firm and smiling as gaining or losing the face is significant in Chinese
concept. The face is associated with the honour and during the meeting; the members must avoid
the sarcasm and self-depreciation. It is needed that the people in business must show the
competence and the emotions must be kept under control. After the meeting, the people can
exchange the modest gifts with two hands and gifts must be given to all who are present at the
meetings. In addition, during the meetings, the people must use professional titles and last name
when it is needed (Bell and Riol 2017). Interrupting the silence should not be done as the people
should allow the host to speak the first word.