The Impact of National Cultures on Business Communication Strategies

This essay examines the crucial role of business communication in adapting to national cultures. It begins by highlighting the importance of organizational culture, which is shaped by employee ethics and values derived from their respective cultures. The essay then delves into cultural models, such as Charles Handy's four cultural categories (Power, Role, Task, and Person culture), and various communication models (Linear, Transactional, and Interactional). It emphasizes how cultural differences can create communication barriers and discusses the significance of high and low-context communication. The essay concludes by stressing the need for businesses to accommodate national cultures through communication, which helps in promoting organizational culture, fostering employee respect, and improving overall performance. The essay uses models and concepts to demonstrate how external factors, like social changes, require businesses to adapt their communication strategies to effectively interact with employees and customers from diverse backgrounds, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and successful business environment.

How business communication
alters to accommodate national
cultures

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION:..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION:...............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES :..............................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION:
In every business its organisational culture is based on employee ethics and values. These
ethics arrives from their respective culture. So it is important for business to maintain a proper
communication network (Nickerson, 2015). It reflects its entire business structure. There are
various cultural and communication models. It depends on business how they utilise and
implement them. This essay will reflect on business communication change national culture.
MAIN BODY
Cultural models consists of core component of defined or specific values. It shows how
business uses them to solve critical problems. It plays an important role in defining individual
behaviour. It shows that how an individual reacts to a particular situation (Al-Jenaibi, 2017).
There are several things that goes into individual mind that is culture values and collection of
social values. For this one model of handy is been explained below :-
Charles Handy has defined model of culture in four categories that are :-
Power culture- It consists of some rules and regulations that reflects power of individual within
organisational. It is held by one person. These rules are criteria for measuring performance of
employees. They are judged on basis of what they have done rather than how they react. It helps
in long term thinking.
Role culture- It also consists of rules and regulations but in a long chain of command. People
clearly knows about their duties. Power is derived from person position. Generally, it reflects
hierarchical bureaucracy (Jandt, 2017).
Task culture- In this teams are formed within organisation on basis of problems. It is because in
this task is considered more important rather than power. It is very effective in creating a
dynamic environment. Also, working in teams is useful in improving business efficiency and
creative working environment.
Person culture – In this an individual usually seems themselves as person working in
organisation. They think that it is a place for people to work. Person culture is collection of
individual who works in organisation.

Models of communication
Communication is done just to share an idea, though or view with another person.
Communication model is systematic process through which communication is done. They break
down complex process in simple manner. It encourages creative thinking. It is because it helps in
clear understanding of concept (Vangen & Winchester 2014). Moreover, by using this
conclusions can be made. There are various models of communication that are used. It is as
follows :-
Linear model- It is a model that uses one way communication. It is generally used for
communicating message to large number of people (Models of communication, 2016). The
purpose is only to send message. There is no feedback taken in this. Sometimes, communication
is not effective.
Transactional model- Sender and receiver both communicate with each other. Feedbacks is also
taken in form of body language, gestures, etc. Usually it is used for interpersonal communication
on matters related to social reality, relationship, etc.
Interactional model- It is similar to transactional model. In this two way communication is done
but with help of media like internet. It is also known as convergence model (Zhang &
Guttormsen 2016). It can be used for mass communication. The identity of sender and receiver
might not be known to each other.
Culture often play a crucial role in creating barriers in business communication. It s
because it reflects values and morale of an individual society. Communication can be divided
into two context that is high and low. High means' message is not understood because of lack of
background information. While low means specifying every information in the message.
In western countries low context communication is highly influencing business. It is due
to cultural traits. This helps business to make changes in their communication network (Lindlof
& Taylor 2017). It helps employee to show their values while communicating with each other.
By this decision are taken and problems are solved. Also, employee starts respecting other

religion. This creates an overall cultural environment within organisation. Through this, business
is able to bring change. The change differs according to culture.
Moreover, the society shows what type of culture is been followed by people in particular
country. Therefore, a business has to take decisions on basis of social values followed by people.
So according to it communication channel is developed. People share their ideas and thoughts
that shows their background information (Samovar & Roy 2014). Also, it depends upon how
people reacts in specific and solves them. Along with this, it is necessary that business must
accommodate national culture through communication. It will help in promoting organisation
culture in entire country. This will enable all business to establish an effective model of
communication that is based on culture.
For example- If there is change in external factor of business environment like social change.
Then, it must be communicated to employees on how to interact with people. It will change their
roles and task. Employee will have tom communicate with people regarding their social values
and beliefs (Lindlof & Taylor, 2017). This will help in identifying their needs and retaining
them. Also, it will attract other business to implement communication according to culture. This
helps in developing teams of diversified people. Change in external factor will allow business to
change its communication model. This brings overall change in organisation culture thus
improving employee performance.
CONCLUSION:
This essay concludes that business communication plays a vital role in changing culture.
It shows how business uses them to solve critical problems. It plays an important role in defining
individual behaviour. Communication model is systematic process through which
communication is done. They break down complex process in simple manner. Moreover, the
society shows what type of culture is been followed by people in particular country. Along with
this, it is necessary that business must accommodate national culture through communication.

REFERENCES :
Books and Journals:
Al-Jenaibi, B. (2017). The scope and impact of workplace diversity in the United Arab
Emirates–A preliminary study. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space. 8(1).
Jandt, F. E. (2017). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global
community. Sage Publications.
Lindlof, T. R., & Taylor, B. C. (2017). Qualitative communication research methods. Sage
publications.
Nickerson, C. (2015). The death of the non-native speaker? English as a lingua franca in
business communication: A research agenda. Language Teaching. 48(3). 390-404.
Samovar, L. A., & Roy, C. S. (2014). Intercultural communication: A reader. Cengage
Learning.
Vangen, S., & Winchester, N. (2014). Managing cultural diversity in collaborations: A focus on
management tensions. Public Management Review. 16(5). 686-707.
Zhang, L. E., & Guttormsen, D. S. (2016). “Multiculturality” as a key methodological challenge
during in-depth interviewing in international business research. Cross Cultural & Strategic
Management. 23(2). 232-256.
Online:
Models of communication, 2016. [Online] Available Through :
<https://www.businesstopia.net/communication>