Intercultural Competence in Business

This report discusses the cross-cultural issues faced by Mark, an American manager, during his business trip to India. It highlights the importance of intercultural competence in business and provides recommendations through intercultural theories and frameworks to better understand the situation relative to cultural differences. The report also focuses on different leadership styles that can assist Mark in effectively managing the situation and promoting positive engagement with employees.

Intercultural
Competencies and
Business

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Where did Mark go wrong?........................................................................................................3
How could Mark better understand this cross cultural problem?...............................................3
Use intercultural theories to explain it and support discussion...................................................5
What would advice to Mark?......................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Intercultural competence is that which has the ability to function across cultures, act and
to think in appropriate manner and also communicate in different manner who are from different
cultural backgrounds.(Alon and et.al., 2018). It is a valuable asset on increasing globalised
where they have to likely interact with people who are from different culture and countries that
have shaped different values, beliefs and experiences. In this report, the following answers have
discussed on the basis of Case study 1. To highlight about the intercultural theories and cross
cultural issues that Mark who is American manger have been faced for major attainment to get
work scrutinized effectively. In addition to this suitable recommendation through theories and
framework are providing that will help Mark in order to better understand the situation relative
to cultural differences. The report will also focusing on different style of leadership that can
assist Mark in effectively managing the situation and promote positive engagement with
employees.
MAIN BODY.
Where did Mark go wrong?
As Mark has been visited in India for some business purpose and he wanted to provide
instruction to his employees about his ideas that he had invented. But due to some lack of culture
experience Mark did not understand the employees of India working style due to which he felt
that they are working with their own comfort zone(Belpoliti and Pérez., 2016). Some how, he
needs his employees contribution to arrange resources and work on his idea. The main mistake
which Mark has done that he did not understand the business culture of India for which he felt
disengaged behaviour from his employees. As he has seen innovative skills and working
outcomes from his employees but he not recognize their culture properly to make his business
outcomes generates.
How could Mark better understand this cross cultural problem?
Cross Cultural is a type of concept that recognize the differences among business people
of different nation and background along with ethnicities and the importance or bridging them.
Furthermore, globalization with cross cultural education has become critically important to
business(Gregersen-Hermans., 2015). In perspective of Case one it depicts about to recognise

the differences of culture that face by Mark to need understand for mitigate issues. The main
issues which Cross Cultural that faces by the Mark: Customer, Mannerism and Gestures: While doing business there are people who are
involved into the process who are from different cultural backgrounds. This includes
basic customs, mannerism and gestures(Hatoss., 2019). In this Mark need to understand
individual employees body language how they are responding effectively. Through this, it
would easy for Mark to better understand the culture of business effectively. Importance of Tone Language and Barriers: Through some of the countries like United
States and Germany are face common for people are speak to loudly and to be more
assertive or aggressive when sharing ideas of giving direction. It helps to interacting with
peoples through different cultural. As Mark has arrived in India on which to mitigate the
cultural issues. To make understand Mark need to use proper understanding
communication style which provide actual information to delivered in better manner.
 Technologies and time differences: While travelling form one country to another
individual must well aware about the technology or having friendly user with the specific
resources. But to culture differences time makes more complicated the situation where
individual not able to cope with the people. As in this Mark need to understand about
working time schedule along with technologies process where they would get to
interacted and helped to understand the employee’s issues effectively.
In order to for mark to solve the issues of cross culture it is necessary to understand
different types of culture within the organization. This will allow in effectively
understanding how the culture within the organization functions and how it can be altered
in order to introduce effective communication with employees. Given below are various
types of culture that mark can utilize in order to eliminate the issues relative to cross
cultural problems: Clan culture: This type of culture is people oriented and help in establishing family-like
bonds within the organization. It allows the manager to develop optimal collaboration at
the work place and enhances communication between managers and employees. This
allows establishing harmony and positive engagement with employees. Adhocracy culture: This type of culture focuses on innovation and adaptability in order
to develop positive relations with employees. This type of culture allows the manager to

understand the specific culture that needs to be implemented in order to develop creative
and optimal ideas which keep employees motivated.
 Hierarchy culture: This type of culture helps in priotorizing hierarchy culture and
provides clear directions to employees through structured and systematic process. It
allows the manager to focus on internal organization and develop a clear chain of
command and provide optimal guidance to employees to develop positive relations with
team members.
From the above type of culture it is recommended that Mark utilizes clan theory as
culture in India is abed on family values and bonds. This will allow Mark to better establish
relation with employees in an effective manner and ensure development as well as establish of
positive engagement with team members resulting in high level of productivity and performance.
Use intercultural theories to explain it and support discussion
Intercultural communication theory that determines on individual type on which
miscommunication get misconducts. Through successful intercultural communication is
theorised to operate as function of motivation. Intercultural communication uses theories within
group of people to accomplish a sense of cultural diversity. By using of Intercultural Adaptation
theory describes about how one person adjust its communication level with persons who
perceived to be form different culture based on previous experiences. There are some of stages
which would helps to leading to cultural adaptation to define process within initial cross cultural
encounter between individual. In context to the case study, this theory will help in gaining the
understanding how Mark can effectively identify the culture of the region in order to enhance
productivity as well as performance of the workforce by adapting to the specific culture. There
are some of the stages that would help to adjust the intercultural understanding in proper manner. Stage of Frustration : It is the stage of cultural shock which is familiar to anyone who is
living in abroad and also travel on frequent basis. On the basis of this stage, it is not
proper understand gestures, sign and language set in the miscommunication may be
happing frequently. Problem initiates with irritating and overwhelming and also fight
back in such a manner by using rude way of remarks. In context to the case study, it it
crucial for Mark to understand the culture in a proper and structured manner in order to
avoid frustration as it will lead to low levels of productivity along with performance. In

addition to this, it can also lead to negative relations with the workforce which will result
in reduced levels of motivation to work. Phase of Adjustment: This is where that learn to accept the culture by individual
negative and positive attitudes. It also describe about the individual opinion and view
points as per the situation where to gain more positive outcomes (Kurpis and Hunter.,
2017). For example: manager makes policies in organisation to adjust their employees
and also make them convince about to attain more work work productivity. In discussion
of given case study as Mark is an American manager and visited towards the another
region where he was not aware about that culture. In that situation, Mark need to analyze
and adjust as per the situation in order to ensure he is able to develop a positive relations
with the workforce. This adaption will allow Mark to better understanding the culture of
the region and provide him essential support to maintain productive levels of his
employees.
 Adaptation and Acceptance phase: This is where they will home and become involved
with that activities and might enjoy on some of the countries customs. In situation of
above case study where Mark have to accept the culture on where he currently working.
As per the culture get to understand then it create to involved the activities on some of
the countries to measure challenges and opportunities for attained more productive
outcomes.
There is another theory used from Intercultural theory that is Standpoint theory, it is theory
found where some of academic discipline to used for analysing inter subjects intercourse. It is
also consider more important way of concept that an individual own perspectives are shaped
through their social and political experiences(Stockwell., 2016). In perspective of above case
study that makes more engaged through get personalised experiences to better understand the
world.
On the basis of above these intercultural theories would help to make to support the
culture that where Intercultural adaptation theory would suitable for mapping the performance
of better personalised experience to need understand by Mark.level factors in this

What would advice to Mark?
From the above scenario Mark is faced with issues that are related to differences in cross
culture along with aspects that minimize his engagement with employees. In order to solve this
issue Mark has to focus on developing an effective engagement with his employees as a manager
along with changing his leadership style as well. This will allow him to between manage
individuals and develop a positive work environment with high level of collaboration and
productivity. Given below are some employee engagement strategies along with types of
leadership that Mark can adopt:
Employee engagement strategy:
Employee survey: This employee engagement strategy will allow Mark to understand the
perspective of employees in an effective manner. This strategy will provide the opportunity to
Mark in understanding the culture of his team members and take appropriate decisions based on
the survey.
Employee activities: The introduction of activities will allow Mark to enhance his engagement
with the employees and understand their point of view relative to how they work. This strategy
will provide Mark the opportunity to develop positive relations with his employees and better
understand their culture.
Leadership styles:
Participative: This type of leadership is based on involving team members in the process of
decision making which results in improved engagement as well as motivation of employees.
Situational: This leadership style focuses on taking actions relative to the particular situation
they encounter. This helps the leader to take into account aspects such as point of vide of
employees relative to engagement with management.
Transactional: This leadership style pays emphasis on rewards, punishment and other exchange
sin order to develop engagement with employees. Moreover, it helps in improving the
productivity to employees and helps them achieve their goals and objectives.
From the above strategies and leadership style it is recommended that Mark should
utilize participative leadership style in order to improve engagement with employees. It will
allow him to effective understand cultural aspect in Indian employees. In addition to this, Mark
should implement both strategies of employee feedback and activity in order to develop high
level of employee engagement.

Hofstede's Culture Onion Model:
This model allows an individual to compare different cultures as their as several layers
present. The utilization of this model will allow Mark to understand the culture of the region in
an effective manner through various layer which are mentioned below:
Symbols:
Its refers to gestures, pictures along with objects that carry a particular meaning within a
culture in context to the situation, it is crucial for Mark to understand these various symbols in
the culture of the region in order to better connect with individuals and improve productivity.
Hero's:
This layer consists of individual that are alive or dead as well as imaginary and possess
characteristic which are highly prized in a culture. In context to the situation, Mark should focus
on identifying the hero of the particular culture in order to develop positive relation with
employees.
Rituals:
It refers to the collection of activities which are not required to achieve goals but are
considered absolutely essential and necessary by the members of a culture. In context to the
situation, It is important for make to understand various rituals of the culture in order to better
understand how it operates.
Values:
This is the core layer of the model and consist of ideas that tell what in life is considered
important and are consider really important in a particular culture including values such as
honesty and morals. In context to the situation, it is vital for Mark to uphold the values of the
region in order to establish engagement with the employees in a positive manner and improve
productivity.
CONCLUSION
From above report has summarized to analyzed about the Case study elaborated to make
implemented the better culture in workplace. By highlighted different culture issues which
makes more impact on business while working in other region or country. The report also
concluded that it is crucial to understand the culture of employees and adopt an appropriate type
of culture that is well suited for the situation. In addition to this, the report was able to highlight

that various employee engagement strategy along with an appropriate leadership style relative to
the situation can help in enhancing engagement with employees and understand their culture.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alon and et.al., 2018. Business cultural intelligence quotient: A five‐country study. Thunderbird
International Business Review, 60(3), pp.237-250.
Belpoliti, F. and Pérez, M. E., 2016. Giving advice in medical Spanish: Pragmatic and
intercultural competence in the Spanish for the health professions curriculum. Journal of
Spanish Language Teaching, 3(2), pp.127-142.
Gregersen-Hermans, J., 2015. The impact of exposure to diversity in the international university
environment and the development of intercultural competence in students. In The
European higher education area (pp. 73-92). Springer, Cham.
Hatoss, A., 2019. Linguistic landscapes: An experiential learning project for developing
intercultural competence. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 42(2), pp.146-170.
Kurpis, L. H. and Hunter, J., 2017. Developing students’ cultural intelligence through an
experiential learning activity: A cross-cultural consumer behavior interview. Journal of
marketing education, 39(1), pp.30-46.
Stockwell, E., 2016. Using web-based exploratory tasks to develop intercultural competence in a
homogeneous cultural environment. Innovations in Education and Teaching
International, 53(6), pp.649-659.
Varela, O. E., 2019. Multicultural competence: an empirical comparison of intercultural
sensitivity and cultural intelligence. European Journal of International
Management, 13(2), pp.177-197.