Effective Business Communication Report: Sulawesi Earthquake

This report examines the intercultural communication challenges faced by the Backpack Bed for Homeless charity in Sulawesi following an earthquake and tsunami. It focuses on the impact of differing cultural norms of decision-making, particularly the hierarchical structure, traditional approaches, a...Read More

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Different cultural norms of decision-making..................................................................................3
Hierarchy structure......................................................................................................................3
Traditional structure avoids technology adoption.......................................................................3
Avoid hasty decisions..................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations............................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The aim of the report is to inform the CEO of the backpack bed for the Homeless about the
difficulties related to the intercultural communication that might be faced in their job effectively
and the recommendation to the same so that they can easily perform the job effectively and
quickly. The challenge which is discussed in the paper is different cultural norms of the decision
making that is faced at the Sulawesi which is suffering from earthquake and tsunami. Effective
intercultural communication is essential to maintain because it offers the ability to deal with the
culture of different places. Considering the view of Neuliep, 2017, Intercultural communication
helps the company to deal with the differences peacefully. The intercultural communication is
important as it helps in removing communication barriers like language barriers and stereotypes.
Further, it is important because it includes the sharing of information or data across different
cultures and social groups (Oetzel, 2017). It allows people of different culture to communicate in
a better way.

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Different cultural norms of decision-making
According to Banks, 2015, Different cultural norms of the decision making are one of the major
intercultural communication problems which are faced by the employee of Backpack Bed for
Homeless in performing their job effectively and efficiently. Thus, the below given are the issues
which are majorly faced by Backpack Bed employees in performing the jobs.
Hierarchy structure
In Sulawesi, according to Ting-Toomey & Dorjee, 2018 the cultural norm is orientated in which
the hierarchy plays a vital role in the intercultural communication issue. It shows that the
decisions are respected when it is made by the senior or the top level management is respected
this leads to the issue because Australia makes the decision after discussing it with the
subordinates who deal with the customers on the daily basis (Messner, 2015). For instance; In
Sulawesi, head of the family members takes the decision to purchase the product. This is evident
that elder person approve the decision which are taken by people and this is followed in business
as well as in household.
Traditional structure avoids technology adoption
Commisceo Global, 2018, this has been found that the people in Sulawesi follow their traditional
structure which shows the way they respect their culture. This makes them too difficult or rigid
to accept the new technology or innovated products which raise the difficulty of the job done by
the employees of the Backpack bed for the homeless company (Jackson, 2014). This is evident
that job becomes difficult because people deny the use of innovative products as their culture
norms don’t allow to accept the same. Moreover, the situation of earthquake and tsunami makes

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the people to not to make the changes in their mind for any of the cultural changes which make
their behaviour more rigid. For example; the distributor of company is facing issues in making
people aware about the benefits of the products but they are dealing with tough situation and
don’t want any changes. This is the reason due to which the major issues are evident in Sulawesi
is related to the intercultural communication issue for cultural norms of decision making.
Avoid hasty decisions
Further, George, 2016 exhibits that the difficulties in the job take places because of the decision
making as Sulawesi people don’t take the hasty decisions which are clear from their cultural
norms. For instance; they get to know about the product then they think upon it and then they
discuss the same with their elders and then give the time to the deal, finally they make the
decisions which takes a lot of time. Commisceo Global, 2018 found that Australia people make
the quick decision when it is related to their comfort. This is evidence that intercultural
communication issue in the decision making can take the time to distribute the products because
they are slow in making the decisions. Moreover, in the situation of the earthquake and tsunami
the decision might take longer because they can't deal with the situation and don't have enough
resources.

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Conclusion
In the end, this can be concluded that the decision making cultural norms of the Sulawesi can
affect the job because there are vast differences between Australia and Sulawesi. This has been
found that the numerous different cultural norms of the decision making that affect the job
include hierarchy level of the company and traditional structure makes them rigid towards the
innovated products with the situation of the earthquake and tsunami. In addition, the people
make the slow decision which affects the job because distributor at the place needs to make the
people purchase the products.

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Recommendations
It is suggested to the Backpack Bed for Homeless Company to respect the culture of the people
for which they should spend the time over there only.
 In the situation of earthquake and tsunami, the campaign should be conducted for
generating awareness among the elders who can make the decisions about the products
with the help of agencies which will make the job effectively (Bulbeck, Pasqua & Di
Lello, 2000).
 The government and their decision are respected in the places. Thus, they should adapt
the Backpack Bed for Homeless which will motive the people to purchase the products.
Further, this will motivate the people to make adapt to the changes and being accepted for
the technology use with support to their traditional structure (Gallois, Watson & Giles,
2018).
 For making quick decisions the distributor should take the support of the Indonesian
government and many humanitarian agencies are already working in the area to meet the
job in Sulawesi.

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References
Banks, J. A. (2015). Cultural diversity and education. United Kingdom: Routledge.
Bulbeck, D. Pasqua, M. & Di Lello, A. (2000). Culture History of the Toalean of South
Sulawesi, Indonesia. Asian Perspectives, 39 (1-2), pp. 71-108.
Commisceo Global. (2018). Australia Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.commisceo-
global.com/resources/country-guides/australia-guide
Commisceo Global. (2018). Indonesia Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.commisceo-
global.com/resources/country-guides/indonesia-guide
Gallois, C., Watson, B. M., & Giles, H. (2018). Intergroup Communication: Identities and
Effective Interactions. Journal of Communication, 68(2), 309-317.
George. (2016). The role of culture and tradition in decision-making. Retrieved from:
https://amplepropertysolutions.com.au/role-culture-tradition-decision-making/
Jackson, J. (2014). Introducing language and intercultural communication. Routledge.
Messner, W. (2015). Measuring existent intercultural effectiveness in global teams. International
Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 8(1), 107-132.
Neuliep, J. W. (2017). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Sage Publications.
Oetzel, J. G. (2017). Effective intercultural workgroup communication theory. The International
Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication, 1-5.
Ting-Toomey, S., & Dorjee, T. (2018). Communicating across cultures. Guilford Publications.

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