Intercultural Competence in Business: A Comparative Report on Cultures

This report provides a comparative analysis of intercultural competence, contrasting Romanian and British cultures through the lens of two autobiographies. The report delves into the influence of culture on personal and professional life, exploring aspects such as communication styles (high vs. low context), perceptions of space, and attitudes toward time (polychronic vs. monochronic). The findings highlight the differences and similarities between the two cultures, drawing upon theoretical frameworks to explain the observed variations. The report concludes that cultural background significantly shapes individual behavior and values, impacting both personal and professional interactions. The report uses examples and findings to highlight how different cultural backgrounds influence behavior, values, and professional and personal lives. The report also utilizes questionnaires and models to support the analysis and conclusions presented.

Intercultural
Competence in
Business

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following report draws contrast and comparison between two different cultures. The
comparison is done with the help of two autobiographies of people belonging to different cultural
background. The report consists of various effects of culture upon professional and personal life
of an individual. Along with it some theories are also used to derive conclusion on comparison of
different areas in both the culture. The culture that are compared in the following report are
Romanian and British.
Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Autobiographies...............................................................................................................................1
FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................2
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS...................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Autobiography is self-written account of own life as well as it can take several forms
from intimate writings which made during life which was not essentially intended for publication
to formal book length autobiography. Apart from this, culture is knowledge as well as
characteristics of specific people group, religion, encompassing language, social habits, music,
arts and many more. In simple term it can be said that culture is symbolic communication.
Cultural autobiography is more than merely narrating even from life of individual. It
reveals assumptions of individual as well as digs deep within psyche for bringing out
preconceived notions of culture in terms to the micro-cultures as well as subgroups which make
up identity and individual role within society (Farooq, Hao and Liu, 2019). It is important for
every individual to must have knowledge about cultural autobiography because it will help them
in better understanding of concept in effective manner. This report will be going to discussion
culture of two different people which Romania and English. Along with this, it will also
elaborate that how their culture influences their life both themselves and friend. In addition to
this, by using distinct cultural similarities and differences with Romania and English culture will
determine in better manner.
Autobiographies
Self-autobiography (Romania)
My name is Laura and I was born on 20 May 1994. I am 26 years old and completed my
business management studies. I have completed my studies from Romania and I am currently
working in a British multinational company. Romania is an amazing place which have beautiful
sceneries. The culture of Romania is different from the other Eastern European regions. Custom
and traditions are important for Romanian people. I have a younger sister; my mother is a
homemaker and my father work in a private organisation. There are a number of things about my
personal and professional growth that I learned from my culture. Self-discipline and kindness are
most important in our culture. We are always inclined towards our family and all the decisions
are taken after approval from everyone. Due to low growth in economy and less job
opportunities present I had to come to Britain for finding good job opportunities. I am always in
touch with my family and make sure to give them time every day. It is in built in my culture to
stay in touch with my roots.
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Classmate autobiography (British)
My colleague John is 27 and belongs to British culture. He has completed his graduation
from University in detail. He is very passionate about his career and wants to work for a
multinational company. He has completed his Master’s degree in human resource management.
He was born in bought up in detail and his parents are working in a well-known British
company. They are all living in Britain. He is more westernized in culture and busy with his own
life. He has freedom to take his own decision and his family members are not interrupting in his
decisions. He make sure is to develop his personal as well as professional capabilities and
acknowledges all the activities that are coming his way in order to develop his skills. Hi make
sure to provide self-care in order to develop and stay healthy. Competition in working
environment as well as educational field is considered healthy by him. He takes all the necessary
steps to be competitive in every field and be at top. He is also very hardworking and have clear
goals set for all the future opportunities coming his way. He focuses on self-supervision from
time to time in order to bring in required changes in himself as per the changing external
environment around him.
FINDINGS
S.No Area (Beliefs, Values,
Norms)
Myself My classmate Similarity/
Dissimilarity
1 Communication High context
culture
Low context
Culture
Dissimilarity
2 Space Closed space Mixed Dissimilarity
3 Time Polychromic Monochromic Dissimilarity
4 Expression of emotion Emotional
culture
Emotional
culture
Similarity
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DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This study explains the similarity between the culture of me and my classmate when taking
Communication into consideration. Below mentioned is the model introduced by Edward T
Hall which explains different contexts of differentiation:
Area 1(Communication)
High and low context: when taking into consideration high context culture importance is
provided to the context of the message which is communicated it is more of an indirect
communication (Stewart, 2020). It is necessary that the other person can decode the message.
Whereas in low context culture direct communication is preferred. When considering culture of
Britain and Romania the people of Romania are of high context culture where as those of Britain
out of low context culture
Area 2(Space)
This describes the physical space between people. This means how comfortable are
different people when standing closer to each other in various culture. When considering British
culture people want distance between each other as they are not very comfortable while standing
closer on the other hand the Romanian people like distance only from strangers and they are
more comfortable when they are standing close to their friends and known. Romanian culture is a
closed culture and people of this culture are more comfortable being closed to their known. They
like arranging for closed informal events from time to time to keep in touch.
Area 3(Time)
It is often seen that attitude of people towards time differentiate in different cultures.
Time can be categorized into two parts which include polychrome a culture as well as
monochromic culture (Pituxcoosuvarn, and et. al., 2020). When taking into consideration the
Romanian culture people are following Polychromic culture. In this people use similar time to
perform multiple task. Romanian people are good in multitasking. On the other hand British
people prefer to do one task at a time. Monochromic culture is followed by them in which they
are managing their time based on the task they have to perform. They believe in quality of work.
Even if the work is time taking British people consider to complete the work with utmost
responsibility and in the best way possible.
Area 4 (Expression of emotion)
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Expression of emotion can be another similarity between mine and my classmate’s culture.
Both of our cultures are emotionally inclined. When taking into account Romanian culture
people are more inclined towards their family and friends. They are dependent upon them and
prefer living around them (Zhang and Kline, 2020). They are emotionally dependent and they
express their emotions to their closed ones. Similarly when taking into account British culture
and people are only expressing their emotions to those who are close to them. Along with
focusing on self they are also providing importance to family and friends.
CONCLUSION
The following report helps in concluding that effect of culture and beliefs between which an
individual grows have great effects on their lives and their profession. Their behaviours and
attitude are formed with the help of their culture itself. Culture also helps an individual in
growing professionally and personally. The family values and believes are also adding in
importance to culture. The contrast between two cultures can be clearly concluded with the help
of this report. There are different categories such as time, space, communication etc. based on
which this contrast has been derived. The report helps in concluding that how different cultures
are changing the way people look towards and live their lives.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Farooq, Q., Hao, Y. and Liu, X., 2019. Understanding corporate social responsibility with cross‐
cultural differences: A deeper look at religiosity. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management, 26(4), pp.965-971.
Stewart, K., 2020. A space on the side of the road: cultural poetics in an" other" America.
Princeton University Press.
Pituxcoosuvarn, M. and et. al., 2020, September. Effect of Cultural Misunderstanding Warning
in MT-Mediated Communication. In International Conference on Collaboration
Technologies and Social Computing (pp. 112-127). Springer, Cham.
Zhang, S. and Kline, S., 2020. Couple communication from a cross-cultural perspective.
In Cross-Cultural Family Research and Practice (pp. 211-247). Academic Press.
Wang, H. and et. al., 2020. Cultural Differences in the Time Course of Configural and Featural
Processing for Own-race Faces. Neuroscience.
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Appendix
Self-questionnaire
1. What is your name, age and educational background?
My name is Laura and I was born on 20th may 1994 in Romania. I was born and after that
brought up in Bucharest which is most beautiful city of Romania. I am 26 years old and
complement my Business management studies. I completed my education from Romania and at
present working in British multinational company. After completion of my master from Romania
I am at present living in United Kingdom for career growth.
2. In which country did you grow up and how would you describe your own culture?
I got young in Romania which is beautiful and amazing place. Romania is the nation
located in South Easter Europe that is at north end of Balkan peninsula and bordering Ukraine
and Moldova to north. Hungary is located at Northwest, Serbia as well as Bulgaria is in South.
From other Eastern European regions Romanian culture is totally different. In addition to this, in
Romania mainly importance is given to customers and their traditions. People living in that
nation are following their traditions and culture from last several years as well as they are
enjoying it.
3. Who are in your family and where they live?
In my family there are 3 members apart from me mother, father and younger sister. My
mother is home maker and father working in private organisation as well as my sister is in
college. They all are living in Romania.
4. What is your learning from your culture?
From my culture i.e., Romania I learned several things which provide assistance to me in both
personal and professional growth. By respective culture I learn that self discipline and kindness
towards other people is more important. In Romania culture it has been tough by my elders that
we must have to completed out task before its deadline and respect other people also.
5. What will be the major impact of culture on your behaviour and other aspect related to life?
Romania culture have wide impact on my life which result in wide impact on my learning
and behaviour both. I am always ready for learning new things from others which result in
developing positive attitude towards others. Romania is beautiful nation but due to low economic
growth and less job opportunities I selected to move British for gaining better opportunities.
Colleague questionnaire
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1. What is your name, age and educational background?
My name is John and I am 27 years old boy who live in British as well as I completed my
education from University of British. I am passionate about my career and working is British
MNC which is well known. I had completed my masters in Human Resource field and want to
develop my future career.
2. In which country did you grow up and how would you describe your own culture?
I grown up in British which is one of the leading nation of world as well as this nation
have leading companies of world and amazing history also. Culture of British nation is very fast
changing and competitive also. British country have westernised culture and mostly people are
busy in their own life. People living in this culture have freedom and one can take their decision
by own.
3. Who are in your family and where they live?
In my family, there are only 2 members apart from me my mother and father they both
are working in well-known British company. We all are living in British country.
4. What is your learning from your culture?
From my culture I learn that individual must have to focus on development and growth.
In environment which I grown up was competitive that result in enhancing my capabilities for
learning new things. Moreover, I learn that it is important for an individual to care themselves
and enhance capabilities for taking appropriate decision for personal growth as well as
development.
5. What will be the major impact of culture on your behaviour and other aspect related to life?
British culture has had huge effects on my personalities and capabilities. This have
helped me to focus upon my professional growth along with personal understandings. I have
always been actively participating in all my skill development activities to succeed in life.
Culture in which I am living have wide impact in both my capabilities as well as personality.
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