Analyzing Intercultural Competence Challenges: Frank and Anna's Cases

This report analyzes two case studies focusing on intercultural competence in a business context. The first case examines Frank's challenges in hiring local staff for a Seoul-based engineering team, highlighting issues of miscommunication and the need for cultural awareness. The second case explo...Read More

Intercultural Competence in
Business
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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Where did Frank go wrong?...................................................................................................3
How could you help Frank better understand this cross-cultural problem?...........................4
What would be your advice to Frank?....................................................................................4
Where did Anna go wrong?....................................................................................................4
How could you help Anna better understand this cross-cultural problem?............................5
Use intercultural theories to explain it and support your discussion......................................6
What would be your advice to Anna?....................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals..........................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Cross-cultural is an approach that recognise the difference between individuals those who
belongs from different backgrounds and nation. It is essential to bridge cross cultural gap among
them in order to facilitate coordination between them (Barnatt and et. al., 2020). It has been
evaluated that because of growth of global business, internet and technology cross culture is
playing significant role through which organisation can accomplish short global success. In this
communication plays most important role, through which understanding of the manner in which
different culture communicate and speaks can be underlined. It is essential for an organisation to
embrace cross culture organisational processes as with having individuals from different
background entity can facilitate learning environment. It is essential for an individual or an
organisation to acquire close communication skills in order to express them with more
confidence and have patience to understand individuals from different background perspectives.
Present report includes two case study evaluations through which different culture frameworks is
defined. In addition to this intercultural communication theories are also being included in this
report.
Case 1:
Where did Frank go wrong?
According to the above case scenario it has been evaluated that the aspect in which frank
goes wrong is that, six engineering consultants what eventually be transferred to Seoul was
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Americans major (Fernández, 2020). This is the major factor that affects in hiring local support
staff as consultant play a major role in making communication with local individual.
How could you help Frank better understand this cross-cultural problem?
According to the analysis of the case scenario it is essential for frank to get better
understanding of cross culture problem as he is required to undertake advantage of engineering
consultant who basically belongs from Seoul. Along with this frank is also required to gain
understanding of cultural awareness perceptive and behaviour of individual in Korea in order to
develop relationship with local individuals. With the help of this he can not only understand that
needs and demand but can also assure in offering them a workplace environment with positive
culture. It has been identified that despite of excellent salary and benefits package Frank was
turned down by the entire four prospective candidates this situation mainly arises due to
miscommunication that might well among understanding perspective of the candidates.
What would be your advice to Frank?
According to the analysis it has been determined that frank is being advices to take
advantage of best effective form of communication and negotiation style through which he can
formulate the effect of relationship between local individuals. Along with this Frank is being
advised to hire engineering consultant who basically belongs from Seoul South Korea as it help
of this that can understand the actual interest of local individuals.
Case 2:
Where did Anna go wrong?
The aspect in which Anna goes wrong is, having proper understanding and awareness of
Chinese people culture and perspective. In this Anna is required identify most effective cross
cultural communication through which she can communicate with Chinese people. With the
assistance of efficient cross culture communication Anna can get clear feedback from Chinese
people whom she supervise. It has been underlined that it is the most effective measure through
which Anna can have proper understanding off the background and behaviour in which Chinese
people communicate. With help of taking advantage of best effective way to communicate with
Chinese people and they she can gain a surety to take their excellent feedback.
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How could you help Anna better understand this cross-cultural problem?
It has been identified that if an individual belongs from different culture and background
perform his/her work in an culture or environment which is different than in this situation there is
probability that they can face some form of issues these issues that can restrict them to settle
down themselves. There are some forms of cross culture problems which require being
understand by Anna:
Cultural practices:-
These are those practices that are being performed by individual those who belong from
particular form of culture which is different from the culture, in which they are performing their
roles and responsibilities. In this it is essential for them to have proper and efficient form of
knowledge of the culture and ideology in which they are performing their responsibilities. In
context with present scenario it has been evaluated that Anna is going through the issue of
communication barrier with Chinese individuals whom she supervisors. In this situation it is
essential for her to have proper understanding of cultural practices which is being performed by
Chinese individuals having proper understanding of the perspectives and behaviour of Chinese
individual can undertake best communication style which she can acquire information and
feedback.
Cultural gap:-
It is basically defines as a gap that prevails between two culture which can be in terms of
the language that individual uses, the manner in which they perform task, their attitude and
behaviour towards particular aspect and more. It is essential to bridge this gap among individuals
from different culture in order to effectively exercise task in more effective manner. It is
essential for Anna to effectively bridge the gaps in order to underline the manner in which
Chinese people respond to work a situation. With the help of this she can connect with the
Chinese individuals whom she supervisors in an effective manner while assuring positive
outcomes.
Negotiation style:-
This factor can act as major cross cultural problems that can affect positive outcomes that
have been provided that in those who belong from different culture. In this it is essential to use of
different style of negotiation in context with present scenario it has been underlined that
individual from Germany are having different set of negotiation style comparatively to
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individuals from China (Cartwright, 2020). Anna is from Germany and basically has different set
of negotiations style that plays major restraining factor in getting feedback from Chinese people.
In this situation it is essential for Anna identify different ways of negotiate styles through which
she can get feedback from Chinese individual. With the help of best form of negotiation that can
be identified with the help of effective research Anna can assure positive results. Along with this,
she is also required to take advantage of effective form of communication style through which
she can undertake feedback from the individual whom she supervises.
Use intercultural theories to explain it and support your discussion.
Hofestede cultural theory
Culture theory is basically segregated into six different forms of elements that allow
differentiating and comparing two different cultures (Lantz-Deaton and Golubeva, 2020). In
context with present scenario it has been evaluated that Anna is mainly from Germany while on
the other hand individuals whom she supervises is from China. Thus, difference and comparison
among them is defined below:
Power distance index:-
This factor mainly underlines the level of inequalities excises within a country.
According to the evaluation has been evaluated that in Germany where there is no form of
inequality between women or men, majority vs minority, but with the help of extensive research
it has been evaluated that in China about distance index is relatively higher comparatively to
Germany it states that China is having some extent of inequality.
Individualism vs collectivism:-
Within this the culture basically segregated according to collectivism and individualism.
Individual is defined as a state in which individual only think about themselves and his family.
While on the other hand collectivism states that individuals think about his family and relative.
According to the analysis it has been underlined that in China individual exercise collectivism on
the other hand individualism exercises in Germany.
Masculinity versus femininity:-
Masculinity underlines the country who is having more power on the other hand
femininity describe country who basically emphasise upon harmony, peace and is relatively
weak. It has been evaluated that masculinity prevails in China while on the other hand the
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femininity exists in Germany as in this country individuals focus upon formulating relationship
individuals.
Uncertainty avoidance index:-
This is mainly defined as a decree in which country can cope up with anxiety and stress.
According to the analysis it has been identified that individuals in China and Germany is having
a significant capability to cope with anxiety and changes.
Long vs short term orientation:-
According to the evaluation individuals in both Germany and China mainly focus for
long term orientation.
Indulgence versus restraint:-
Places of the culture with the high IVR faces many restrictions and gratification in their
actions. These gratification curbs the freedom of people (Braslauskas, 2020). The degree of
gratification is seen higher in China as they have many restrictions upon the gratification
activities of human. But whereas these gratifications are not much present into Germany state.
They give much freedom to their public.
Thus, from the above mentioned analysis it has been evaluated that both the country
Germany and China have some common ground in the terms of culture they follow. As both the
countries follow the long-term orientation and have the high uncertainty avoidance index.
What would be your advice to Anna?
According to the above analysis it has been evaluated that Anna is being advised to
undertake advantage of cultural awareness in order to identify best communication and
negotiation style. With the help of this she can not only able to communicate with the Chinese
individual whom she supervisors in a best effective manner but can take actual feedback from
them (Zhang, 2020). By taking assistance of best communication style and having proper
awareness of the Chinese culture Anna can communicate with individual in move effective
manner. With the help of this and assure formative relationship with Chinese individuals.
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CONCLUSION
According to the above mentioned report it has been concluded that, cross culture plays
most important role and is strategically important for companies for their valuable business
establishment. With having cross cultural communication awareness entity can accomplish their
long-term objectives in more effective manner. Furthermore, it has been underlined that cross
culture tends facilitate individuals within an organisation to have capability to communicate,
understand and effectively interact with individuals and those who belong from different culture.
In addition to this it has been underlined that it is essential for leaders within an organisation to
possess cross cultural leadership, with help of this leadership they can fulfil cultural differences
gap among those individuals who belong from different countries. In this entity is also required
to undertake different strategies and measures to effectively overcome the challenges of cross
culture such as cultural or language barrier in order to make sure that misinterpretation and
miscommunication does not hamper team progress and can create unnecessary conflict. With the
help of this they assure higher growth and development with more effectiveness.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barnatt, J and et. al., 2020. Intercultural Competence in Pre-Service Teacher
Candidates. International Journal of Educational Reform, 29(3), pp.211-235.
Braslauskas, J., 2020. Effective creative intercultural communication in the context of business
interaction: theoretical and practical aspects. Creativity Studies, 13(1), pp.199-215.
Comstock, L. and Kagan, O.E., 2020. The Heritage Language Learner in Study Abroad
Programs: Challenges to Achieving Intercultural Competence. Journal of Language,
Identity & Education, pp.1-15.
Fernández, S.S., 2020. Using NSM and “Minimal” Language for Intercultural Learning.
In Studies in Ethnopragmatics, Cultural Semantics, and Intercultural
Communication (pp. 13-32). Springer, Singapore.
Lindert, S., 2020. Intercultural competence development during an international master's
program: a retrospective qualitative study of graduates in their early career stage/Author
Sarah Lindert, MBA (Doctoral dissertation, Universität Linz).
Cartwright, C.T., 2020. Understanding Global Leadership in Eastern and Central Europe: The
Impacts of Culture and Intercultural Competence. In Understanding National Culture
and Ethics in Organizations. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Sabbah-Taylor, A., 2020. Intercultural competence in a face-to-face tandem language learning: a
micro-analytic perspective. Language and Intercultural Communication, pp.1-14.
Zhang, L., 2020. Developing Students’ Intercultural Competence through Authentic Video in
Language Education. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 49(4), pp.330-
345.
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Belyaeva, E. and Rubtsova, S., 2020. Language and Communication Training for Business
Education: The Missing Competencies. In English for Specific Purposes Instruction and
Research (pp. 159-176). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Lantz-Deaton, C. and Golubeva, I., 2020. What Is Intercultural Competence and Why Do We
Need It?. In Intercultural Competence for College and University Students (pp. 1-23).
Springer, Cham.
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