Intercultural Communication Challenges: A Report for BUSN20017

This report examines the challenges of intercultural communication, specifically focusing on interactions between Australians and Indonesians, as relevant to the 'Backpack Bed for Homeless' organization. It delves into cultural values, etiquette, communication styles, and decision-making processes, highlighting potential conflicts arising from differences in individualism versus collectivism, direct versus indirect communication, and group-oriented versus independent work styles. The report provides recommendations for the organization, suggesting strategies such as utilizing technology to understand Indonesian culture, conducting workshops on cultural beliefs, implementing programs to improve communication, and fostering cultural self-awareness among employees to facilitate effective cross-cultural interactions. The report is supported by references to academic sources and cultural guides.

Intercultural
CommunicationNAME OF THE STUDENT
NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY
AUTHOR NOTE

Intercultural Communication
 It refers to verbal along with
nonverbal interaction that occurs
in between people coming from
various cultural backgrounds.
 It refers to the communication
that takes place in between the
various cultures.

Backpack Bed for Homeless
 Backpack Bed for Homeless is
instrumental in providing
Backpack Beds to the homeless
people who do not have any kind
of shelter.
 It plays an important role in
improving the health of the
homeless people and providing
them with self esteem.

Intercultural Challenges
Cultural Values and etiquette
 The Australians believe in
equality and the Indonesians on
the other hand have different
hierarchical level in the society
that can give rise to problems.
 Indonesia has highly collectivist
culture and the Australians on
the other hand have
individualistic culture that can
create the ground for
intercultural problems.

Style of Communication
 Communication means is indirect
in Indonesia and the Australians
on the other hand like to carry
out interactions directly.
 The people living within
Indonesia are careful regarding
initial interaction and the
Australians are very free about
the interactions.

Cultural norms and decision
making
 The culture of Indonesia is group
oriented and they give
importance on harmony and the
Australians on the other hand
like to work in an independent
manner.
 Indonesians carry out duties
based on the communal law and
the Australians give value on the
aspect of that of egalitarian
relationships.

Recommendations
Recommendation for Cultural
Values and Etiquettes
 Backpack Bed for Homeless can
use technology that can help
them in knowing about the
Indonesian culture
 The organization of a workshop
can help in throwing vast amount
of light on cultural beliefs of
Indonesians.

Recommendation for style of
communication
 A program can be organized that
can help the employees of
Backpack Bed For Homeless in
knowing about the
communication pattern of the
people of other cultures

Recommendation for decision
making
 The management of Backpack
Bed for Homeless can help in
developing the element of
cultural self-awareness of the
employees that can help them in
easily mingling with the people
of other culture.

References
Acciaioli, G. (1985). Culture as art: From practice to spectacle in
Indonesia. Canberra Anthropology, 8(1-2), 148-172.
Adams, K. M. (1995). Making-up the Toraja? The appropriation of
tourism, anthropology, and museums for politics in upland
Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ethnology, 34(2), 143-153.
Bulbeck, D., Pasqua, M., & Di Lello, A. (2000). Culture history of the
Toalean of south Sulawesi, Indonesia. Asian Perspectives, 71-
108.
Everyculture.com. (2019). Culture of Indonesia - history, people,
traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social.
Retrieved from https://
www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Indonesia.html

Johnson, L. (2016). The unseen voice: A cultural study of early
Australian radio. Routledge.
Kwintessential.co.uk. (2019). Indonesia | Kwintessential. Retrieved
from https://
www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/guides/guide-to-indonesia
-etiquette-customs-culture-business/
Mulvaney, D. J., & Soejono, R. P. (1970). The Australian-Indonesian
archaeological expedition to Sulawesi. Asian
Perspectives, 13, 163- 177.
Swags.org.au. (2019). GoodNight Australia - Backpack Bed for
Homeless. Retrieved from https://www.swags.org.au/goodnight-
australia

Thank You!!!