Intercultural Communication Challenges for Backpack Bed Report

This report examines the intercultural communication challenges that Backpack Bed for Homeless may encounter when collaborating with the Indonesian Red Cross in Sulawesi. It highlights potential issues stemming from differing cultural values, including religious beliefs, attitudes towards homosexuality, and social hierarchies. The report further analyzes communication style differences, such as high-context versus low-context communication and the impact of individualism versus collectivism. It also addresses challenges related to decision-making processes and cultural norms. The report provides recommendations to mitigate these challenges, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to cultural differences to ensure effective communication and successful collaboration. The report covers cultural etiquette, styles of communication and decision making processes.

Running head: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Intercultural Communication
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Covering E-mail to CEO
Dear Sir/ Madam,
The head office of Backpack Bed for Homeless is located in Melbourne and hence there can
be issues pertaining to the lack of communication. The organisation will face intercultural
challenges in the event of arriving in Sulawesi. The intercultural challenges that will be faced
by Backpack Bed for Homeless is in regard to the cultural values and the style of the
communication. The organisation will face challenges in relation to the cultural norms of the
process of decision making. The purpose of the report is to elaborate on the intercultural
challenges that can be faced by Backpack Bed for Homeless in the event of working with that
of Indonesian Red Cross. This report brings out how the steps that can be taken by Backpack
Bed for Homeless that can help in solving this problem. This report will serve the purpose of
making the management of the organisation aware about the problems that it may face in the
event of working in Sulawesi.

2INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Introduction
Intercultural communication refers to discipline that helps in studying the
communication across the various cultures along with the social groups. It is indicative of
wide range of the processes that appears within an organization or the social context. The
society is made up of individuals coming from various religious, ethnic and the social
background and the communication of one group of people varies from another group of
people. Intercultural communication emphasizes on how the people of a culture communicate
with the world that is around them. Backpack Bed for Homeless is the name of an Australian
charity that is instrumental in distributing emergency beds for the people who are homeless
(Swags.org.au., 2019). It provides the people who are homeless with dignity, comfort along
with safety and plays an important role in improving the quality of lives of these people.
Indonesian Red Cross Society is instrumental in offering useful service to the survivors of
tsunami who are plagued with diseases on account of the experiences that they had to go
through in life (Pmi.or.id., 2019) This report elaborates on the intercultural challenges that
Backpack Bed for Homeless may have to face on arrival in Sulawesi that has been struck by
tsunami. The report elucidates on the challenges that Backpack Bed for Homeless have to
face while working with that of Indonesian Red Cross Society. The report also states the
recommendations that can help Backpack Bed for Homeless in dealing with the challenges.
Importance of intercultural communication
In the event of interacting with people, an individual carries his own set of values,
assumptions along with beliefs. The communities and the workforce are becoming diverse in
the present age and it is important in the present age that an individual knows how to carry
out interaction with a large number of people. There are immense opportunities that one can
enjoy in the event of being able to communicate effectively with people coming from
different backgrounds. There are a large number of minority groups in the workplace and

3INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
communication in the workplace can prove to be difficult in the event of not knowing about
the nuances of intercultural communication. Language barriers along with cultural
misunderstanding hampers the process of communication in an organisation (Bulbeck, Pasqu
& Di Lello, 2000). The expertise pertaining to cross-cultural communication can help in
individual in communicating properly in an organisation. Intercultural communication helps
in offering the ability that helps an individual in dealing with the various cultures that has
become important owing to the advent of globalisation (Diversicare.com.au., 2019). In the
event of an individual being able to deal with cultural differences in a peaceful manner one
can survive and thrive within the global environment.
Purpose of report
The purpose of this report is to talk about the different cultural value in Sulawesi that
may pose problems for Backpack Bed for Homeless that is instrumental in offering social
services to the people who are homeless. The report also throws light upon the different styles
in relation to communication that can act as a barrier in the path of Backpack Bed for
Homeless. The report also states how the various cultural norms in relation to decision
making throws open challenges for the workers of Backpack Bed for Homeless. The report
also states the recommendations that can help in mitigating these challenges in the path of
Backpack Bed for Homeless.
Structure of report
The report in the beginning highlights on the intercultural challenges that Backpack
Bed for Homeless in the event of carrying out operations in Sulawesi. Firstly, the report talks
about the challenge that Backpack Bed for Homeless may have to face in relation to cultural
values along with etiquettes. It then talks about the barrier that the organisation may have to
face in relation to that of style of the communication. The report then elaborates on the
problems related to decision making that Backpack Bed for Homeless may have to face while

4INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
dealing with that of Indonesian Red Cross. The report also suggests the recommendations that
can help the organization in dealing with the issues that can help them in doing the work
successfully in the region of Sulawesi.
Analysing current situation
Intercultural Challenge One: Cultural values along with etiquette
Culture is indicative of complex system of the meaning that helps in defining way of
the life for group or the society. Culture value refers to standards that is accepted or not
accepted within community or the society. Indonesia can be said to be a country that is
predominantly Muslim that can give rise to friction in the event of the Indonesians
encountering the liberals from that of Australia. Indonesia is a Muslim country who does not
like to consume alcohol. The Indonesians look with contempt on the aspect of homosexuality
along with revealing flesh by the women. Australia on the other hand does not deride the
aspect of homosexuality and it gives more freedom to the women in the society. The people
living in Australia are used to drinking a lot of alcohol and the homosexuals in Australia
enjoy the support of the government along with media (Mulvaney & Soejono, 1970). The
orthodoxy of the Indonesians can pose to be a threat for the employees of Backpack Bed for
Homeless who would serve the homeless people of Indonesia who have been struck by
tsunami. In the event of the workers of the company going out to help the helpless people on
the streets of Indonesia, they may encounter problems in assimilating with the orthodox-
minded people of Indonesia. Indonesian Red Cross Society refers to humanitarian
organization that is situated within Indonesia. The Australians like to consume a lot of
alcohol and the employees of Backpack Bed for Homeless can be looked upon with derision
by the Indonesian Red Cross that has lend its hand in looking after the people who have been
struck by earthquake and the tsunami in the region of Sulawesi (Setyaningrum, Wijaya &
Subagyo, 2018).

5INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
The Australians lay stress on the aspect of equality whereas the people of Indonesia
believes in the existence of difference hierarchical levels in the society. The Australians have
been found to score high in relation to egalitarianism and they score low on that of hierarchy
(Ahern, Daminelli & Fracassi, 2015). It has been found that cultural differences exist
between the Asian and the Australian society and this can pose problems for the Backpack
Bed for Homeless. The Indonesian culture has high power distance culture and more
importance is laid on the aspect of obedience along with conformity (Acciaioli, 1985). The
decisions are made by the authorities in Indonesia whereas in Australia everyone is treated
equally and the decisions of every individual are treated with respect in the Australian
culture. Australia has low power distance that holds the idea that there should be
minimization of the aspect of inequality in the society (Adams, 1995).
The culture of Indonesia can be said to be highly collectivistic where the focus is laid
on the aspect of group rights along with needs. The people in Indonesia have long and stable
relationships. The people of Indonesia have many rules that deals with the aspect of human
interaction along with public behaviour. In the Indonesian culture, living together is given
more emphasis and they have the tendency of restraining the emotional expressions. The
Australian culture on the other hand is individualistic where the focus is laid on the aspect of
independence along with self-reliance. The network of relationship was found to be much
looser as compared to that of Indonesia. The Indonesian culture can be said to be uncertainty
avoidance culture and the Indonesian society thinks that ambiguity along with risk should be
minimized (Bulbeck, Pasqua & Di Lello, 2000). The society in Indonesia is conservatist and
it is characterized by a high amount of stress along with anxiety. The people in Indonesia
want stability along with security and they want law along with order in the society. The
Australians on the other hand are more prone to taking risks and they want to take challenges
in the society. The disparity in the cultural values of Indonesia and that of Australia will pose

6INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
intercultural challenge for Backpack Bed for Homeless in doing the relief operations with
Indonesian Red Cross.
The social life in Indonesia is regulated with the help of formal etiquette. The
Indonesians are polite and self-controlled in their behaviour. The Indonesians believe in the
aspect of “steady state” that is indicative of correct manner of doing the things
(Everyculture.com., 2019). Within Australian culture, corresponding aspects of the life are
related. Expressing the negative emotions are thought of to be normal in Australia. The
concepts that Indonesia has like ‘ halus’, and ‘selamat’ acts as base that helps in the aspect of
promoting of interpersonal relationship with that of the Australian host. The presence of
another person is acknowledge in Indonesia with the help of a smile or by the shaking of
hands. The Indonesian etiquette highlights that one should talk for some time before they go
on to ask about the family along with the affairs of another person (Indonesia-
investments.com., 2019). The Australians have brief form in relation to greeting that is
thought of by the Indonesians to be impersonal along with indecent. The difference in
etiquette in between Australia and Indonesia can set the stage for problems when the
Backpack Bed for Homeless goes out to work with that of Indonesian Red Cross.
Intercultural Challenge Two : Style of communication
There exist different styles of the communication in between Australia and that of
Indonesia that can poses challenge for the Backpack Bed for Homeless in the event of
working with that of Indonesian Red Cross. The difference in dimension in relation to
individualism and that of collectivism gives rise to communication difference in between the
two cultures. Indonesia has high context culture and information is sent in the country by
taking recourse to that of non-verbal message (Kwintessential.co.uk., 2019). The means of
communication is non-verbal and indirect within Indonesia. The high-context culture makes
use of smoothing strategies that helps them in managing conflict within the inter-personal

7INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
relationships. The people who live in Indonesia are very careful about the initial interaction
and the assumptions are made by the Indonesians on the basis of cultural background of
strangers. The people living within Indonesia have the tendency of asking more questions and
they have smaller self-disclosure in relation to relationships (Bulbeck, Pasqua & Di Lello,
2000). It has been found that the Australians belong to that of low context culture and they
give more amount of importance on the aspect of straight logic. They give more importance
to the element of verbal communication that is direct that has many written rules along with
explicit instructions.
It has been found that the members of a group can adapt to group (collectivism). It has
been found that in Australia on the other hand the group members are supposed to act in an
independent manner even when they have to go against the group (Naidu, 2018). The
Eastern culture can be said to be polychromic and the human relations are oriented towards
the family. The human relations are not dependent on the aspect of time. The western culture
on the other hand can be said to me monochromic and it is more procedure oriented (Samovar
et al., 2014). Indonesia makes use of high context communication and they lay great amount
of emphasis on the aspect of body language along with the silences. Australia on the other
hand makes use of low context communication and the information is delivered to another
person directly by taking recourse to words. The meanings can be communicated by stating
the things in the direct manner.
The people living in Indonesia are expected to be moderate in various kinds of the
communication situations. The honourable people in Indonesia does not have tendency of
raising voices and they do not openly disagree with that of the people. It is found that the
disrespectful individuals in Indonesia does not engage themselves in raising voices and they
do not disagree with other people in the public (Johnson, 2016). The people of Indonesia can
control their emotions very well. The Indonesians have the tendency of expressing

8INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
disagreement in a vague manner and by the use of silence. The people of Indonesia have a
pause before they answer each question and Australia on the other hand do not make use of
pauses when they are communicating (Neuliep, 2017). The Australians engages in open
confrontation in the public and they speak out their opinions very clearly. The disagreements
are expressed by the Australians very clearly and hence it can be easily understood by other
people. These factors can pose to be a challenge for that of Backpack Bed for Homeless
while working with the Indonesian Red Cross (Yoshida et al., 2018). The workers of these
organisations may not be able to get along owing to the different style of communication in
between Australia and that of Indonesia.
Intercultural Challenge Three: Cultural norms in relation to decision making
The cultural norms being different in Indonesia and that of Australia can act like a
challenge for the Backpack Bed for Homeless that is an Australian charity when they would
be working with that of Indonesian Red Cross. There are two components of the decision
making process in Australia- content along with process. Content is indicative of data
information along with knowledge on the basis of which a decision can be made (Henderson
et al., 2018). The process is indicative of the steps that an individual goes through when they
are making a decision. The managers in Indonesia have paternalistic attitude towards the
employees (Piller, 2017). The managers demonstrate concern for the employees which goes
beyond that of workplace. The decision making process in Indonesia is carried out to a great
extent by the manager who involves themselves in the family, housing along with the health
issues.
Culture within Indonesia can be said to be group oriented and emphasis is laid on the
aspect of harmony. The managers are involved in making the decisions and they have the
tendency of accepting the responsibility for the work that is performed by the subordinates
(Oetzel, 2017). On the other hand in Australia the employees of an organisation or social

9INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
institution can make the decisions in an independent manner. The subordinates have their
own voice and their decisions are listened to by the people in the management of the
organization.
The women in Indonesia earn less as compared to the men and the occupations in
which they work in are characterised by that of low wages. On the basis of the cultural norm,
the ability of decision making mainly rests on the male members of the family and they take
the precedence in relation to the making of decisions. It has been found that in the
organisations of Indonesia it is primarily the male employees who enjoys the ability of
making the vital decisions in the organisation. In Australia the power of decision making is
vested on the female employees along with the female members of the organisation (Sorrells,
2015). The position of the women is strengthened in the Australian society as they are given
the ability of making decisions that endows on them a distinct social status. This disparity can
pave the ground for confusion when Backpack Bed for Homeless of Australia would work
with Indonesian Red Cross (Halualani, 2017). It can create challenges in the event of
working in Indonesia for lending help to the homeless people on the streets.
It is held that the Indonesians perform the duties on the basis of communal law. The
individuals in Indonesia are supposed to obey representatives of village group along with
elders (Arthur, 2017). The decisions that are made by the superiors are not pit under any kind
of questioning in Indonesia. The Australians on the other hand lay great importance on the
element of egalitarian relationships. The decisions that are made by the superiors can be
challenged in Australia.
Conclusion
Intercultural communication is indicative of discipline which helps an individual in
studying communication that exist in the different social groups. Cultural value helps in

10INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
defining the standards which exists within community or society. The people in Indonesia are
mainly Muslim which can pave the way for friction when the Indonesians will face liberals
from Australia. The people within Indonesia do not have alcohol and they look down upon
homosexuality existing in the society. Australia has a positive approach towards
homosexuality and more amount of freedom is provided to women in society. Equality is laid
stress on by the Australians and the Indonesian people believe in the fact that there are
hierarchical levels within society. The Australians believe in egalitarianism and they do not
believe in the existence of hierarchy in the society. Indonesians lay importance on living
together and they restrain the emotions. The culture of Australia is individualistic and they
focus on the element of independence. There exist differences pertaining to communication
that can create challenges for the Backpack Bed for Homeless when they are working with
the people of Indonesia. The information within Indonesia is sent by taking recourse to non-
verbal message. The communication means can be said to be indirect within Indonesia. The
culture in Indonesia is group oriented where importance is laid on that of harmony. The
managers in Australia have been found to make decisions and responsibility is accepted by
them for work of subordinates. The employees of Australia can implement their decisions in
a manner that is independent.
Recommendations
Recommendation for cultural values and the etiquette
The employees of Backpack Bed for Homeless can make use of technology so that
they can learn more about the cultural pattern of the Indonesian people. They can carry out
extensive research that can help them in knowing about the distinct culture of the
Indonesians. The Australian employees can go through the online news sources that can help
them in gathering more information about the distinctive practices of the Indonesian people.
A workshop can be organized in Backpack Bed for Homeless that would throw light on the

11INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
cultural beliefs of Indonesia so that they can easily assimilate with the people of the
Indonesian Red Cross when carrying out work with them for distributing the emergency beds
for the street sleeping homeless who are living without shelter in Indonesia. The workshop
can train the employees about the nature of the Indonesian people that can help them in
dealing easily with the Indonesian people. The success of the workshop can be measured with
the help of feedback from the employees of the organization.
Recommendation for style of the communication
The employees of Backpack Bed for Homeless can be sent out on a program and the
employees of one organization can trade the places with the employees of another
organization that can help in providing useful information about the means of communication
of the people of another culture. The program can help in providing the few employees of
Backpack Bed for Homeless complete information about the method of communication of the
Indonesian people that can prove to be useful in preventing confusion when the employees of
Backpack Bed for Homeless would go out to help the Indonesian people who have been
affected by the tsunami in Sulawesi. The efficacy of the program can be measured by
questioning the employees about the communication patterns in Indonesia for understanding
the success of the plan.
Recommendation for cultural norms pertaining to decision making
The employees of Backpack Bed for Homeless should be taught by the top
management of the organization to develop the aspect of cultural self-awareness that can help
them in assimilating with the other culture. This can help them in understanding their own
cultural makeup that can help them in understanding the values of people of another culture.
The managers in the company can talk openly about the cultural barriers that can prevent the
employees of a company in carrying out work efficiently. The meeting held with the
managers of the company can help the Australian people in valuing the diverse views that can