Culture map 1. Communicating

• INT1
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

The Culture Map

      Exploring cultural differences 

Q: how can we measure 'cultural differences'? 

The Culture Map

We will be exploring ('measuring') cultural differences, 

looking at 8  dimensions. 

These dimensions will be worked out on a 'map'.  

 

 

In which dimension is the difference between the Netherlands and Finland the biggest?

1. Deciding
2. Scheduling
3. Persuading
4. Disagreeing

In which dimension are Finland and Turkey almost the same

1. Communicating
2. Evaluating
3. Leading
4. Disagreeing

Which country is Russia closest to in sharing a position on most dimensions?

1. Netherlands
2. Turkey
3. Finland

Talking about culture and etiquette

In small groups, discuss the topics on the cards.

Each student has to cover at least three topics. Ask questions and share as much info as you can.

What did you learn?

1. Communicating 

Business case

• Purchase drill machine
• Soilmec SR60 from India
• Date of invoice: Dec. 13th
• Purchase condition: new     paint, delivered port   within  6 weeks.  

 

 

Business case

So the machine MUST be shipped by January 25th to Mexico for a job at the airport of Mexico City.

 

Important and vital question (made in person by buyer at closing the deal): "Can you make it in time?" . 

Answer Indian supplier: "I think we are ok, we do our best"

 

 

"I think we are ok, we do
our best"
Is this answer a 'low-context'
one or a 'high-context' one?

1. Low context
2. High context

FYI : Mumbai port, February 26th 

Business case

Answer: "I think we are ok, we do our best"

Indian meant: 'difficult, almost impossible' 

German understood: 'ok', so all fine.  

 

 

Low context communication 

•  Precise, detailed and specific
•  Use of written confirmations ('so we meet for dinner at 20.15 hrs' ) 
•  'No means no, yes means yes​' 
  
•   'What you see is what you get'
• ​   Use of contract​s
•    Mainly in ‘open’ societies, countries with ​a relative short history                      ​(E.g. U.S.A. and  Australia).   

 

 

High context communication 

•  Not specific, reading & listening between the lines
•  Assumptions ( 'dinner will be around 20.00 or so, as usual, I reckon' )
•  'Yes' means ' yes', and sometimes it means ' no' as well'
  
•   A handshake to close a deal; 'a man a man, a word a word' 
•   Mainly in ‘closes’ societies, countries with ​a relative long history ​                      (E.g. Japan and Iran).   

 

 

The image shows
closing a deal in a:

1. Low context country
2. High context country

In which way is Sandra Bullock communicating:

1. In a low context way
2. In a high context way

Mr. Díaz is a Spanish manager working in a plant in China. 

It is Friday and he received a call from an important client who likes to visit the plant on Sunday to see the production of a product in which he is interested to buy. 

Mr. Díaz is going to ask Mr. Chen if he can attend to this visit. 

 

 

Will Mr. Chen be working/receiving the client for a moment on Sunday?

1. Yes, of course
2. No way!

Work in progress

Please confirm  your group’s choice of a 3rd (Non-EU) country  to compare with ‘our own countries’. ​E.g.: U.S.A / China / Russia / Saudi Arabia / Brazil / Mexico/ Australia. ​

Twinspace:  visit Assignment 2-1 Communicating- ‘Low Context ​

vs High context’  for more background information as well as for  ​

a default ‘8 scales’ Excel sheet you can use as a tool. ​

www.ediplomat.com

Research cultural etiquette 

Choose one (European) country from the list.

Read about the cultural etiquette of that country.

Present it to your fellow students in a two-minute presentation.

http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/cultural_etiquette.htm 

In which way is Sandra Bullock communicating:

1. Low context
2. High context

Giving feedback in the U.K. is rather:

1. Direct
2. Indirect