Culture map 1. Communicating + 2. Evaluating WO

• 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'.  

 

 

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. ​

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

1. Communicating 

2. Evaluating 

How can we describe 'feedback'?
What is 'feedback'?

'Feedback'

'Information about reactions to a product, 

a person's performance of a task, etc. 

which is used as a basis

for improvement.'

. 

Source: Oxford dictionary  

 

'Feedback'

Now an example of feedback to 'a person's performance 

which is used as a basis for improvement.'

. 

Question to you: is this direct feedback or indirect feedback?  

 

How does the given
feedback by Simon
feel to you?

1. Direct feedback
2. Indirect feedback

Direct feedback  

•  Can be direct to a member in a group/class/public
•  Very clear: 'in order to improve results' 
•  Feedback on a task  ≠ feedback of a person !! (someone can really like           the person but totally burn a task (report, job done) down to earth.                 Words used:  "It's nothing personal"
  
•   Use of upgraders: 'very, extremely, totally etc' 
• ​  'Bad is bad' => so no words as  'could be worse/better'
•    E.g. Russia, Israel and The Netherlands   

 

 

Who has been totally, the very best, the even greatest 'upgrader' in the whole wide world in the last decade? 

Indirect feedback  

•  One-on-one, personally (not in a group/public)
•  Soft words, diplomatic, subtile  
•  Avoiding 'losing of face/dignity'
  
•   Use of downgraders: 'perhaps, it might be, a bit, in a way,                                      to some extend etc.' 
• ​  E.g.  Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand    

 

 

'In the middle group'  

                     Feedback:   3 x positive, 1 negative

                     (last one is the 'real and decisive' one).

                   

                    Danger: missing the vital/real critics

Feedback towards a French manager working in the USA:

 "You work hard (1), you are doing well with co-workers (2), you understand the business (3), however your sales results  are not as expected". 

French manager: "Thank you very much, this is the best work review I have ever received".

A month later: fired due to low sales results....

'In the middle group'  

                     Feedback:  full of 'undergraders'.

                                      

    

Danger: missing the 

true meaning of feedback 

What do British mean when saying:
"There is a small problem with our flight booking"

1. I have forgotten to book our flights
2. There is a minor and easy to repair problem with our tickets

What do British mean when saying:
"Lovely weather we are having"

1. Apparently, rain is considered good weather
2. This weather is awful

What do British mean when saying:
"I have felt better"

1. I feel a little bit worse than usual
2. I feel horrible. Why did I drink all that Guiness

Today's job 

Please work out in your group the Communicating and Evaluating and dimensions for your 2 countries.  ​

Twinspace:  visit Assignment 2-1 'Communicating' and 2-2 'Evaluating'  for more background information ​