Culture map 1. Communicating

• INT1
• MBO
• Studiejaar 2

We are all people but we see the world differently because of the culture we were brought up in.

What does an Englishman mean when he says...

'Very interesting'....

1. 'a very good idea'
2. 'I do not agree at all'
3. 'I do not believe you'
4. 'I am impressed'

'I hear what you say'

1. My ears work well
2. I understand what you mean
3. I disagree
4. I don't want to talk about it anymore

'That's not bad'

1. That is very good
2. That is okay but it could be better
3. That is no good
4. You could do better

'You must come for dinner sometime'

1. You will soon get an invitation for dinner
2. I am not inviting you, just being polite
3. I really like you
4. It will take a long time before I will invite you

'I am sure it's my fault'

1. I apologize, I made a mistake
2. You made a mistake
3. I think I did something wrong
4. It is your fault

Giving feedback in the U.K. is rather:

1. Direct
2. Indirect

What is the biggest cultural
difference between Holland, Finland
and Germany?

Evaluating: How to give feedback?

Persuasion: WHY versus HOW

Leading: How much respect do you want?

Decision: Who decides and how?
Trusting: Head or heart?
Disagreeing: Love it or avoid it?

Scheduling: How important is time and how do we plan?

How is it for you?

Work in groups and discuss the following questions.

Then answer them.

What is your opinion?

1. An honest person looks you straight in the eye when he/she talks to you.
2. Someone who looks you in the eyes, has no respect for you.

People who speak very loud are angry.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

When I disagree with my manager I will not tell him/her.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

How can you tell that someone is important?

When dating, girls take the initiative.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

My family comes first. I do what they want.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

An honest person always says what he/she thinks.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

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.  

 

 

What would you have said?

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 ‘closed’ 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!

My way of communicating is more

1. high context
2. low context
3. depending on the situation high context.