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DIFFE

GROUP MEMBERS:

AGENDA
ISSUES OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

TIME :SEQUENTIAL VS SYNCHRONIC


DISCUSSION : DIRECT VS INDIRECT
CONVERSATION STYLE :PING-PONG VS BOWLING
DECISION MAKING: INDIVIDUALISM VS COLLECTIVISM

TIME
Sequential culture

Synchronic culture

People tend to do one thing at a time

People tend to do multiple things at a time

Time is precious & punctuality is valued

Time and deadline are guidelines

Tasks are sometime secondary to time

Sticking to time is secondary to building relationships

Meeting deadlines is demanded

Sticking to time is secondary to building relationships

TIME
SOLUTION

HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUNCTUALITY IN MEETING


MORE FLEXIBLE IN ACHIEVING THE TASKS

DISCUSSION
The Lewis Model

Source: Adapted from Cultural categories of communication (Lewis, 2015, pp.89)

DISCUSSION
Direct

Indirect

Use clear, definitive statements

Ask a lot of questions

Participate actively in meetings

Quietly observe in meetings

Make their points with conviction

Offer suggestions for consideration.

Are comfortable telling others what to do

Like to get others involved in discussions

Use words like "should", "have to"

Use words like "maybe", "possibly

Tell others why their ideas should be adopted

Ask others to consider their ideas

DISCUSSION
Direct

Indirect

Listen More Between The Lines Verbally & Non Verbally


(Anon, 2004 ; Brew & Cairns, 2004)

Be More Specific

Use Open Ended And Non-leading Questions (Ting


Toomey ,2012)

Reassure To Give Time-frame In Your


Answer

Be More Patient In Getting Answers (Anon, 2004)

Be More Sincere Rather Than Being


Gentle
(Watershed associate, 2016)

CONVERSATION /NEGOTIATION STYLES


High Involvement
(Ping Pong)

High Considerateness
(Bowling)

Talking Is More Unconventional and Direct

Speak One At a Time

Talk More Loudly at Times

Use Formal and Polite Listening Words

Interrupt More and Expect to be Interrupted

Refrain From Interrupting

Not All Are Equally Involved In the Conversation

Give Positive and Respectful Responses


(Hawthorne, 2012; Tannen, 1990)

CONVERSATION /NEGOTIATION STYLES


SOLUTIONS:

Leader Of Meeting Plays Important Role


Understand Different Conversation Styles In The Meeting
Mediate When Elements Of Different Cultures Clash

(Hawthorne, 2012)

DECISION MAKING
Individualism

INDIVIDUALISM

Prefer To Look After Themselves

Acting As A Group To Look For


One Another

Focus Mainly On Individual Goals

Value The Importance On Groups

Prefer Clear Conversation To Have


Effective Communication

Direct Confrontation Is Always


Avoided Correlates To Saving
Face

91

48

20

USA

India

Vietnam

14

Indonesia

Collectivism

(Hofstede, 2001)

DECISION MAKING
SOLUTIONS:

Individualists To Compromise
Avoid No Softer Expression

REFERENCES

ntergroup flexibility andpeoples views of African Americans. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Volume 28, pp. 373-398.
n.d. Direct Communication vs. Indirect Communication. [Online]
ttps://www.watershedassociates.com/learning-center-item/direct-communication-vs-indirect-communication.html
rns, D., 2004. Do culture or situational constraints determine choice of direct or indirect styles in intercultural workplace conflicts?. International Journal of Intercultural Relatio
. The impact of direct and indirect communication. The Independence Voice, Volume November.
& Pham, C., 1996. Doing business in Vietnam: A cultural guide. Business horizons, Volume May-June, p. 47.
Hawthorne, T. F., 2012. Bowling vs. Rugby: Reconciling Conflicting Conversational Style. Beijing, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Hiroshima International University.
Tannen, D., 1990. You just don't understand: women and men in conversation. New York: Ballentine Books.

XM Publishing (n.d.) XIII. Individualism versus collectivism [online]. Available from: http://www.via-web.de/individualism-versuscollectivism/ [Accessed Date: 10 November 2016]

Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., Minkov, M. (2010)Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. Revised and Expanded 3rd
Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Hofstede, G.(2001) Cultures Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across Nations.
Second Edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

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