Business Communication Cross-Culture Communication

Question: Discuss about the Business Communicationfor Cross-Culture Communication. Answer: Introduction Communication can be defined as the process of sending and receiving information. The employees, managers and various executives have to regularly communicate with each other to run the business efficiently. Good communication system is important for an organization to run the business efficiently. The vital components of effective communication are transmission, reception and understanding of the communication meaning. The communication medium is also a vital component of the communication system. The companies can use a number of communication methods such as written methods like e-mails, internet or oral methods to communicate with their employees (Clampitt, 2016). However, the businesses are suffering from communication issues which are resulting in misunderstandings, hostilities and accusations. There are certain barriers to communication which appears when the person sending the message is using inappropriate communication style or medium. Issue of Cross-Culture Communication With globalization, the cultural difference is becoming the most significant issue in the business communication. In different cultures, the communication methods and style are entirely different. The multinational organizations require effective cross-cultural practices in the thriving global marketplace (Guffey Loewy, 2015). The globalization if the marketplace has created immense opportunities for the business organizations; however, ineffective communication across the border can negatively impact the employees, customers and other stakeholders. The issues in the cross-cultural communication arise due to the differences in the language and the behavior. Misunderstandings and misinterpretation is common in the communication between people who speak same language, so there is high probability for the communication issues among the people who communicate with different cultural backgrounds (Miller Gordon, 2014). The mispronunciation or misrepresentation of words can have result in misunderstanding between the communicating parties. Moreover, the behavior of two people from different cultural backgrounds is also different and can be misinterpreted differently. Body language and the gestures also have different meanings at different geographical locations (Guffey Loewy, 2017). The common gestures or body language at one place can be misinterpreted differently at other locations. It also includes differences in facial expressions such as use of nodding and eye contact. Other than that, there are also several stereotypes associated with the characteristics of certain culture. The stereotype is the generalization and assumption related to certain cultural groups. There are certain stereotypes which are negative and hostile and can adversely impact on the organization culture. They can also hamper effective workplace communication (Hurn Tomalin, 2013). It is a significant issue in the business communication. It is important that an organization establishes procedure and strategies to uplift the standard of business communication. The business communication entails all form of communication which is conducted for the commercial purpose of the organization. In the business communication, the information is relayed within an organization by its people (Newman, 2015). Lewis Model of Cross-Cultural Communication The most common model to describe the cross-cultural communication is the Lewis Model which was developed in the early 1990s. After thorough study of the human behavior and cultures in different locations, Richard Lewis categorized the human behavior in three distinct categories. These categories were not based on the nationality and the religion but on the behavior of the people. The different categories in this model were named as Linear-Active, Multi-Active and Reactive. The model posits that in the accumulation of the distinct features of different cultures, the scholars have created confusion and reduced the clarity and succinctness of the dimensions of different cultures. In the linear-active group, the English speaking people qualify. These people are highly assertive, plan everything ahead of time and are direct in their communication. These people believe in hiding their feelings in the professional world and focuses on truth and diplomacy. They are egoist in nature and do n ot like to lose blames and accusations. They differentiate their social and professional lives and show limited body language. The people in this category are often impatient and stick to facts and evidence-based data (Lewis, 2010). All the major countries of Asia except Indian subcontinent fall under the second category of multi-active society. The people in this category are highly talkative and prefer to multitask. They also believe in making rough outlines and plans rather than focusing on small details. They do not hide their feelings and events of personal lives. They are people-oriented and give emphasis on their feelings rather than facts. They are often ready for good excuses and have highly expressive body language. On the other hand, the multi-active population is highly scattered and includes the people of Southern Europe, Mediterranean Countries such as South America, Africa and the Gulf countries (Krizan et al, 2010). It also includes the people of India and Pakistan. Although the people in these groups are diverse geographically, there are differences in religion, belief and values. These people follow the same pattern and traits such as high emotion, talkativeness, body language, giving importance to religion and family bond (Zhu, 2015). The Lewis model of cross-culture communication can be used by the human resource managers in the recruitment drive and combating the issues of miscommunication in the workplace. It can be used by the individual in understanding the differences in the cultures of different countries. T can also be used to analyze the affinity and the deviation from the national norm and the compatibility with the people of different cultures (Reinhard, 2016). Conclusion It can be concluded that the effectiveness of business communication is critical for the business success. In the present times of globalization, the companies are needed to examine the impact of cultural differences on the efficacy of communication. The differences in the communication regarding the language, gestures and body language can result in misinterpretation of message. The Lewin model of cross cultural difference classifies the human behavior in three categories. It can be used by the HR managers to effectively manage the communication in workplace. References Miller, V.D., Gordon, M.E. (2014). Meeting the Challenge of Human Resource Management: A Communication Perspective. Routledge. Clampitt, P.G. (2016). Communicating for Managerial Effectiveness: Challenges | Strategies | Solutions. SAGE Publications. Guffey, M.E., Loewy, D. (2015). Essentials of Business Communication. Cengage Learning. Guffey, M.E., Loewy, D. (2017). Business Communication: Process Product. Cengage Learning. Hurn, B., Tomalin, B. (2013). Cross-Cultural Communication: Theory and Practice. Springer. Lewis, R. (2010). When Cultures Collide, Third Edition: Leading Across Cultures. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Newman, A. (2015). Business Communication: In Person, In Print, Online. Cengage Learning. Reinhard, K. (2016). 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