Business Negotiations - Essay Example

Intercultural Communication: Business Negotiations One of the greatest challenges towards the success of international business remains the differences in culture that exist. In a business environment, communication remains the most important aspect of consideration, as such; it determines the business success or failure. Ideally, communication is the most essential tool in any business environment as it determines the manner in which a business connects with the clients in addressing the customers’ needs. Differences in culture and societal affiliations; however, have become the greatest obstacles towards the realization of effective business communication, especially in attribute to international business. Considering the differences in cultures, it is important that for communication to become effective there should be certain guiding principles for intercultural communication especially in business activities. Such a perspective works to reduce any communication frictions, and avoidance of communication barriers in ensuring a smooth business transaction. America and Japan indeed have diverse cultural settings, an aspect that has its effects in communication especially in business transactions. Despite such differences, there are four maxims rules of communication that are universal to all. Such include quantity, which determines how much information is relayed, quality, the correctness of the information, relevance of the information towards the intended purpose, and the manner, which is the way in which the information is relayed. What are the maxims of conversation in American English In American English, there exists two communication maxims, all under the quantity umbrella, which require that whenever one speaks, then the information relayed should as much informative as possible, while on the other side; the information relayed should not exceed the required informative levels. The amount of information in a communication remains essential in every communication and as such, superfluous information need to be avoided during communication in ensuring that communication meets its intended purpose. What are the maxims of conversation in Japanese discourse Considering the fact that maxims of conversation entail the unwritten rules of governance pertaining to how people speak to each other in some polite conversations, it is therefore, an significant aspect that a maxim of communication acts in place of a command, directing the manner in which different people engaging in conversation carries out themselves. According to the Japanese culture, the maxims of conversation in Japanese discourse involve a number of aspects. Expression of feelings or emotions is critical to every human. In business, either a loss or profit is expected for any transaction done. Whenever either happens, it is expected that an individual express the feeling through emotions. The Japanese culture; however, does not allow for the expression of feeling and therefore considered as a discourse maxims of conversation. In what ways are the differences reflected in the verbal behavior of the American team versus the Japanese team? As a contributory aspect of the diverse nature of societies and cultures, verbal behavior of the American team and that of the Japanese seem to have significantly different aspects with a realization that indeed the generalizations put in such societies are indeed very wrong. There are anumber of ways through which differences in verbal behaviors are reflected between the American team and that of the Japanese. First, Japanese frequently break into side conversation in the native language, in contrast to the American team that at all times involve all people and use understandable language. The Japanese prefer the usepositive promises, recommendations, and commitments in their communications, instead of threats and warnings. Americans on the other perspective, during their verbal communication prefer the use of commands, especially in terms of business as a means of showing authority. What is the composition of the American team versus Japanese teams? How does each reflect the organization culture of the businesses they represent? The composition of American team versus that of the Japanese reveals that Japanese prefer doing business in collaboration with each other, contrary to the American cultural practice, which involves doing business in solitary. Ideally, the majority of Americans believe that for success in business, there needs to be a sufficient concentration, which is only achievable through engaging in business in solitary. From such information, it is evident that the composition of the two teams will consist of Japanese having more people in the business discussions in comparison to the American team, which would have few members. Compare and contrast the following issues of social behavior: Use of first names Most of the Chinese names consist of two names; the first name and the family name. The use of first names in Japanese culture involves it following the family name, as according to the Japanese culture family is considered more important that self, therefore, family name is used in preference to a person’s first name. In the case of American culture, the first name comes first before the use of the family name. A majority of Americans share similar family names and, therefore, preference is given in the first name rather than the family name. Doing business over dinner According to the American culture, business is indeed a sacred activity and requires humble time for effective discussion. The American team in their business dealings, prefer to conduct business during normal business hours, similarly business meeting are held during the same time. As such, dinnertimeis purely left for meals no business discussion or activities are conducted over the same period. In the Japanese culture; however, dinnertime is the best time for discussing business matters. Ideally, Japanese business culture requires that business transactions are done in groups, therefore, dinnertime provide the best opportunity for such discussions. Over what specific points did the either teams misinterpret what the other was saying? Give four examples from any phase of the negotiation Based on the differences between Japanese and American cultures, it is evident that a number of misinterpretations occur during joint communications. Americans believe in the use of non-verbal mechanisms of communications in most of their business transactions. As such, in an instance in which the Japanese shape their mouths in a particular manner as a means of ensuring that certain vowel sounds are pronounced appropriately, Americans would easily misinterpret such a behavior for a discontentment of the discussion. Additionally, the nodding of the head as used by Americans signifies acceptance or adherence to a particular opinion or point; however, according to the business culture, the nodding of the head symbolizes a stamp of authority. Based on such aspects, it is evidently clear that the business discussion involving American and Japanese teams is most likely to face a number of challenges, as most individuals would constantly misinterpret whatever the other team means. If you were counseling each team, what sort of advice would you offer? The American team To the American team, the most appropriate advice would concern the misinterpretation of different communication mechanics. It is critical to making an understanding that different non-verbal communication technics refer to different aspects in different societal settings. Such an understanding would limit the instances of misinterpretation. The Japanese team Human emotions are important in the life of people and should never be suppressed. According to the Japanese culture, expression of emotion is forbidden especially in public, despite the fact that they determine how an individual feels. It is, therefore, necessary that the expression of emotions be allowed. Often as a reaction to ethnocentrism; otherwise, it is often tempting to over-romanticize another culture. Based on this video and Internet research, address the question whether Japanese maxims of conversation facilitated or limited the country's response to the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in the last month. Considering the fact that instances of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters reveal emotional distress among the affected individuals, Japanese maxims of conversation limited the country response towards the above named natural disasters; the discord involved contributes towards the limit to express emotions as a discord to Japanese maxims of conversation, which limit the expression of feelings. Because people are not allowed to express emotions, it was very difficult to understand the situation in which people are in, therefore, limiting response time to natural disasters as in the last month. Read More