How Do the Chinese Differ From the Americans in Conducting Business - Assignment Example

How Do the Chinese Differ From the Americans in Conducting Business? To:          John Smith, Joseph Stevens, and Robert Morris, Partners From:     XXXXXXXXXXX Date: 03 February 2012 Subject:  The significance of understanding cross cultural communication particularly non verbal communication by interns from USA coming to China. Research has shown that communication is very crucial to global companies where it has been observed that miscommunication often takes place due to varying elements. In our case, it has been observed that the interns from the US performed below standard in China due to lack of communication skills particularly non verbal skills used by the Chinese. As such, I have been tasked to prepare a report that will be presented to the business partners from the US about the measures that can be taken in order to groom the interns so that they can easily adapt to the business environment in China. The detailed report attached focuses on three common elements characteristic to China namely: non verbal communication, business as well as casual attire. It is anticipated that this report will enlighten the business partners from the US about the necessary measures that can be taken in order to improve communication among the interns when come to Chinese based companies. Yours sincerely Chief Human resources manager XXXXX Introduction Basically, communication plays a very important role especially in the case of foreign nationals particularly from the US operate in China where they often fail to understand each other when using nonverbal communication or doing other aspects of business. Research has shown that serious miscommunication could be caused by cultural elements as well as linguistic ability that include little shared knowledge in cultural behaviors, business customs, the way of discussion or communication styles (Fujio, 2004). The values of people that form their culture significantly impacts on their behaviour as well as the way they communicate. This notion has been supported by Fischer & Poortinga (2012, p.2) who state that: “Value dimensions are used widely to make distinctions between countries and also serve to explain behaviour of individuals within countries. There is a paradox: leading researchers (Hofstede, 1980; Schwartz, 1994) have been adamant that country-level value structures differ from those at individual level.” In this case, the report focuses on how American values may differ from Chinese values with regards to elements such as non verbal communication, business and casual attire. The report also discusses the measures that can be implemented in order to help the American interns working in Chinese companies improve their non-verbal communication skills as well as understanding of business etiquette in this country. Thus, understanding Chinese culture is key to successful working in China as well as doing business by the American interns in this great nation. Patterns of non-verbal communication in America Like any other culture, non-verbal communication plays a very important role in the way Americans communicate or express themselves. For instance, silence is one non-verbal communication aspect that is used in different countries and is used for different purposes. Studies have indicated that silences when communicating for business is often viewed as very uncomfortable and frustrating for Americans (Fujio, 2004). The Americans want people who are straight to the point and they want their communication to flow not to be characterised by intermittent silences. However, silence is accepted as a form of communication in China as well as other Asian countries. There is nothing wrong when someone pauses for a few seconds before responding to another speaker in China. This is an acceptable way of communicating between business partners. Therefore, it is imperative that the American interns learn the Chinese forms of non verbal communication so that they can fit well in the business environment in China. The business partners in the US have their own way of acceptable communication among themselves as determined by their value system but there is need for them to understand the communication patterns in China. Therefore, it is imperative that the US interns should understand the nonverbal communication patterns in China. It is important for the American interns operating in China to avoid hiding something from their faces since this would be viewed by the Chinese counterparts as demeaning to their business style. It is also important that the US interns are taught some of the gestures used in non-verbal communication such as pointing at someone. In China, it is done by the whole hand not a single finger as is the case in the US. How do the Chinese differ from the Americans in conducting business? Conducting business with the other American partners in China may be challenging to those who lack understanding of their way of doing business. Scheduling and appointments are very important functions of both Chinese and American business etiquette. Whenever a business meeting has been scheduled, the Americans are at the venue on time and they live up to their expectations. In contrast, deadlines as well as schedules are observed in China but elements such as rescheduling of meetings as well as asking for deadline extensions are also common. Therefore, this is a very important element that should be learnt by the American interns when they come to China since the Chinese at times do not keep tight schedules of their meetings. This is possible especially when the American interns are reoriented that they are dealing with people in a host nation with different cultural values to theirs. It is imperative for the American interns operating in China to understand the way Chinese conduct their business. The other reason for the differences in behavior of the Americans in the way they conduct business is that they are individualistic while the Chinese believe in collectivism where they expect others in the group of which they are part to look after them and protect them (Robbins, 1993). The American interns should be taught business values in China such as collective decision making. Failure to understand the business etiquette in China may impact negatively on the performance of the interns. They will be viewed as incompetent and individuals who are not business minded. At the end of the day, conflicts are likely to emerge between business partners from the US and China. It is crucial that the interns quickly learn and master the Chinese way of doing business in order for them to prosper and achieve great results in this particular country. This can be achieved through continuous learning in carrying out their business. Casual attire It can be observed that the Chinese have a different cultural background from the Americans and this has a bearing on the way they dress. The Chinese in particular are not very strict with regards to dressing and they can dress casually since this is acceptable in their culture. The Chinese often find the aspect of formal dressing less formal and are concerned with proceeding with their business as long as they are assured of achieving the desired results. The main difference is that the Chinese are less formal compared to the Americans who often view themselves as superior to other cultures. As such, the American interns need to be educated that they do not need to look down upon their business partners by virtue of their dressing but should always display some form of respect towards them. In order to achieve this, the US interns should be educated about the Chinese values towards aspects such as dressing versus business system. Therefore, it is imperative that the American interns should learn to accept the Chinese dress since it is an important component of the culture of these people. This helps to create dignity among themselves such that they would be viewed from a different perspective. This would help the Americans to view the Chinese as equal business partners. This will also go a long way in minimising the chances of stress among the American interns if they understand the business etiquette at their workplaces found in a completely new cultural environment. Conclusion Over and above, it can be noted that culture and communication are interrelated disciplines and they operate hand in hand. The way people communicate is often determined by their primary or national culture. As discussed above, the American interns often encounter the challenges related to miscommunication when they work in companies based in China since they often fail to communicate effectively with their business counterparts. Non-verbal communication has often been viewed as a challenge especially to the American interns working in China. It is therefore imperative that these interns learn different communication styles used in China in order for them to quickly understand their business partners. This also helps to create a mutual relationship between the two groups from different cultural backgrounds. It has also been observed that the way Americans conduct business significantly differs from the Chinese way of doing things. However, for the American interns working in China, they must learn the Chinese way of doing business so that they can also be effective in their operations. The element of dress is also important for the American interns working in China to observe. In order to be a successful business partner in China, it is important to try as much as possible to emulate the behaviour of the Chinese in order to create good working relations. The bottom line is that educating the American interns about Chinese culture is the best course of action that can be taken in order to improve their performance when they are working in this great country. There are high chances of the company becoming an IT giant through incorporating different values in its operations. References Fischer , R. & Poortinga, Y.H. (2012). “Are cultural values the same as the values of individuals? An examination of similarities in personal, social and cultural value structures.” International Journal of Cross Cultural Management 12(2) 157–170 Fujio, M. (2004). “Silence during intercultural communication: a case study.”Corporate Communications: An International Journal. Vol. 9 No. 4. pp. 331-339. Hurn, J.B. (2007). “The influence of culture on international business negotiations.” Industrial And Commercial Training VOL. 39 NO. 7.pp. 354-360. IOR (2015). “Cultural insights: China.” http://www.iorworld.com/china-cultural-insights---worldview---cultural-assumptions---communication-style---business-practices-pages-478.php Robbins, S.P. (1993). Organizational behaviour: Concepts, controversies and applications. Prentice Hall: NJ. Read More