Business Communication, Cultural Implications - Essay Example

Introduction Every year, developed countries (such as Australia, New Zealand, the United s, and Canada), play host to a significant number of both skilled and unskilled immigrants. As a consequence, these nations experience economic, cultural, and political implications. In addition to these implications, the business communication practices of the host countries are impacted by the multicultural environment that is developed as a result of migration. Both skilled and unskilled migrants are involved in this worldly migration. Skilled migrants are those with work experience and/or formal education. Unskilled workers, in contrast, are those workers with little or no work experience and/or formal education. This report will discuss, firstly, the demographic transition that is taking place in the world today. Secondly, the issue of the future patterns of population growth will be examined. Then, immigration pressures in developed countries will be covered. The changing attitudes towards growth and technological change will also be discussed. Finally, how all of this tied together impacts business communication practices in the world will be discussed. Cultural Implications According to RAND (2000, pg. 1), "The dynamics of global population growth differ dramatically across the major regions of the world. In the developed countries, the current annual rate of growth is less than 0.3 percent, while in the rest of the world the population is increasing almost six times as fast. These demographic differences, combined with widening economic disparities, are increasing the pressures of migration from the less-developed to the developed world. How the developed countries respond to the growth of immigration pressures will have a major impact on their demographic and economic futures." One way in which to see this is to analyse the demographic transition model that is presented by RAND. This model covers various stages in population growth as they have occurred in the world throughout the years, and highlights the coming pressures of immigration (RAND, 2000). How a country decides to respond to the pressures of immigration can have serious political, economic, and cultural futures. One way in which potential response can be analysed is to look at a country with a history of welcoming immigrants, such as the United States. Another is to take a look at how attitudes in the world are changing with regard to technology and economic growth (RAND, 2000). The demographic transition model appears as follows: Figure 1: Demographic Transition Stage 1, the situation that has characterized the world throughout most of history, is marked by high death and birth rates. In Stage 2, which began in the West around 1800, birth rates remain steady but mortality rates begin to decline because of improvements that reduce the toll of infectious diseases--the big killer in countries with high death rates. In Stage 3, a continuing decrease in death rates is accompanied by a decline in birth rates. In Stage 4, the situation in the developed world today, there is a rough parity between births and deaths. (RAND, 2000, pg. 1) When Stage 4 occurs, one can see behavioural changes in the population as well. Whereas previous stages mark death more as fate, Stage 4 sees it more as an outcome of one's personal choices. As such, attitudes revolving around childbearing begin to take place. Families cease basing their family size around survival (bearing a large number of children so that the family may survive on) and instead choose to bear a small number of well-education children. This, in turn, marks the family in question's lifestyle and choices regarding where to live (Briggs, 2001; Bogen, 1987; Buenker and Burckel, 1977; and Booth, Crouter, and Landale, 1997). The aforementioned model is based on the Western European experience. However, it holds implications for the rest of the world. Both developed and developing countries can use it as a benchmark from which to base what types of implications can occur within them as a result of migration. The only major difference that is believed to exist between the West European model discussed above and more current or future models is that the mortality rate has steeply declined because of technological advancements and sanitary improvements and, thus, the population in developing countries has grown more rapidly (Espenshade, 1995; Hempstead, 2002; and Enchautegul, 1997). According to ITIM International, "Geert Hofstede's research gives us insights into other cultures so that we can be more effective when interacting with people in other countries. If understood and applied properly, this information should reduce your level of frustration, anxiety, and concern. But most important, Geert Hofstede will give you the 'edge of understanding' which translates to more successful results" (2008, pg. 1). Economic Implications Population growth over the next 25 years promises to be disproportionate in different regions of the world. For instance, the fastest growing region in Sub-Saharan Africa, even though the region has a high death rate. Around 60 percent of the region's population is in Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the aforementioned model. The second-fastest-growing-region in the world is the Middle East, although the region as a whole is further along than Africa. Around half of Asia is at around Stage 4, while the other half is in earlier stages (Green and Gree, 2004; Cox and Posner, 2007; Borjas, 2001; Briggs, 1996; and Bratsberg, 1995). Iredale (2000) claims that there has been a dramatic increase in migration over the past 10 years. According to Stahl (1992, pg. 869), "Conventional economic theory would view international economic migration from poor to wealthy countries as a resource flow which, like trade in commodities, should be mutually beneficial to the participating countries and should reduce inequalities between them. The potential benefits of labour emigration, from the perspective of those remaining behind, are: the acquisition of scarce foreign exchange; the relief of unemployment and underemployment; an increase in national income per capita with a possible consequent increase in the rate of saving, investment and hence economic growth; and, with the return of emigrants, the acquisition of skills which are essential to the development of an industrial base. Figure 2: World Population Development (Sustainable Scale, 2008, pg. 1) According to RAND (2000, pg. 2): Latin America is largely in Stage 3. Fertility rates there have dropped substantially, but the youthful age structure of the population still produces rapid growth. Yet the behavioural changes necessary for progression to Stage 4 have largely occurred and foreshadow the region's advance into the final stage in coming years. North America and Europe, already in Stage 4, are at or below replacement-fertility levels, but their demographic prospects differ because of their different policy approaches toward immigration. North America continues to experience population growth because of immigration, while most of Western Europe, which strongly restricts immigration, is actually losing population. Populations that are aged result from developed countries and their tendency to have low fertility. The median age of the population of developed countries will rise as a result. The growth of an older population leaves questions regarding how to support the aged as well as where to find workers for the workforce in developed countries. "Opening their doors to immigrants from countries with rapidly expanding populations is one response the developed countries might consider. For the time being, such immigration pressures are being resisted as only a handful of developed countries admit immigrants in any substantial numbers" (RAND, 2000, pg. 3). Countries that do not allow for immigration, or that restrict it altogether, will have to face the consequences of doing such. If, however, these countries decide to open their doors to more immigrants, they may enjoy better demographic and economic futures. They will simply have more options from which to select. "Among these are new "guest worker" programs and regional immigration arrangements, comparable to trade agreements that would allow for reciprocal flows of goods and people across certain borders. But no matter what potential policies are discussed; they will certainly provoke opposition from large segments of the electorate" (RAND, 2000, pg. 3). "Given the complexity of these issues and the fact that most developed countries have no history of immigration, it is instructive to look at the debate about immigration policy in the United States, where immigrants are currently responsible (directly and indirectly) for about two-thirds of total population growth. The debate centres around three key policy questions--how many to admit, whom to admit, and under what conditions to admit them--and focuses on the economic and social effects of immigration" (RAND, 2000, pg. 3). Singapore provides an excellent example of the economic implications of immigration. According to Lim and Fong (1982, pg. 548), "The Singapore economy is historically founded on foreign labour. Most Singaporeans are the descendants of immigrants from China, India, Indonesia and Peninsular Malaysia, accounting for the most of the island's population growth from the founding of the city by the British in 1819 until the eve of World War Two. For most of this period, the British colonialists adopted a laissez faire policy towards Chinese immigration because it fitted in with their commercial and colonial interests." The United States also provides a good example of the economic implications of immigration. According to Walker, Ellis, and Barff (1992, pg. 234), "Controversy over the economic impact of immigration centers largely on con- cerns about employment opportunities and wages. Some claim that immigrants take jobs and depress wages of resident United States workers. Others argue that skilled immigrants invest savings and add entrepreneurial talent to the economy, while unskilled immigrants accept jobs unwanted by resident workers." Political Implications Low (1995, pg. 745) indicates several trends in the migration of individuals. According to her, these include, "changes in topologies, magnitude, composition, and the direction of such movement of people." Developed countries that oppose immigration do so for their own reasons. One reason is that they fear immigrants will take the jobs of native workers. Another reason is national security concerns. Many fear that immigrants will try to enter politics and take over the control of the host country. There are various attitudes that people throughout the world hold with regards to economic and population growth and technological change. One attitude is that technological growth is harmful to the environment. It is unknown how this attitude will affect migration as a whole. For instance, if it really takes hold in the West, developed nations such as the United States may completely switch gears and put immigration on hold. One thing is for sure, and that is that there is a growing pressure on developed nations to admit immigrants. The issues that are raised as a result extend beyond mere demographics. "Ultimately, the debate will push the United States and other parts of the West to address central questions about what their societies value most. Furthermore, given today's growing global interdependence, neither the United States nor the other developed countries can solve immigration problems unilaterally. They must consider the consequences of their policies on the larger system of exchange in which they have a central stake. Finally, because social and economic realities change so quickly, it would be wise to promote greater flexibility in immigration policies, allowing them to be adapted to changing conditions" (RAND, 2000, pg. 4). There are other issues that affect population growth throughout the world. One of these is the growth of trade over the past decade. Figure 2: Growth of Trade 1990-2000 (Source: Forfas 2008, 1) How Multicultural Migration Affects Business Communication One of the biggest ways in which business communication is affected lies not only in the workforce, but through education. It has been shown that immigrants in developed nations score lower on standardized tests than their native peers (Viadero, 2006). This can mean that they have a lower educational ability to speak the language and communicate with co-workers or customers on a grand scale. Proper customer service in any company, as well as growth of any company, depends heavily on proper business communication skills. Interpersonal communication skills continue to be the most desired trait by hiring managers. Professional business is adversely affected on a daily basis by wasted phone calls and miscommunication. Miscommunication is one of the major causes for conflict in both the professional and the personal world. It is easy to see how an immigrant could have trouble communicating in a new land, especially when it comes to conducting business. In order for individuals to understand how immigration can be challenging to business communication, it is necessary for them: To gain insight into the way leaders from different countries and cultures act and think To understand cultural differences and what influences these differences can have To get to know leading entrepreneurs from a more personal, approachable side To know what awaits you if you plan to come to the US/Silicon Valley to work or develop your own start-up To hear the individual voices speak about their own development - what did they have to face, what obstacles did they overcome (Blendstrup, 2007, pg. 1) Conclusions Both unskilled and skilled immigrants enter developed countries each and every year. A number of economic, cultural, and political implications are experienced as a result. As described above, developed nations are increasingly feeling the economic pressure to let immigrants in because of aging populations. They are also feeling cultural concerns because of cultural diversity rights. However, political concerns such as national security and political overtake are affecting the scenario as well. All of the above affects business communication as language barriers and educational levels come into play. The amount of language barriers that are encountered among co-workers and the educational levels that allow immigrants to achieve higher positions in the workforce depend heavily upon whether those immigrants are skilled or unskilled. References Books Bogen, E. 1987. Immigration in New York. New York: Praeger Publishers. Blendstrup, A 2007. They made it! San Francisco: Happy About. Booth, A.; A.C. Crouter; and N. Landale. 1997. Immigration and the family: Research and policy on U.S. immigrants. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Briggs, V.M., jr. 2001. 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