An Analysis of Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation in the International Management Arena - Assignment Example

Misconceptions to Effective Communication in Nigeria Starting a business such as the initiative taken by Fosters to build a production plant in Nigeria comes with a lot of misconceptions about the host nation. Joel (2002) posits that misconceptions are “faulty mental models”. In the first place, it is important that Fosters is made aware of the misconceptions that surround their destination. Next, there is the need for the management to research into these misconceptions to identify the level of truth with the and how they may impact on their intent.

This move is particularly important because Ashby (2008) advises that “these unpalatable truths contribute to the increasing problems” facing companies. This is so because even though misconceptions are generally accepted to be falsehood, they at times impact on the lives of natives such that they begin to adapt their ways of life towards them (Osei, 2009). In the first place, it is believed that Nigeria is a country blighted with the problem of political and civil tension, instability and unrest.

This is considered as a misconception not necessarily because Nigeria never records any instances of political unrest but that the degree of occurrence might be more than suggested. In a typical example of political tension, “On 19 October 2010, a militant group threatened to attack political campaign gatherings attended by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan” (Australian Department of Affairs, 2011). Such political tensions are believed to impact negatively on businesses wishing to start new ventures in the country because investors cannot be fully assured of the defense of the constitution of the country, which protects the investor and other foreigners.

This not withstanding, it is important for Fosters to be aware that for the past fifteen (15) years, Nigeria has upheld it national constitution without a coup d’etat that overdraws the constitution (Dawodu, 2007). This is a knowledge that gives Fosters hope of political security. Secondly, there is a serious misconception that Nigeria is unsafe. Quoting Leno (2007), “The general belief among many is that Nigeria is very unsafe with a very high crime rate.” Regarding safety, common areas that are raised by critics include “high threat of terrorist attack, the high risk of kidnapping, the unpredictable security situation, the heightened risk of violent civil unrest and the high level of violent crime” (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, 2011).

These are unsafe situations that on a higher side, can frighten the maintenance of the proposed plant. It also puts the lives of personnel and expects who may be sent to the country in danger. This not withstanding, it is common knowledge that cities like New York, Johannesburg and other cities in Brazil, Mexico and Columbia record higher crime rates than notorious cities in Nigeria such as Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Aba (Leno, 2007). This means that there is still a lot of hope for Fosters in its moves to start a plant in Nigeria.

What could however be taken with caution is the fact that certain cities in Nigeria are more volatile than others and thus the choice of a destination city should be done with caution. Finally, there is a general believe that Nigeria is a corrupt country. There is corruption to such a high level that people are believed to break code in security gadgets, people dupe banks and take bribes for undue services. Not every part of this allegation may be untrue but the Article Base (2008) put forward that “there is always work involved.

Therefore, if the business really is a turnkey business than you will begin work right away because it has already been set to begin operation.” The responsibility with Fosters will be to tighten its own security around the plant and be wary of the sort of people it deals with as it enters Nigeria. REFERENCE LIST Article Base (2008) Beware of Myths and Misconceptions When Starting a Home-based Business, retrieved April 19, 2011 Ashby P, 2008, Comparing sales and marketing: Correcting business misconceptions, retrieved April 19, 2011 Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, 2011, Travel advise for Nigeria, retrieved April 19, 2011 Coan G.

2011, Negotiating Difficulty Life Transitions. Retrieved March 1 2011 Dawodu.Com 2007, Coups D’etat in Nigeria, retrieved April 19, 2011 Joel M 2002, Misconceptions – What Students think they know, retrieved April 19, 2011 Leno 2007, Common Misconception about Nigeria, retrieved April 19, 2011 Osei A.G 2009, Managing Business Misconceptions. Kingdom Books Publishing. Dansoman: Ghana