1. Multicultural CommunicationIn a Global Business Community

2. The need formulticultural competencyThe rise of globalization and fast technological advances.Business professionals must be prepared to communicate quickly andsuccessfully with companies and organizations around the world.Competitive business market is pushing us to be prepared to deal with thecommunication barriers that cultural diversity brings.Language, culture, religion, ethics, customs, and business etiquette areamong the factors we must consider to have good business relationshipswith companies in other countries.Tobecome culturally competent we have to welcome diversity into ourworkplaces.Trainand long-lasting organizational cultural changes must follow to get usready to enter the global business community. 3. The Basics ofCommunicationCommunication: "the act of transmitting. A giving or exchanging of information, signals, or messages by talk, gestures, writing, etc. to make known. To give information, messages. To have a systematic and meaningful relationship. A system for sending and receiving messages as by telephone, telegraph, radio, etc. A system of routes for moving one place to another. The art of expressing ideas, esp. in speech and writing" 4. Communication Process: Feedback Encoding Sending Channel Receiving Decoding MessageMessageMessage MessageVerbal/ No Verbal 5. Communication BarriersEncoding and decoding interruptions:Feedback EncodingSending ChannelReceiving Decoding Message MessageMessage Message Verbal/No Verbal 6. BarriersCommunication barriers:CultureLanguagePhysical (Distance)GenderEmotional 7. Cultureculture refers to the cumulative depositof knowledge, experience, beliefs,values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies,religion, notions of time, roles, spatialrelations, concepts of the universe, andmaterial objects and possessionsacquired by a group of people in thecourse of generations through individualand group striving (Samovar and Porter, p. 15). 8. Type of communicationsVerbal:Language, Words, Written.No Verbal:Any type of communication that does not include verbalcommunication. 9. Globalization & cultureUnderstanding the world 10. North AmericaGreetings Time Relationships OthersShake hands Value timeWorkIn generalrelationshipsthey expectAddress by Are not lateare distantothers tolast name speak EnglishEqualWant to talktreatment toonly about women businessStraightforward 11. EuropeGreetingsTime Relationships OthersShake hands Value timeWorkDuringrelationshipsbusinessAddress by They are notare distantmeal,last name latepersonal talksEqualWant to talkaretreatment to High value of only about acceptablewomentime off business In generalStraightthey knowforwardseveral languages 12. Latin AmericaGreetings TimeRelationships OthersShake hands SouthAll relationshipsThey valueandAmerica value timeare closesocial status,sometimes age andkiss CentralWant to ask traditions America ispersonalAddress bymore flexible question before they do They want tolast nameand they can be late business get to know aThey are person beforespeciallyThey highlyNot straightdoing value time offforwardbusinessconsidered towomen 13. AsiaGreetings Time Relationships OthersShake handsAll They valuerelationshipsThey value time and theyare closesocialAddress by are not latestatus, agelast name orWant to ask and traditionstitle personal They highlyquestionAvoideyevalue time off before they do They want tocontact business get to know a person beforeNot straightdoingforwardbusiness 14. AfricaGreetings Time Relationships OthersShake handsAll They want to Everythingrelationshipsincrease takes time inare closeforeignAddress by Africabusiness andlast name Want to ask are happy to They are late personal people comingNot equalquestion sometimes to themtreatment tobefore they dowomen inbusiness During mealssome They value they dont talkcountriestime off Not straightaboutforwardbussiness 15. EthicsEthics are a problem in some countries. But it is important tostudy each situation and not generalized.The BBC summaries corruption asIn sub-Saharan Africa, 67% of bribes were to avoid trouble withthe authorities. In the Arab world and Latin America most bribeswere paid to speed things up. In Asia-Pacific 35% of people werebribed to get a service they were entitle to. In North America andthe European Union, most bribe payers say they could notremember why they had paid (www.bbc.co.uk). 16. General practicesAvoid ethnocentrism.Avoid stereotyping.Learn by listening and observing the possible business partner.Avoid talking about politics and religion.Whenspeaking a second language speak in simple words 17. Improving MulticulturalCommunicationTo improve an organization multicultural communication we mustchange the organizational culture:Organizational Culture is the sum total of anorganizations past and current assumptions,experiences, philosophy, and values that hold ittogether, and is expressed in its self-image, innerworkings, interactions with the outside world, andfuture expectations (www.businessdictionary.com) 18. Changing.Add diversity to the organization.Add contact with people of diverse background.Diversity Competency training.Understandthe benefits of diversity: Problem solving Flexibility Unique insight to the world market 19. TrainingAny organization that is serious about diversity and must offertheir employees and managers diversity training.Customize diversity training that includes:Meaningand importance of diversityOrganizationalcultureCultural differencesAcculturation; Affirmative actionPrejudiceStereotypingGroup identity in hiring, promotions, and performance appraisalInstitutionalizing diversity competency (ONeil, p. 80) 20. Conclusion Globalization has brought us closer together. Business knowledge is only the beginning. We must understand the barriers that multiculturalcommunication brings. Learn how to deal with them. We must be intentional in our training and in the implementationof the changes we have to make to our organizational culture inorder to achieve long lasting cultural competency. 21. Reference Communication. Retrieved July 31, 2012, from www.merriam-webster.com Samovar L. and Porter R., (1994). Communication Between Cultures. Boston: Wadsworth, Wood, Julia (2007). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. Boston: Wadsworth Tymkiw, C. (2012). Wal-Mart Ensnared in Mexican Bribery Probe. Retrieved July 20, 2012,from http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/22/news/companies/walmart-mexico-bribery/index.htm Melik, J. (2010). The dilemma of bribes: to pay or not to pay. Retrieved July 20, 2012 fromhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11957514 Organizational Culture. Retrieved August 1, 2012, fromhttp://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organizational-culture.html#ixzz22VTOk4rf Harris P. & Moran R. (2000). Managing Cultural Differences. Houston: ButterworthHeinemann