Hola! I’m back on the blog now for my next blog post. So the next blog post is as followed:
For this post, return to the skill builder for Fostering Intercultural Communication. Describe in writing the intercultural scenario that you observed for that task and present an interpretation in light of your understanding of cultural norms and values and the fundamentals of effective communication.
During my holidays, I used to tag along with my dad whenever he has any business meeting. My dad has adopted an informal way of holding meetings in which he doesn’t like having one in an office. His favorite joint when it comes to holding meeting with foreign client is the Straits Kitchen, Hyatt Hotel. Partly because a large pool of his client is Muslim and Straits Kitchen is one of the two Halal fine dining in Singapore. The ambience is also suitable as it is a balance of informal and a formal setting. I usually sit at the table next to them, chatting with the restaurant’s manager or doing Sudoku. YES, a self-professed geek I am!
- How's the family doing?
- Manchester United lost again!
- So, how do you find Singapore's food?
Anything that involves family, health and general interest. This part of socializing tends to occur over the entire meal. It may take a good hour since the buffet spread may probably take that long to cover. After the last plate has been cleared from the table, my dad will order another round of drinks before officially starting the business discussions. It’s usually very quick and most probably is over in 20-30 minutes.
However, after one of his business meetings with an American business partner, his partner made a ribbing remark about how in America, they always get straight to business first before socializing. My dad kind of took that remark to heart and throughout the whole journey home in the car, he kept asking me whether he was rude.
I personally feel that my dad didn’t do any harm. Since he has been hosting clients from the Middle East, they tend to discuss personal issues before business. I think that Asians tend to be interested in building long-term relationships. This is in contrast with some other countries such as America, where the purpose of the meal is to discuss the matter at hand (i.e. the business) before socializing.
So what say you?
5 comments:
Hi Illya,
I guess what you have experienced is pretty true for majority of the respective populations.
The Asian culture tend to be associated to being high-context, whereby building relationships with people is regarded as important, ifnot more important, to closing the business deal. However, as for the Westerners (including the Americans), their low-context culture often places closing deals as priority. This is probably why your dad's American business partner commented on the way your dad dealt with things over the meal.
Both the American and your dad were not at fault. However, this awkwardness could have been avoided if both parties made an effort to understand and learn about the differing cultures before the meeting. If there was a deeper understanding of the differences, your dad might have gone straight to business and if he had not done so, the American business partner could have understood his intentions and be empathetic towards it.
Hi Illya! You are to lucky to have tagged along with your father for his meetings! Anyway, I think it was not really rude of your father to socialize first before actual business. In my opinion, I think there is a thin line between being direct and rude. In this case, the American was being rude for making that remark and instead, he should have put it in a different way that would serve to explain how Americans do business. In fostering intercultural communication, I think it is important for all parties to be open-minded and sometimes compromise in order for communication to be effective. Like they all say, "It takes two hands to clap!"
Cheers,
Chong Guan
Hi Illya, I think that this is a good example to demonstrate cultural differences. Like what Jiahwa has mentioned, Asians generally regard that it is more important to socialize and build your network for possible future references whereas Westerners prefer to get straight to the point and accomplish the goal as fast as possible.
Another point to note is the concept of time. Americans regard time as money, so to them time is precious and cannot be afforded to waste unnecessarily. Thus I guess that is why the American client prefered to settle the important issue at hand first within the shrotest time possible rather than to spend (unnecessary) time socializing when the problem has not been solved. Whereas people in the Middle East generally regard time as a servant and not a master, thus to them socializing and building relationships tend to be more impotant than closing a business deal as they view business dealings are not as important as other personal affairs in life.
Hence like what Chong Guan has said, both parties should try to learn and understand the cultural differences between them so as to be able to work out a consensus for the business meeting and to acheive a satisfactory and successful outcome. In this way, I think that this will be a double win-win situation, closing a good business deal as well as able to practice good mutual understanding of different cultures. This will definitely be beneficial in the long run.
Hey Illya,
I believe situations like these are pretty common. Unhappiness or embarassment usually arise due to the lack of knowledge of the other party's culture.
However, neither your dad nor the American business man was at fault. And neither was the American business man at fault for pointing out what style is he used to. I guess the difference in effect lies in the way how the American business man felt and the way he puts the message across to your dad.
Again, I stress the importance of accepting others' culture, yet at the same time, not having the "can't-be-bothered" to find out others' culture attitude.
It really takes effort from both parties and a give and take attitude to make things work.
Hi Illya, I guess understanding the different way in which people from different countries work is important.
I agree that neither your father nor his American business partner is at fault. All the misunderstanding started due to the difference in how they work. There's no exact way in which how business should be done. However, we should try to understand the style different countries do business.
Like what JiaHwa mentioned, Asians tend to have high context culture while Westerners are low context. Hence having the different working style and results in the misunderstanding that they have.
I feel that Americans may tend to be more direct compared to us, Asians. Therefore, the remark made by your father's business partner may seem a bit rude but not on purpose. Instead of getting angry about it, may be your father could even explain to the American about how we work and then continue to go straight into business. In this way, it creates understanding between the parties.
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