It is frequently pointed out that one’s intercultural communication competence is context-dependent. A big difference in how communication is carried out in business contexts as opposed to other contexts is that "business people need practical immediately applicable business tools that will help them solve business communication problems" (Tomalin 2009:115). In other words, no matter how much knowledge of intercultural communication you have, the knowledge will not be meaningful unless you can utilize it in actual interactions. Also, even if you can analyze problems, you have no chance of succeeding in the business world unless you can find solutions to problems. Therefore, the focus of intercultural communication in business should be on helping people find solutions; that is, utilizing a "process of co-constructing ‘better’ (rather than right, wrong, good, bad)" (Jackson & Mckergow 2002:179).
The second difference is that business people usually try to keep their company’s interests rather than their personal interests in mind. In the business world negotiations are frequently conducted, however, the goal of the negotiations is not to win an argument but to achieve the company’s goals or interests (Nakashima 2000).
Intercultural communication should be "a two-way street, with both sides sharing the burden and responsibility of cultural awareness" (Ferraro1994:132). However, previous research studies indicated that Japanese business people unilaterally accommodated themselves to American culture. For instance, Gelfand et al. (2001) identified cultural differences on conflict, using the compromise versus win frame, and stated that Japanese participants perceived conflict to be more compromise-focused compared to their U.S. counterparts. Also, Adair, Okumura & Brett (2001) reported that Japanese intercultural negotiators adapted their behavior to U.S. norms and spent great effort on clarifying information.
Then, what can American business people do in order to share the burden and responsibility of cultural awareness? The purpose of this research is to consider the cultural awareness of Americans who have experience in doing business with Japanese people, and discuss how they were able to make compromises depending on the situation in order to conduct business negotiations more efficiently.
It is frequently pointed out that one’s intercultural communication competence is context-dependent. A big difference in how communication is carried out in business contexts as opposed to other contexts is that "business people need practical immediately applicable business tools that will help them solve business communication problems" (Tomalin 2009:115). In other words, no matter how much knowledge of intercultural communication you have, the knowledge will not be meaningful unless you can utilize it in actual interactions. Also, even if you can analyze problems, you have no chance of succeeding in the business world unless you can find solutions to problems. Therefore, the focus of intercultural communication in business should be on helping people find solutions; that is, utilizing a "process of co-constructing ‘better’ (rather than right, wrong, good, bad)" (Jackson & Mckergow 2002:179).The second difference is that business people usually try to keep their company’s interests rather than their personal interests in mind. In the business world negotiations are frequently conducted, however, the goal of the negotiations is not to win an argument but to achieve the company’s goals or interests (Nakashima 2000).Intercultural communication should be "a two-way street, with both sides sharing the burden and responsibility of cultural awareness" (Ferraro1994:132). However, previous research studies indicated that Japanese business people unilaterally accommodated themselves to American culture. For instance, Gelfand et al. (2001) identified cultural differences on conflict, using the compromise versus win frame, and stated that Japanese participants perceived conflict to be more compromise-focused compared to their U.S. counterparts. Also, Adair, Okumura & Brett (2001) reported that Japanese intercultural negotiators adapted their behavior to U.S. norms and spent great effort on clarifying information.
Then, what can American business people do in order to share the burden and responsibility of cultural awareness? The purpose of this research is to consider the cultural awareness of Americans who have experience in doing business with Japanese people, and discuss how they were able to make compromises depending on the situation in order to conduct business negotiations more efficiently.
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