discussion

Do you agree with the importance of communication given below? What would you do different in negotiation global marketplace?

Globalization is the process in which the world is interconnected in ways that people can communicate and conduct business internationally. The goal is to become a global culture where politics and economics are integrated. Globalization means businesses develop influence on an international scale and goods and services span multinationally. 

Glocalization is the permeation of the global and the local markets resulting in unique outcomes in different geographic areas (Dumbrava, G. (2016).  In other words, taking a product or service and distributing it globally while adjusting it to the local user. The product can be replicated but adjusted to attract the attention and interest of the local consumer. While offering local specialization of the product, the company remains recognized as the same brand.

 

Question 2.

Communication is much more complex than language, sound, or gestures. The communication theory means that all living beings, whether plant, animal, or human, communicate through the noise, movement, visible changes, and expressions to make others aware of any information. Any living thing has a way of communicating a message to make others aware of important information.

Question 3.

Global leaders are constantly pursuing cross-cultural communication. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations occur frequently when communicating, especially among different cultures. Words and context are subject to interpretation and therefore are perceived differently. This can be difficult and challenging (Kahn,2015).  Language and culture are closely connected. Understanding cultural norms and values is helpful when navigating cross-cultural communication. Words have different meanings in different cultures and are rarely universal. 

Understanding communication principles is an essential leadership skill. Effectively communicating across cultures means to release deeply held attitudes, assumptions, rules, and doctrines that have been formed in one's own language and culture (Dolan & Kawamura, 2015). These principles guide habits and behaviors and will determine how successful leaders communicate with others.

Question 4.

Communication style is one of the first things noticed by others during an interaction. Individuals measure the communication style with what matches most closely with their own. Language, dialect, and non-verbal communication conveys meaning and allows a connection with other people (Kahn, 2015).  Effective leaders are familiar with the communication style of other people. By understanding that communication style varies, there is less risk of misinterpreting a message or being offended by something. Cultural intelligence plays a significant part in leadership. It is critical that individuals acknowledge and accept cultural differences, and respect cultural norms and values that are a part of different cultures. Communication differences are complex and challenging. One must have an open mind and a willingness to learn about cultures that are different from their own. Thorough knowledge and understanding, there are a great benefit for leaders.

Question 5.

The differences between Eastern and Western cultures are numerous. In a very general sense, Eastern cultures are more traditional and more rigid. Their lives are measured in time and are sequenced. They follow a natural order and follow steps to achieve milestones. They follow a schedule and are uncomfortable when the schedule is interrupted. By contrast, people in Western culture follow a more modern lifestyle. They tend to live in space, following dreams that do not necessarily have a sequence.

Eastern and Western people differ in their personalities as well. People from Eastern cultures are usually more passive and contemplative. They think before they act, whereas Westerners are the opposite and often are found to act before thinking.

Their views of love are also very contrasting. To Eastern cultures, love is not displayed by words, but rather actions. People from Eastern cultures do not always marry for love either. Marriage is often entered into based on the economic, social, or educational background. This is very different in Western culture, where love is very vocal and expressed through romantic gestures. Marriage does not typically occur without deep feelings of love (Wang, 2007).

Question 6.

The 19th century was a time of change on a large scale. As societies transitioned from being more agricultural to industrial and populations became more urban and less rural, many changes were taking place, especially with vocation choices. The railroad industry, the textile industry, the invention of electricity, and machine manufacturing had a great impact on society. Society became more urbanized and there were higher levels of productivity and prosperity. The economy depended on railroad operation, textiles, agriculture crop prices, and the emerging stock market.

Because of the immense expansion of technology, the 21st-century culture has changed dramatically. There is much emphasis on humanity and protecting the world. There is a great disparity between the rich and the poor. Saving the earth, stabilizing the economy and reversing poverty, and balancing population growth are three major challenges facing the people of the 21st century. Globalism is becoming increasingly common. There is less of a gap between first and third world countries, especially regarding technology. The technological advances of this century have made it more complex. Capitalism is still present in this era and continues to be pervasive in the culture.

Question 7.

The major theorists of the 19th century were Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. Karl Marx’s social theories were evolutional and are still studied today. He was a German philosopher most famous for his theory on capitalism. Marx thought there was a struggle between the capitalists, who owned everything and the working class who provided the labor and were at the mercy of the capitalists.

Emile Durkheim was a fundamentalist who thought that society was always striving to find equilibrium and balance. He thought capitalism created excessive hope and envy, which was difficult to sustain and put pressure on individuals.

Max Weber’s most recognized work relates to Protestantism, capitalism, and bureaucracy. Weber believed that the hierarchal order of a bureaucratic organization was superior in the industrial society of the early 1900s. The military, state departments, political parties, religion, and education all had bureaucratic organization and ran very smoothly. He also believed that members of the Protestant faith had a strong belief in hard work. Through hard work, one was ultimately judged to be worthy. Weber believed that capitalism was a result of religion (The School of Life, 2015). The harder people worked, the more they would benefit financially. This would give them a continued incentive to work. He rationalized that universally applied rules and regulations would permeate more sectors of business and eventually become more bureaucratic (Ritzer & Goodman, 1996). Charismatic authority became less popular during this time period.

Question 8.

Charles Wright Mills is most famous for the term ‘power elite’. He used this term to describe people who ran the government or an organization because of wealth or social status.

Daniel Bell was a theorist in the post-industrialist era focusing his work on the influence of the service sector. Knowledge becomes a form of capital in areas such as law, science, IT, and business.

Pierre Bourdieu’s work on the cultural deprivation theory maintained that higher class cultures are better than lower-class cultures.

Question 9.

Important roles for leaders in the global marketplace are cultural intelligence, global strategist, visionary leader, and skilled communicator. Each of these skills is important to being successful in leadership in the global space. 

Cultural intelligence (CQ) is the ability to understand the nuances of different cultures and decipher or comprehend cultural cues. Global leaders will benefit from understanding how to interpret cultural dynamics and work with their diverse teams to improve relationships.  Highly effective global leaders display cross-cultural awareness and practice (Szu-Fang, 2013).

Visionary leaders have a strategic vision and can share that with their subordinates. Having a good understanding of cultural differences will help to bridge any gaps and reduce misinterpretations of communication and behavior.

Global leaders are constantly pursuing cross-cultural communication. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations occur frequently when communicating, especially among different cultures. Words and context are subject to interpretation and therefore are perceived differently. This can be difficult and challenging (Kahn,2015).  Language and culture are closely connected. Understanding cultural norms and values is helpful when navigating cross-cultural communication. Words have different meanings in different cultures and are rarely universal. 

Understanding communication principles is an essential leadership skill. Effectively communicating across cultures means to release deeply held attitudes, assumptions, rules, and doctrines that have been formed in one's own language and culture (Dolan & Kawamura, 2015). These principles guide habits and behaviors and will determine how successful leaders communicate with others.

Question 10.

Cultural Intelligence is extremely beneficial in conducting business internationally. Organizations with successful cross-cultural leaders can effectively manage diverse teams and challenging leadership practices (Szu-Fang, 2013). Being open-minded and accepting of the various beliefs and practices of a diverse group enhances the leader's skill set and produces highly productive teams. Work ethics, behaviors, communication styles, and techniques are all different from country to country. Learning about this and understanding how to manage the differences is a key element in leadership. It is important that employees feel respected and feel that their beliefs are valued. It is through this mutual respect that trusting relationships are cultivated and strengthened. 

Question 11.

Self-awareness is an essential leadership skill for negotiators. Having an awareness of bias and judgments and having the ability to control them helps to deal effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Being mindful of the differences helps to control anxiety and increases self-confidence. This, in turn, helps reduce the anxiety level of the interactions with others. One must adapt and embrace alternative ways of doing things and be prepared for this when negotiating business deals. A good negotiator separates issues and looks for options rather than reacting to initial thoughts and feelings. Having high self-awareness bridges the gap between cultures and allows for a higher degree of sensitivity to others’ needs.

Communication skills are of utmost importance in negotiation situations. The key to cross-cultural communication is knowledge. Understanding that communication can be difficult and having patience throughout the process is needed to navigate problems that are encountered along the way. Active listening is a way to mitigate these problems and will enable the negotiator to comprehend all aspects of communication and clear up any misunderstandings (Huang, 2010). Listening deeply is one of the most important skills negotiators can have. In addition, greetings, styles, attitudes, and meanings are all important aspects of cross-cultural communication. These variables can result in the success or failure of a business deal if not carried out appropriately.