Communication challenges in a multi-cultural environment
Harjunen, Olli (2012)
Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2012
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2012061112447
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2012061112447
Tiivistelmä
Employees and companies do not stay within national borders anymore, which makes it vital to be able to understand people from different cultures. There are many verbal and non-verbal ways of communication that differ much between different cultures and, therefore, a good knowledge of them has an impact on how a person settles in his/her new environment or how a manager gets the most out of his/her multicultural staff.
First, the concept of culture is explained, after which the different theories on intercultural communication are described. Finally, a research of communication challenges when working abroad is presented. The research was done mainly using the qualitative method in order to reduce the limits of answering to the minimum.
The study results indicated that the awareness of intercultural communication and differences between cultures can be an important part of a successful experience of working abroad. Differences exist on many different levels and ignoring them may lead to undesired results.
First, the concept of culture is explained, after which the different theories on intercultural communication are described. Finally, a research of communication challenges when working abroad is presented. The research was done mainly using the qualitative method in order to reduce the limits of answering to the minimum.
The study results indicated that the awareness of intercultural communication and differences between cultures can be an important part of a successful experience of working abroad. Differences exist on many different levels and ignoring them may lead to undesired results.