Communication across cultures Essay Example

Communication across cultures Essay Example Communication across cultures Paper Communication across cultures Paper The article presents an approach towards the critical interpretation of nonverbal cues from different language with respect to global communication whose importance has increased in the modern world especially due to globalization of international trade. Has been on the. In the introductory paragraph of the article, communication is explained as merely the exchange information that may take broad shape depending on people culture, first knowledge and level of education. Communication is also a way of passing our attitudes, emotions and desires using either spoken or non-spoken language. According to the article, sometimes due to language barriers that exist in passing our emotions and desires, sometime it becomes very crucial to understand the different ways we can improve communication on a global scale especially in this current era where business has been globalized and therefore transactions being made by people from diverse cultural background. Ideally, global communication is the ability to access information and transfer information across cultures throughout the world through listening, speaking and acting. Global communication is specifically very important in the business field due to the manner in which business tractions are carried out in the modern world. It is most important in areas where language barriers and cultural specification critically influence efficiency and quality of communication (Ainsworth, 2013). Communication in business remain a key factor toward s success of any business thus establishing global communication call for effectively understanding both verbal and non- verbal communication alongside interpreting languages into different mode that can be understood by people from diverse culture. The importance and the significance role of global communication was given a lot of weight after the Second World War with technological advancement and increased importance international relations. Global communication has increased its importance more specifically to evolutionary of global trade aided by technological advancements. Global communication is may take two forms with respect to corporate communication (Ainsworth, 2013). For instance, internal communication within a business will involve passage of information from within a business organization for example senior management to subordinate workers. International for of global communication in loves remittance and acquisition of information from international sources that are usually international. Article summary The article presents an illustration of the use of both verbal and non-verbal communication to aid communication global communication in international trade. In most instances, communication barriers arise due to cultural and language differences. In this event verbal and non-verbal cues offers a solution that facilities passage of information between business persons to ensure the transactions are effectively executed. For instance, in the event of language barrier as result of having different languages that each party cannot understanding, non- verbal cues are present ads vital item that offers a communication mean though crude to link the buyers and the seller in the international market (Ainsworth, 2013). In the event of misunderstanding between buyers and the seller, verbal cues offers a good channel through which the information not clearly understood is reinforced. This is most effective where both parties in a transaction are able to verbally communicate. Sometime s in case of language barriers the verbal cues offers a platform for eliminating any doubt and miscommunication by enabling the parties seek the assistance of a language translator. This ensures that message from each party in clear understood despite the challenges encountered in the communication process. According to Ainsworth (2013), every culture is very different and operates under different sets of rules which some of its members take for granted while others accord the required concern unto them. In the article, verbal and non-verbal communication strategies are established as the main drivers for reliable communication. Essentially, the articles tries to figure out the impacts of having a working communication systems across cultures as well as bringing into light the key elements of intercultural communication especially in business fields. Most importantly, according to Ainsworth, it is apparent that most of the worldwide business organizations recognize the impacts and the importance of intercultural communication as well as the significance of verbal and non-verbal communication cues. In fact, it is evident that globalization has played a major role in integrating the impacts of intercultural connections across the globe. Through critical understanding of the generalization in communication, verbal and non-verbal techniques have made the business field accomplish their desired goals and objectives by interlinking individuals and organizations from diverse spheres. However, the efficiency in international communication is profoundly influenced by cultural differences. The major challenge in communication and especially in business terms is that even when the communicating parties approach each other in good will, it is always perceived that miscommunication will likely cut short the endeavor especially in the event of cultural differences between them. More importantly, miscommunication, which is a result of poor use of verbal and non-verbal skills may lead to conflicts or augment the conflict, which may be present even before the meeting of the involved parties. The article goes further to explain the truth about different communication variables such as; time, space and responsibility as well as the personal fate in regards to verbal and non-verbal communication approaches. Critically, the article shows how communication in business practices is affected by global cultural concerns, ethnicity, personal communication techniques; that is the verbal and the non-verbal strategies. Inherently, according to the author of the article, non-verbal communication is the communication that makes sense in the absence of the words. Discussion When comparing this article with the other four read articles, I found there were several similarities as well as differences that were vivid after a critical analysis of the five. Terragni (2010), embarked on the idea that business communication depended fully on the effective application of the verbal and the non-verbal communication approaches. In the second article, the author majored on the idea that gender, ethnicity and cross-cultural differences were key to the effective business communication and that the three have profound impacts on the success of business communication set up, both locally and internationally (Longoria, 2006). In the third article, it was evident that the author recognized that business communication depends much on the efficient and realistic incorporation of individuals from diverse backgrounds as solution to the bigger differences that occur during international business communication processes (Lustig, Koester Zhuang, 2006). In the fourth article, I was able to find out that Martin Nakayama, (2007), wanted to show the world that the best way to communicate both verbally and non-verbally is by understanding that people from diverse cultures have different ways of communicating. In conclusion, all the articles offer a basic understanding of how individuals in communication should be flexible and open to change while in different environments. References Ainsworth, J. (2013). Business Languages for Intercultural and International Business Communication: A Canadian Case Study. Business Communication Quarterly, 76(1), 28- 50. Doi: 10.1177/1080569912471186 Longoria, R. (2006). Communication across cultures. interactions, 13(2), 28. Lustig, M. W., Koester, J., Zhuang, E. (2006). Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures. Pearson/A and B. Martin, J. N., Nakayama, T. K. (2007). Intercultural communication in contexts. Terragni, G. (2010). Communication across cultures. arq: architectural research quarterly, 14, 193.

5 Ways to Handle a Racist Family Member

5 Ways to Handle a Racist Family Member It’s no secret that family gatherings can cause stress and lead to conflict, especially if some family members have racial views that youre staunchly against. What’s the best way to proceed when a loved one seems not only small-minded but outright racist? Don’t suffer in silence through one family gathering after another. You can take several steps to stop the Archie Bunker of the family in his tracks. These strategies include setting boundaries and calling attention to the racist behavior. Be Direct Confrontations are never easy. That said, if you don’t want to listen to your parents or siblings rattle off racial stereotypes every Thanksgiving, the direct approach is necessary. How will your family members understand that you find their behavior offensive unless you tell them? The moment your sister makes a racial joke or uses a racial stereotype, tell her that you’d appreciate it if she didn’t make such jokes or racial generalizations in front of you. If you believe that calling out your relative in front of others will make her more defensive, ask to speak to her privately and then make your feelings known. If your family member uses a racial slur in front of you, request that she doesn’t use such epithets in your presence. Do so in a calm, firm voice. Make your request short and then move on. Don’t attack your family member’s character. Just let her know that her comments make you uncomfortable. Get Help What if this family member intimidates you if he’s an elder or an in-law and you aren’t comfortable calling attention to the behavior you find inappropriate? Find a relative you feel more comfortable with and request that he accompany you as you confront the family member you believe is offensive. Tell the insensitive family member that you love and appreciate him but find his views on race hurtful. Alternatively, if your grandfather has made remarks you consider racially insensitive, you might want to ask your parent to speak with him about his behavior. If your father-in-law is the party in question, ask your spouse to confront him about his language and attitudes concerning race. If no one else in your family will serve as an ally, consider taking a less direct approach to confronting your relative. Write a brief letter or email informing him that you find his comments hurtful and asking him to refrain from such remarks in the future. Don’t Argue Whatever you do, don’t get into a debate with your relative. Agree to disagree with this family member about race rather than listening to her argument about why her racial stereotypes are valid and you’re too politically correct. Stick to the following script: â€Å"I find your comments hurtful. Please don’t make these remarks in front of me again.† Arguing with the relative will likely be a waste of time. The family member will be on the defensive and you will be on the offensive. Meanwhile, you will have convinced her of little or nothing about racial sensitivity. Focus on your feelings about the relative’s comments rather than on the validity of her beliefs. Set Consequences Depending on your situation, you might have to set guidelines with your relative. Say, for example, that you have children. Do you want your children to hear the comments by your family member? If not, let your relatives know that if they make bigoted remarks in your children’s presence you will leave the family gathering at once. If your relatives routinely make such comments, let them know that you will skip family gatherings with them altogether. This is an especially important move if you’re in an interracial relationship or have multiracial children who will feel targeted by your family members’ comments. Try Outside Influences You probably wont open your relatives’ eyes about race by arguing with them about the issue, but you can take steps to influence them that they might go along with. Organize a family trip to a museum with a social justice focus. Have a movie night at your house and screen films addressing issues of racial inequity or showing minority groups in a positive light. Start a family book club and select anti-racist literature.

To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality Essay - 4

To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality lead to an increase in sales and profit - Essay Example product flow and quality, and determine how their association can be harnessed to promote sales as well as profits. Business organisations exist with a goal of maintaining continuous improvement and productivity; a goal that can only be achieved if high sales and profits are maintained. Enhanced sales and profits provide adequate opportunities and resources to the manufacturers that they apply for innovation and growth. Enhanced innovation enables manufacturers to provide superior and lean quality products that attract customers. Most companies strive to leverage operational improvements into strategies that transform the company (Williams, Haslam and Williams, 1992). Production flow defines the concept of mass production. It is the idea of producing large quantities that are manufactured through application of high standardised methods. Production flow is applied by many companies because it promotes the production process; it is easier and quicker. The introduction bit of the proce ss is cumbersome and difficult although it becomes easier once the production flow attains momentum. Owing to its emphasis on production of large quantities of commodities, production flow relies on the machinery for most of its roles. This implies that surmountable resources require to be allocated in the purchase, training and maintenance for the strategy to be efficient. Machines involved in this process should be selected and handled carefully to ensure that they are not vulnerable to wear and tear. This may lead to loss in terms of maintenance and replacement costs (Womack, Jones and Roos, 1990). According to Oulton (1987), mass production has its merits as well as demerits. Installation of the machinery required for production requires abundant financial resources. However, once the machinery has been installed, organisations save considerable financial resources, especially the money required in hiring and maintenance of human labour (Gilchrist, 1971). The work output is norm ally high. The accuracy levels are also high provided the machines are maintained in a superb working form. Machines are also capable of abiding to the set deadlines with no requirement for extensions. Abiding to the performance deadline is enhanced by the presence of assembly lines that allows continuous and consistent flow of manufactured products. This enhances output as well as the quality of the products produced in the long term, leading to increased sales and profits. Investing in production flow process benefits the manufacturer due to improved sales, leading to the increase in profits. Quality can be defined as the ability of a product or service to fulfil the client needs or expectations. Therefore, it can be measured depending on the level that the quality of a product satisfies the expectations of a consumer. High quality products have superior features that satisfy the consumer needs while the features of low quality products do not correspond to the needs of the consum er. For instance, the features that determine the quality of mechanical products include appearance, safety and reliability. Product quality improvement should consider the customer’s needs and expectations, extent of fulfilment of both national and international regulations and the competitiveness of the product (Williams, Haslam and Williams, 1993). Improving the product quality will not only satisfy the consumer needs; more customers will be attracted leading to increa To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality Essay - 1 To what extent can improvements in productive flow and product quality lead to an increase in sales and profit - Essay Example Additionally, there is product price, product quality, customer preference, and economic stability of a market. Product quality and productive flow are also factors that affect sales and profit. They have various ways through which they affect sales and profit (Shaharudin, Mansor, Hassan, Omar & Harun, 2011, p. 8163; Shetty & Buehler, 1991, p. 8). The extent, through which product quality and productive flow can increase sales and profit, can only be shown through explaining the effect of these two factors on sales and profit. How improving these factors can lead to increased sales and profit, will clearly be produced in the explanations given about their effects. The essay is, therefore, divided into two main sections: The effects of product quality on sales and profit, and the effect of productive flow on sales and profit. These will show the relationship between product quality and productive flow to sales and profit hence; help in understanding how improving the two factors can l ead to increased sales and profit. Effect of Product Quality on Sales and Profit The main element that brings value to a customer in the market offering is the product. A product is more than a tangible object. It includes performance quality, service features, brand name, design and packaging. The quality of a product is very important since it affects the product performance and so is connected to customer satisfaction and value (Shaharudin, Mansor, Hassan, Omar & Harun, 2011, p. 8164). Consumers of today seek high quality products. The only problem is different perceptions held by customers about quality. Any company interested in selling its products should conduct thorough market research, depending on the type of product they have, to determine what their consumers perceive as high quality. Consumers in the United States, for example, rank quality based on reliability of a product, durability, easy maintenance, ease of use, brand name and the price. This is specifically on mot or cycle products (Shaharudin, Mansor, Hassan, Omar & Harun, 2011, p. 8164). Improving the quality of a product, therefore, increases the sales of a product. Sales depend on customer satisfaction and value, and product quality is one way of satisfying the customer and offering something of value depending on the customer. The extent to which product quality affects sales is great. This is because, for goods to be sold, customers have to want, need or prefer them. Preference is most common where there are a variety of products with different features, prices, brand names, quality and so on. Product quality is a determining factor in preference for a product, so affects sales. Customer satisfaction and value is vast. There are different customers with different tastes, needs, and economic capability. All these determine the preference hence the intent to purchase a product (Shaharudin, Mansor, Hassan, Omar & Harun, 2011, p. 8164). Product quality is the totality of a product or servic e characteristics that give the product or service the ability to satisfy given needs. If a product fulfils a customer’s expectations, the customer becomes satisfied and begins to build loyalty. Loyalty is developed through trust and positive relationship with the customer. Customer loyalty retains customers and contributes to the number of sales made in a given period of time. This clearly indicates one of the various ways through which product qua

Marketing Strategy at Tesco plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing Strategy at Tesco plc - Essay Example Superior service quality leads to favourable behavioural intentions, customer retention, a constant revenue stream, increased spending, willingness to pay price premiums, and word-of-mouth advertising and customer capture. Verbalising good intentions is merely the first step in creating a positive attitude of satisfaction, but the second more important one is delivering on the good intentions. Kotler (1977) emphasised that a market-orientated business must focus not only on selling but on customer satisfaction but failed to emphasise the disconnection between the two. Zemke and Schaaf (1990, 53) argue that the really useful, specific, directly applicable information comes from talking to customers, constantly and often at length, to determine what the company is doing that makes them happy or not. Cronin and Taylor (1994) focus on performance measures of service quality rather than customer expectations. Piercy's (2002) customer relationship sliding scale (Fig. ... , specific, directly applicable information comes from talking to customers, constantly and often at length, to determine what the company is doing that makes them happy or not. Cronin and Taylor (1994) focus on performance measures of service quality rather than customer expectations. Customer Focus Piercy's (2002) customer relationship sliding scale (Fig. 7.1, p.344) is more complicated than the matrix used by Reinartz and Kumar (2000) to determine which types of customers are worth keeping and for whom the company must spend marketing resources to achieve retention. Its justification came from research that "it can cost five times more to get a new customer than to keep an existing one" (Weinstein et al., 1999, p. 119), following Reicheld (1994) who asserted that a 5 percent increase in loyalty can lead to a 25 to 85% increase in profitability. Pine (1993) talked of mass customisation and one-to-one marketing, echoing Hamel and Prahalad (1989) who warned of convergence of producers and customers with the Internet, which empower customers to become active co-creators of products, services, and value. Businesses have to show greater sensitivity to customer wants. Market Choices The simplified market choice diagram (Piercy, 2002, Fig. 8.1, p. 410) builds on the complex market analysis models proposed by academics such as the product-customer matrix (Piercy, 2002, Fig. 8.2, p. 412). These models build on studies made by management science academics as Freeman (1984) who proposed that the company must satisfy all of its stakeholders, quite an impossible task even for the best managers. Bartlett and Ghoshal (1994) argued for strategic choice, related to the purpose for the existence of the business. Hamel and Prahalad (1989, 75) suggested that businesses define

Love in a Snow Globe :: Snow Globes Personal Narratives Essays

Love in a Snow Globe Packing for college is a normal and exciting event in many newly turned legal adults’ lives. It is the first time they get to live with peers in place of nosy parents. Some items are packed are out of necessity, such as clothes, and others are to decorate the bland white walls and wooden desks to show some personality, which are all the things every teenager tells their parents they â€Å"need† to bring. When it was finally my turn to pack for college, there were many boxes that I â€Å"needed† to bring. Pictures of friends, celebrity posters, scheduling calendars, alarm clocks, school supplies, desk lamps, quick food, and tons and tons and tons of clothes were packed along with one tiny green snow globe on my first year of school. That snow globe meant and still means the world to me. The snow globe was given to me before college, even before my final year in high school. It was a random day in the summer of 2002. That was the summer before my senior year of high school. It had been one stormy week of summer. I do not mean literally in the sense that the weather was like the end of the world type weather, but mentally and physically for me the past weeks have been nothing but thunder and lightening going off in my head. A gray storm cloud had been hanging around over my head, raining on me and only me. It was because during the last three weeks of summer vacation, I had spent hours upon hours in my high school looking at the concrete walls painted as though a rainbow had thrown up inside the school. My time had been spent on trying to fix my schedule of classes, so that I could have the perfect balance of classes to slack off in and ones that would impress colleges. The lazy counselor was taking her time and needed me to return almost everyday so that she could lecture me about her personal life. This information was important to the reason why she continued to have trouble with scheduling my classes to my liking.

Foundations of Human Services Worksheet Essay

1. Identify the four themes of human services. The four major themes of human services according to the chapter are one problem in living human beings not being able to meet their own needs all the time. Second the growth number of problems in modern world helps with people not able to get help from family or the community. Third self-sufficiency giving people the tools needed to provide for themselves. And last, social care is assisting clients in meeting their social needs, with the focus on those who cannot care for themselves, social control in who receives services and under what conditions they receive them and rehabilitation is the task of returning an individual to a prior level of functioning. 2. Identify professional disciplines that influence human services. Sociology examines ways in which human societies influence the people who live in them. Sociology helps the human service field by trying to understand the differences within human culture. Also to understand the surroundings of life affect their living, like family structure, roles within the family, gender, race, and poverty. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It embraces the affects of human functions of the brain from childhood to old age. And for Anthropology is the study of culture, physical, and society. 3. How have societal viewpoints concerning mental illness or health influenced human services over the past three centuries? The societal view point in the beginning was people who were mentally ill were treated as if they were physically ill. In hospitals and they lived in atrocious conditions and were treated with brutality and cruelty; customary treatment methods was bleeding, restraint, and cold showers. Then occupational therapy, amusements, and exercise were introduced. Over the years the bad treatment in hospitals was closed and some stopped and centers was open in patient out patient, and groups homes now help with the treatment of mental illness. It is not treated as one illness for everyone but as an illness for just that person. 4. How have societal viewpoints concerning child welfare influenced human services over the past three centuries? Societal viewpoints went institutions multiplying, as the public demanded the removal of children from almshouses. Unfortunately, juvenile institutions were not always an improvement, and overcrowded conditions and poor care prompted the establishment of a system that placed children in private homes. To having foster parents and rules of child care in place that must be followed. There are now services in place for children that max out of the system to get help with food, education, and housing. Families can now get child care, the Earned Income Tax Credit, food stamps, and Medicaid to help take care of their children. 5. How have societal viewpoints concerning incarceration and probation influenced human services over the past three centuries? According to the chapter the probation system we have today started back in 1813. Things have been added to it along the way, like meeting with the prisoners before they are set free into the world to see if they have somewhere to go and if they need help with housing, food and employment. Today probation is given by a judge and can be also given after serving time in prison. There are probation officers in place to make sure that they are following the laws, getting help to get off of probation and live in the real world. 6. Explain how political and legislative changes have affected client care. Over the time political and legislation have changed laws. To make things work for the people and the government. Rules and guidelines put in place for human service workers to follow to help clients with their needs. Also with guidelines and rules for clients to have to follow so they can receive government assistance. The rules are still changing today due to the amount of need and the limited funds available. Guidelines are changing who can qualify for help and who don’t. Also the amount of children you can claim. Changes will always change for good and bad as time go on until legislation finds what works for all equally.

An Analysis Of Daniel Dennett s Consciousness - 1821 Words

Introduction As our scientific paradigm has shifted towards a materialist account of the world, many thinkers believe that appeals to the supernatural cannot provide truth. Consequently, beliefs that had once been considered adequate must now be reworked if not torn down entirely to fit this new world view. Daniel Dennett’s book Consciousness Explained attempts to provide an account of our internal experience (i.e. Consciousness) that is rooted in the materialist world view. Though he is not the first to undertake this project, he takes issue with what he perceives to be the popular materialist account of consciousness, and seeks promote his own theory. With this essay I aim to offer an informative summary of the book followed by an evaluative dialogue of its central claims. Dismissal of Dualism Before introducing his theory Dennett offers a brief dismissal of Dualism. Dualism is the belief that there exists along with the body an immaterial soul. Depending on the variation of Dualism, the soul either contributes to or produces what we perceive to be conscious experience. Dennett takes issue with this view through inspection of the body’s interaction with the soul. He argues that the soul being an immaterial entity shouldn’t have any causal relationship with the material body. The aforementioned argument is grounded in empirical observation. As far as we know there isn’t any evidence of unobservable material thing having causal interaction with the material world.Show MoreRelatedReview Of Dennett s Quining Qualia 1562 Words   |  7 PagesDennett’s â€Å"Quining Qualia† Daniel Dennett looks to quine qualia, or completely disprove their existence, in â€Å"Quining Qualia.† He is successful in creating a theoretical framework by which many intuitive arguments for qualia can be struck down. Because of his success, an argument from introspection is difficult to make; Dennett seems to successfully refute many of the arguments given by intuition or folk psychology. I will adopt Eugene Park’s criticism in critiquing Dennett, showing that an argumentRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 Pagesreconciling the diversity and change of the natural universe, with the possibility of obtaining fixed and certain knowledge about it; questions about things which cannot be perceived by the senses, such as numbers, elements, universals, and gods; the analysis of patterns of reasoning and argument; the nature of the good life and the importance of understanding and knowledge in order to pursue it; the explication of the concept of justice, and its relation to various political systems[8]. In this period