By
Amber Eldridge
Megan Jelinek
“You will never know a
man till you do
business with him”
Scottish Proverb
Culture and Context
 Culture specifies the appropriate communicative
behavior within a variety of social and physical
contexts
 Internalized cultural rules
 Differences in intercultural communication
Communication and Context
Three Basic Assumptions of Human Communication
1. Communication is rule governed
2. Context prescribes appropriate communication rules
3. Communication rules are culturally diverse
The Multinational Business Context
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Business Protocol
Management
Negotiations
Decision Making
Conflict Management
Business Protocol
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Elements that help initiate business relationships
Initial Contacts
Greeting Behavior
Personal Appearance
Gift Giving
Office Spatial Design
China
Appearance
 Subtle, neutral colors should be worn in business settings for both men
and women.
Behavior
 Do not use large hand movements
 Tipping in restaurants is considered insulting
 Bowing and nodding is the proper greeting
 Being on time is vital
 Most important person of your company should lead meeting, value
rank and status
Russia
Appearance
 Businessmen wear dark suits
 Do not take jackets off during negotiations
Behavior
 Standing with hands in pockets is considered rude
 Business appointments begin one or two hours later (do not expect an
apology from them)
 Patience is extremely important, punctuality is not
 Do not show the soles of your shoes, it is considered impolite
Saudi Arabia
Appearance
 Never show shoulders, stomach, calves and thighs
 No matter the temperature, most of the body must remain covered
Behavior
 Men shake hands with other men
 A businesswoman must wait for the man to initiate the handshake
 Do not cross legs while sitting
 The left hand is considered unclean and reserved for hygiene
 Must shake with right hand
New Zealand
Appearance
 When conducting business, dress conservatively
 Men must wear dark suits with a white shirt underneath
Behavior
 “Fashionably late” is not an option
 Punctuality is part of their culture
 Men generally wait for women to be the first to extend a handshake
 At the beginning of a meeting, it is vital to greet them with “How do
you do?”
Words of Advice
 Every business has it’s own personality and
culture. This, in turn, translates into unique sets of
rules and norms, often unspoken and informal
about how you should behave.
 It is critically important that you take the time to
understand the culture of a workplace
 If you don’t, you are almost assured of making
inappropriate and embarrassing mistakes.
Discussion Questions
 How do communication rules differ in particular
environments? (classroom, interview, house)
 In a business setting have you experienced any trouble
when dealing with a language barrier?
 How important is power in the U.S. and is it gender
based?