International Organizations and Operations: An Analysis of Cross-Cultural Communication Effectiveness and Management Orientation

Authors

  • Ephraim Okoro, Dr. Howard University School of Business, USA

Keywords:

International Organizations, Cross-Cultural Communication, Intercultural Negotiation, Multinational Skills, Globalization, Global Economy

Abstract

The global environment of business has become exceedingly complex as more and more corporations and private entrepreneurs compete to expand their market-share and differentiate their brands in the world marketplace. Globalization has increased consumer awareness, created new demands and standards, and made nations more interdependent.  It is now imperative that businesses in different countries increase their sensitivity and respect for one another’s cultural differences in order to benefit from the growth of international business in the twenty- first century. Studies indicate that effective cross-cultural management, communication, and negotiations should be emphasized by high-growth multinational corporations competing for global expansion.  Corporations that have embraced appropriate acculturation strategies, employed effective cultural awareness model, and avoided ethnocentric management style in their expansion and growth efforts have been successful.  Other studies identified the major causes of the demise of global business ventures, citing their managers’ lack of intercultural skills, failure to engage in cross-cultural exchange, inability to communicate effectively in the global marketplace, unacceptable practice of business ethics and etiquette, and absence of compromise agreement. Global managers should establish cross-cultural training in their facilities in order to increase effectiveness across cultures, become efficient cross-cultural negotiators, and sensitize to the values of counterparts. This study provides an analytical framework and recommendations for adaptation of multinational management strategies for sustainable business competitiveness in the current wake of global economy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Ephraim Okoro, Dr., Howard University School of Business, USA

Ephraim Okoro, PhD is an assistant professor of business communication and marketing at Howard University School of Business.  His research interests probe the interface between intercultural communication and workforce diversity in the context of globalization.  He teaches management communication, strategic communication, business communication, marketing communication, and the principles of marketing. Address correspondence to Dr. Ephraim Okoro, Department of Marketing, School of Business, Howard University, 2600 – Sixth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20059. 

References

Axtell, R.E. (1998). Gestures. New York: Wiley.

Bovee, C. L., & Thill, J. V. (2010). Business communication today (10th ed.). Boston: Prentice Hall.

Brett, J. E. (2001). Negotiating globally: How to negotiate deals, resolve disputes, and make decisions across cultural boundaries. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Budhwar, P. (2001). Doing business in India. International business review, 43 (4), 549-568.

Cardon, P.W. & Scott, J.C. (2003). Chinese business face: Communication behaviors and teaching approaches. Business communication quarterly 66 (4), 9 – 22.

Carte, P. & Fox, C. (2008). Bridging the culture gap: A practical guide to international business Communication (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Kogan Page.

Chaney, L.H. & Martin, J.S. (2011). Intercultural business communication (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Dresky, H (2006). International management: Managing across borders and cultures.
Pearson/Prentice-Hall Publishing: Upper Saddle River: NJ

Early, P.C. (1997). Face, harmony, and social structure: An analysis of organizational Behavior across cultures. New York: Oxford University Press.

Harris, P R. & Moran R. T. (2000). Managing cultural differences. Gulf Publishing Company: Houston, TX

Hodgetts, R. M. & Luthans, F. (2002). International management: Culture, strategy and behavior with world map. The McGraw-Hill publishers: New York: NY

Harper, T. (1997) Passport United Kingdom: Your pocket guide to British business, customs, and etiquette. Dan Rafael, California: World Trade Press.

Martin, J.S. & Chaney, L.H. (2006). Global business etiquette: A guide to international communication and customs. Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers.

Mole, J. Mind your manners: Managing business cultures in Europe. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.

Morrison. T., Conaway, W.A., & Borden, G.A. (1994). Kiss, bow, or shake hands. Holrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation.

Movius, H., Matsuura, M., Yan, J., & Kim, D.Y. (2006, October). Tailoring the mutual gains: Approach for negotiations with partners in Japan, China, and Korea. Negotiation Journal, 22(4), 389-435

National Business Education Association. (2007). National standards for business education. (3rd edition). Reston, VA: Author

O'Rourke, IV, J. S. (2010). Management Communication (4thth ed., pp. 280-289). Upper Saddle, Rver, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Peterson, B (2004). Cultural intelligence: A guide to working with people from other cultures. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press

Thill, J.V. & Bovee, C. L. (2011). Excellence in Business Communication. (9th edition). Prentice Hall publishing: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Salacuse, J. (1998, July). Ten ways that culture affects negotiating style: Some survey results. Negotiation Journal, 221-240.

Ting-Toomey, S. & Kurogi, A. (1998). Facework competence in intercultural conflict: An updated face-negotiation theory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 22 (2), 187 – 225.

Tinsley, R.L. & Woloshin, D.L. (1974). Approaching German culture: A tentative analysis. Teaching German, 7 (1), 125-136.

Troyanovich, J. (1972). American meets German-cultural shock in the classroom. Teaching German, 5 (2), 67-79.

Watson, A. & Chatterjee, S. (2006, June). Going international: What we can learn about international strategy, market entry, an resource allocation from the game of Go. Journal of Teaching in International Business, 17(4), 5-26.

Yu, T. & Cannella, A. (2007, June). Rivalry between multinational enterprises: An event history approach. Academy of Management Journal, 50(3), 665-686.

Downloads

Published

2013-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles