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 Understanding
cultural differences helps foster communication
In today's global economy, intercultural
communication skills are an essential element of the application
development manager's repertoire. With the expansion of offshore
development and the increasing number of foreign contractors,
successful communication requires a keen understanding of cultural
differences. In the IT field, this is especially true because
precise understanding of customer requirements can have a
significant impact on development outcomes.
But
effective cross-cultural communication first requires an
understanding of what culture represents. Culture is a complex
concept with many varied definitions. Even so, all have the
following in common.
- Culture refers to a group or
community with shared experience, values, and history.
- Members of a culture often
share a common attribute such as gender, race, or ethnicity.
- Culture influences what we
experience, how we interpret what we experience, and how we
relate to others.
Culture's
impact on communication
Let's
look at some of the many factors that influence communication
across cultures.
Formality
In the American society, it's common to address superiors by their
first names. But in other societies, where hierarchical social
systems are the norm, you'll find formality to be the standard.
Reliance
on nonverbal indicators
Americans tend to be explicit in communications, relying primarily
on verbal communication. But in cultures that rely heavily on
nonverbal queues for meaning, the spoken word is much less
significant. The American tendency to look directly at a speaker
may appear aggressive or even rude in other societies.
Attitude
toward conflict
Some cultures view interpersonal conflict as an opportunity to
settle disputes directly, whereas other cultures consider it
unacceptable and try to avoid it.
Perception
of time
Cultures differ on time perception. Some place a heavy emphasis on
promptness and schedules. In other cultures, time takes a backseat
to other factors, such as interpersonal relationships.
Delegation
of authority
Some cultures, where consensus is the norm, encourage the act of
delegating decision-making responsibilities. Other cultures place
a high importance on maintaining authority over one's self.
Expression
of emotion
In some societies, outward expression of emotion such as laughing,
crying, smiling, or frowning is common. Other cultures tend to be
more reserved with their emotions.
Disclosure
of information
In some cultures, openly discussing personal or otherwise private
information is completely acceptable, while other cultures find it
prying or intrusive.
Group
vs. the individual
In cultures where the individual is the focus, independence and
independent action are the norm. Other cultures may defer to the
group for action.
Cultural
differences in speech
Cultural
differences are also present in the mechanics and symbolism of
conversation. Here are some of the areas where you may encounter
disparity.
- Mechanics of opening or
closing conversations
- Pronunciation
- Grammatical structures
- Taking turns during
conversation
- Interrupting
- Silence
- Humor
- Sequencing of topics
Barriers to
communication
Application
development managers should be aware of several tendencies to
avoid when communicating. Here are some traps to look out for.
- Ethnocentrism: the inability
to accept another's cultural view
- Discrimination: differential
treatment based on a person's association with a particular
group
- Stereotyping: generalizations
of a person based on the application of group attributes and
ignoring individual characteristics
- Cultural blindness: ignoring
cultural differences as if they didn't exist
As an
application development manager, how can you communicate
effectively in cross-cultural situations? First of all, you must
be aware of cultural differences and respect them. You can begin
by raising your awareness of your own cultural tendencies when
communicating. You should also make the effort to learn the
nuances of other cultures and take steps to adapt how you
communicate with that culture's members. And, of course, you must
be tolerant of the differences. By raising our own awareness of
other cultural characteristics, we enable ourselves to be more
open-minded and accepting of these differences.
Scott
Withrow has more than 18 years of IT experience, including IT
management, Web development management, and internal consulting
application analysis
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