Cultural Differences, Stereotypes and Communication Needs in Intercultural Communication in a Global Multicultural Environment The Employees’ Perspective

Arkadiusz Gut; Michał Wilczewski; Oleg Gorbaniuk

doi:10.36923/jicc.v17i1.729

Open Access Article Intercultural Communication

Arkadiusz Gut ⁽¹⁾ , Michał Wilczewski ⁽²⁾ , Oleg Gorbaniuk ⁽³⁾

1. John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

2. University of Warsaw

3. University of Lublin

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v17i1.729

Issue
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2017)

Submitted
2015 April 11

Published
2017 March 10

Keywords:

intercultural communication, business communication, cultural diversity, stereotypes, Chinese managers, collectivism, psychological needs

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Abstract

This study examines the personal opinions of Chinese employees working in a multicultural environment on the relationship between cultural diversity and the efficacy of their communication in a multicultural environment. To better understand the connection between cultural background and efficient business communication, we conducted a questionnaire survey in 2014 among 20 employees from a Chinese subsidiary of a European top global manufacturing company. Analyses showed that even if the respondents expressed negative effects of cultural differences on communication, they also manifested positive attitudes toward intercultural interactions. Moreover, ignoring or even disrespecting the different cultural values of interactants were regarded as basic barriers in intercultural communication, and such barriers can be avoided when a different cultural background is respected. Although cultural differences were considered to hinder the respondents’ performance and often to be a source of dissatisfaction, they did not discourage them from entering into intercultural communication.

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Authors

Arkadiusz Gut

Michał Wilczewski

m.wilczewski@uw.edu.pl (Primary Contact)

Oleg Gorbaniuk

Author Biographies

Arkadiusz Gut

Arkadiusz Gut, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Sinology, and a Chairman of Cognitive Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

Michał Wilczewski

Michał Wilczewski, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw, and a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Management, Society and Communication at Copenhagen Business School.

Oleg Gorbaniuk

Oleg Gorbaniuk, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Institute of Psychology at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

Gut, A., Wilczewski, M., & Gorbaniuk, O. (2017). Cultural Differences, Stereotypes and Communication Needs in Intercultural Communication in a Global Multicultural Environment The Employees’ Perspective. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 17(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v17i1.729

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