This document discusses understanding different cultures. It explains the difference between multicultural and cross-cultural, with multicultural meaning different cultures coexist without interaction and cross-cultural meaning communication between cultures. It also discusses three situations where cross-cultural communication can break down: when eliciting ideas due to different communication styles, surfacing disagreements as cultures express them differently, and giving feedback as the approach may be misunderstood culturally. The document emphasizes the importance of cultural interpretation and controlling discussions sensitively in cross-cultural teams.

1. understanding
the cultures
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2. “TRY SEEING, FEELING, AND TASTING THE
WATER YOU SWIM IN THE WAY A LAND
ANIMAL MIGHT PERCEIVE IT. YOU MAY
FIND THE EXPERIENCE FASCINATING -- AND
MIND-EXPANDING.”
- THE CULTURE MAP: BREAKING THROUGH
THE INVISIBLE BOUNDARIES OF GLOBAL
BUSINESS
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3. CONTENTS
01
02
03
Multi Cultural VS Cross Cultural
Cross-Cultural Communication
Breaks Down
Cultural Interpretation
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4. MULTI CULTURAL
VS
CROSS CULTURAL
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5. THE DIFFERENCE
MULTI CULTURAL
A society that consists of more than one culture or ethnic group.
Each cultural group doesn't really interact with each other that often.
CROSS CULTURAL
Communication happens between different cultures or ethnic groups.
The communication focuses on exchanging ideas and the development of
further and deeper relationships.
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6. CROSS-CULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
BREAKS DOWN
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7. THE STRENGTH OF CROSS
CULTURAL TEAM IS
ITS DIVERSITY
ON EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, AND INSIGHTS
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8. 3 SITUATIONS WHERE CROSS-
CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
BREAKS DOWN
A research done by Ginka ToegelJean-Louis Barsoux, as published on Harvard
Business Review per June 8th, 2016.
https://hbr.org/2016/06/3-situations-where-cross-cultural-communication-
breaks-down
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9. 01. ELICITING IDEAS
What will happen if a group consists of an American, a Japanese, a Finnish, and a
Brazilian having a discussion?
American - straightforward, unfiltered opinions
Japanese - talk after the elders talk
Finnish - think before you speak
Brazilian - overlapping oversations and interruptions
What should the team leader do to control the discussion?
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10. 02. SURFACING DISAGREEMENT
For example, to show opposition:
Latin and Middle Eastern tend to raise voices
Asia or Scandinavia tend to be silent and unresponsive body gesture
How to avoid conflict when there is any confrontation or disagreement?
How to encourage a healthy debate? Encourage everyone to give pros and
cons opinions
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11. 03. GIVING FEEDBACK
How to give constructive feedbacks, not be interpreted as a critic?
Giving the feedbacks in public (like the Americans) OR personally?
Which language to use in giving feedbacks?
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12. CULTURAL
INTERPRETATION
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13. INTERPRET
(VERB.)
(1) TO EXPLAIN OR TELL THE MEANING OF : PRESENT IN UNDERSTANDABLE TERMS
(2) TO CONCEIVE IN THE LIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL BELIEF, JUDGMENT, OR CIRCUMSTANCE
MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY
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14. @NABILAASAD

15. THANK
YOU
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