This document provides an orientation for a graduate diploma program in English for Business and Management. It discusses several key topics: 1) Cultural differences that students will become more aware of through the study of business communication, including differences between Asia, Europe, and Thailand. 2) How students should respond to the variety of Englishes used in business communication, such as Singaporean English. 3) How the study of business English helps students conceptualize the notion of "professionalism". 4) How the study shapes students' identities by addressing concepts like Thai "shyness", identifying prejudice, and re-conceptualizing their sense of identity.

1. Business Communication
in the Global Contexts
Orientation Lecture for Thammasat Graduate Diploma in
English for Business and Management 2015
Suwichit Chaidaroon, Ph.D.
University of Westminster, London

2. A life without you is like a broken pencil …
Pointless
Are you google?
Coz you are everything I am looking for
Are you a camera?
Because everytime I look at you I smile
What makes you study English for communication?

4. 1. Am I more aware of cross-
cultural differences as I study
business communication?

5. The Asian Difference…
Europe (Malta)
Thailand

6. Outsourced

7. Upward Dissent
• Solution presentation
• Direct-factual appeal
• Circumvention
• Threatening resignation
• Repetition
Organizational Culture (Employees)
Tan, Y., Seow, Y. N., Chia, H., Kim, H. J., & Chaidaroon, S. S. (2012) Differences in perceived effectiveness
of upward dissent strategies between employees and managers: Evidence from Singapore. Proceedings for
the Corporate Communication Institute Conference, New York, USA.

8. H1: Employees will perceive solution
presentation strategy as the most
effective upward dissent strategy
H2: Employees will perceive threatening
resignation strategy as the least effective
upward dissent strategy.
Hypotheses

9. Results- Employee’s perceived effectiveness of four
different upward dissent strategies
5.17
4.36
5.74
4.25

10. Results- Manager’s perceived effectiveness of four different
upward dissent strategies
3.54
3.49
3.51
3.30
2.61

11. • Individualism VS Collectivism
• Power Distance
• Uncertainty Avoidance
• Task Orientation vs. Social
Orientation
• Short-Term Orientation vs. Long-
Term Orientation
Hofstede’s Model (geert-hofstede.com)

12. Thailand’s Dimensions

13. 2. How would you respond to the
variety of Englishes in business
communication?

14. Can
Can
Can ma
Can leh
Singapore & Singlish

15. A: Can?
B: Can
A: Can ma?
B: Can leh
Singapore & Singlish

16. 3. How does studying business
English help you conceptualize
the notion of “professionalism”?

19. 4. How does studying business
English shape who you are?

20. Thai “Shyness”
Chaidaroon, S. S. (2003). When shyness is not incompetence: A case of Thai
communication competence. Journal of Intercultural Communication Studies, 12
(4), 195-208.

21. Identifying Prejudice &
Calling for Empathy

22. Re-conceptualizing the notion of
identity