This document discusses cross-cultural communication. It begins by introducing the group members and defining culture and communication. It then defines cross-cultural communication and discusses its origins relating to globalization. It provides examples of challenges to cross-cultural communication and steps taken by institutions to reduce barriers. Finally, it discusses parameters that differ between cultures like context and communication styles, and provides strategies for overcoming barriers to cross-cultural communication at both the organizational and individual level.

1. CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
GROUP MEMBERS-
 SHIRLEY MASCARENHAS-839
 JAYASHREE PARKE-845
 RAHUL MARAIYA-838
 AKSHAY PATANKAR-846
 SUMIT MEHTA-840
 OMKAR NEMLEKAR-843
 VINAY MEHTA-841
 CHIRANJIVI PALITA-844
What is culture?
“CULTURE IS THE ART OF ELEVATED TO A SET OF BELIEFS “
- TOM WOLFE
Communication-
Communication is the sending of a message from a source to a receiver with least possible loss of
meaning.

2. Cross cultural communication-
Cross cultural communication is also referred as Inter cultural communication. It is field of study that
looks at how people from differing cultural background communicate
Origins of cross cultural communication-
During the Cold War, the world was polarized into two separate and competing powers , east
and west. Changes and advancements in economic began to break down old cultural barriers. Business
transformed from individual-country capitalism to global capitalism. Programs were developed to train
employees to understand how to act when abroad. Students must possess a certain level of global
competence to understand the world they live in and how they fit into this world.
What is interdisciplinary?
Interdisciplinary research means a mode of research ... that integrates information ... techniques,
perspectives, concepts and/or theory from two or more disciplines or bodies of organized or specialized
knowledge’
-Axelrod, 2008
Policy challenges in today’s world require political science to work effectively with other disciplines
(climate change, GM technology, stem cell research). This includes an imperative to work with natural
science – less well mapped and explored.

3. Global rise-
Global rise is nothing but is the process of globalization, especially the increasing of global trade with
different cultures, environment, different language and blend together. People from different culture
find it is hard to communicate not only due to language barrier but also affected by culture styles.
Cultures provide people with ways of thinking—ways of seeing, hearing, and interpreting the world.
When the languages are different, and translation has to be used to communicate, the potential for
misunderstandings increases. International literacy and cross-cultural understanding have become
important for global rise with the help of understanding and gaining knowledge of different country’s
cultural, technological, economic, and political health.
Reasons for increase in cross cultural communications-
 Increase in globalization
 International networking
 Intercultural understanding
Steps taken by institutions for decreasing cross cultural barriers-
 Organizational change
 Curriculum innovation
 Staff development
 Student mobility
 Worldwide research
 Visiting faculty
 Integration of international students
 Acceptance to change
On the positive side, cross culture communications help in-
Sharing of ideas and experiences, view different perspectives, exposure to varied thoughts, reduction in
biasness.

4. WYSE (World Youth Service Enterprise):
The world youth service enterprise (WYSE), is a worldwide educational charity specializing in education
and development for emerging leaders since 1989. In 1992, it came up with a vision to bring young
people from around the world together who wanted to make a positive contribution to their
communities. By this vision, people of different cultural backgrounds were able to face more global
challenges than before, and got to know their inner leadership. WYSE’s vision involves the respect
towards diversity of political, social and religious views of people from different cultures. Through the
programs undertaken by WYSE, the barriers to cross cultural communication were rooted off and a new
sense of common communication was developed.
Case study-
MEET (Middle East Education Through Technology):
MEET is an innovative educational initiative aimed at creating a common professional language between
Israeli and Palestinian young people. The sole purpose of MEET focuses on connecting young people
through joint interest and to provide opportunities to learn about each other. It provides a safe forum
for the Israelis and Palestinians to meet and discover one another’s cultures, and also to explore
similarities and differences within them.
Parameters perceived by people of different cultures-
1. High and Low Context Culture

5. 2. Non Verbal, Oral and Written
High and Low Context Culture-
It is the most important cultural dimension and immensely difficult to define. The idea of context in
culture was put forth by anthropologist Edward T Hall .
Low-context cultures assume that the individuals know very little about what they are being told, and
therefore must be given a lot of background information. High-Context cultures assume the individual is
knowledgeable about the subject and has to be given very little background information
Non verbal, oral and written-
Non-Verbal contact involves everything from something as obvious as eye contact and facial
expressions. Experts have labeled the term Kinesics to mean communicating through body movement.
Oral and written communication is generally easier to learn, adapt and deal wi th in business world for
the simple fact that each language is unique.
Overcoming barriers-
Overcoming
Barriers
Organizational
Efforts
Individual
Efforts

6. Organizational Efforts-
Media-
Notice board: Notice boards or bulletin boards are one of the oldest means of corporate
communication.
Intercom: Exchange of information without spending time walking up to the person or sending notes
through peons.
Intranet: An intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to share
information.
Channels-
The channel of information that is “who received what information through whom”. People like to get
information from right person or authority. Many organizations avoid long channels to ensure that
information moves directly and fast. If information is received through the wrong channel , it might give
rise to ill-feeling. Communication can be passed downwards in meetings.
Communication policy-
The administration needs a considered and well-implemented policy about its members informed.
Office procedures have to be laid down to ensure that messages and information reach concerned
person at the proper time. When information is not given in planned and systematic manner, the
employees show less confidence in management and talk rumors.
Attending to members need-
The competence, motivation and states of health of the members of the organization affect
communication among them. Training and welfare centers are among the efforts that organizations
make for maintaining a healthy atmosphere. Arrangement for training of all staff in the skills of
speaking, writing, reading and listening aspect.
Individual efforts-

7. Improving listening skills-
Each individual must find out his/her own special problems and barriers to listening. Training for good
listening is largely personal responsibility and can be done by personal efforts. Your listening reflects
your basic attitude to people rather than just skills.
Practicing feedback skills-
Getting feedback-
The other person’s reaction or response to the manager gives important information about
effectiveness of the communication,
Inviting questions: it is a common method, but not always effective.
Asking questions: it is find out what has been understood is another method
Requesting summary: “will you summarize the main points of what I have said, so that I can check
whether I missed any important points?”
Giving feedback-
In the role of communication, one has the responsibility to give feedback. One can check his own
understanding by giving feedback.
Skills while giving feedback:
-be specific, not general,
-give feedback immediately or soon after the event
-be descriptive, not evaluating
Receiving feedback-
It is different from getting feedback which means arranging for and making effort to find out how your
communication has been received by the audience.
Accepting feedback requires training as much as the art of getting feedback:
Genuine desire to improve, being non defensive, guard against over reacting.
Improving cross-cultural communication

8. With globalization of business and growth of e-commerce, everyone will be required to interact with
persons from other cultures in the course of their work.
It is better to assume similarity until you are sure, depend on descriptive rather than evaluating,
experience.
Bibliography-
1. Wikipedia
2. Google
3. Notes on communication
4. Books on cross cultural communication
5. Images downloaded from internet