Quest Journals
Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science
Volume 4 ~ Issue 1 (2016) pp:20-26
ISSN(Online) : 2321-9467
www.questjournals.org
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Prasanta Kumar Padhi 20 | Page
Dept. of English, Orissa Engineering College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Research Paper
The Rising Importance of Cross Cultural Communication in
Global Business Scenario
Dr. Prasanta Kumar Padhi
Dept. of English, Orissa Engineering College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Received 28 December, 2015; Accepted 30 January, 2016 © The author(s) 2015. Published with open
access at www.questjournals.org
ABSTRACT:- Language and cultural misinterpretations can be avoided by increasing our understanding of
other people and their cultures. The study of cross-cultural communication addresses this need by examining the
communications and interactions between people of different cultures and sub cultures. The fundamental
principle of cross-cultural communication is that it is through culture that people communicate. Globalization
has made intercultural communication inevitable. Communicating with other cultures characterize s today’s
business, classroom, and community. Technology especially the internet has increased the probability that
whatever is documented online will be read by someone from another culture. Intercultural communication is of
importance in any career field thus the art of knowing how to communicate with other cultures should be a work
place skill that is emphasized. Business firms will inevitably have to be accustomed to different working styles
of their workers who are drawn from different cultural backgrounds. It is imperative for business firms
to understand the cross cultural differences in their operations and this understanding acquires more importance
in the sphere of communicating with people hailing from diverse cultures. Hence a Multinational Company
(MNC) will have to ensure that steps are taken to overcome the barriers to cross cultural
communication in order to attaining organizational objectives effectively and efficiently. The paper deals
with understanding and significance of cross cultural communication, barriers to cross cultural communication
and measures to overcome these cross cultural barriers by developing intercultural competence in the
organizational set up.
Keywords:- Globalization, productivity, attitude, multiculturalism, provocation
Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything
from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. It is essential for today’s work force to be aware
of the differences in communication across cultures at their workplaces. A major component of a culture is its
systems of values, beliefs, and material products. First, culture includes belief systems that involve stories, or
myths, the interpretation of which can give people insight into how they should feel, think, and/or behave.
Second, culture includes value systems. Values are formed based on how we learned to believe things ought to
be or how people ought to behave, especially in terms of qualities such as honesty, integrity, and openness.
Third, culture is also defined by material products such as food, clothing, and music. Thus, culture provides
people with a general cognitive frame work for an understanding of the world, and for functioning in it. Culture
mediates relationships among men and between men and their environment. It is the primary determinant of
how a person views reality both consciously and unconsciously. Moreover it provides the context which enables
human beings to communicate. For these reasons, one’s professional career can never be separated from his or
her cultural habits. Cross-cultural training can put a negotiator in a beneficial position over his or her
competitors. Though many companies feel reluctant to train their employees, it is absolutely essential and
profitable in view of today’s increasing demand for interaction in different global scenarios.
In a global environment the ability to communicate effectively can be a challenge. Even when both
parties speak the same language there can still be misunderstandings due to ethic and cultural differences. Over
the last decade, there have been countless examples from the business sector that demonstrate how poor
communication can lead to poor organizational performance. Understanding the impact of globalization on
cross-culture communication is imperative for organizations seeking to create a competitive advantage in the
global market. Recent economic challenges further highlight the need for organizations to develop the internal