Cross-cultural Communication in the Global Workplace

The Cultural & Linguistic Diversity Program at Immaculata University hosted a FREE 3-hour, half-day workshop on March 20, 2004 as an introduction to cross-cultural communication issues relevant to US domestic businesses, joint ventures, and larger global corporations.

Audience

Graduate students in the SEPCHE system who were studying business and organizational management, second/foreign language education for adults, cross-cultural studies, professionals currently involved in or interested in becoming trainers in workplace language training programs, human resources personnel in local and regional companies.

Presenters

Anne Lomperis
Language Training Designs, Germantown, Maryland

William Martin
Business English Program Coordinator, English Language Programs, University of Pennsylvania

Workshop Content

The workshop was structured around the work of Geert Hofstede, drawing from his 1997 Cultures and Organization: Software of the Mind, 2^nd Ed. Hofstede examines 6 dimensions in organizational culture. He then examines how cross-cultural misunderstandings might occur when these dimensions interact with dimensions of different national cultures:

relationship between the individual and the group (society)
concepts of masculinity and femininity
ways of dealing with uncertainty
time orientation

Workshop presenters introduced this framework and illustrated it with several short case studies as triggers for problem-solving activities. Emphasis was put on the role of communication. Presenters also provided information on additional resources concerning cross-cultural communication in the workplace and workplace language training best practices.

Sponsored through a Globalization Grant, SEPCHE / U.S. Department of Education/ Immaculata University