跨文化交际_案例分析Case_analysis

Power Distance Index

Country PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO Philippines 94 32 64 44 19 Egypt 80 38 52 68 Japan 54 46 95 92 80 United States 40 91 62 46 29 Germany 35 67 66 65 31 Austria 11 55 79 70

Germany has a http://www.77cn.com.cnpared to some countries where the power distance is very high (80) and Austria where it very low (11), Germany is in the middle. Germany does not have a large gap between the wealthy and the poor, but have a strong belief in equality for each citizen. Germans have the opportunity to rise in society.

Inpidualism

The United States can clearly been seen as inpidualistic (scoring a 91). The “American dream” is clearly a representation of this. This is the Americans hope for a better quality of life and a higher standard of living than their parents . This belief is that anyone, regardless of their status can pull up their boot straps and raise themselves from poverty.

Masculinity

Germany has a masculine culture with a 66 (Netherlands 14). Masculine traits include assertiveness, materialism/material success, self-centeredness, power, strength, and inpidual achievements. The United States scored a 62 on Hofstede s scale. So these two cultures share, in terms of masculinity, similar values.

Uncertainty avoidence

Germans are not to keen on uncertainty, by planning everything carefully they try to avoid the uncertainty. In Germany there is a society that relies on rules, laws and regulations. Germany wants to reduce its risks to the minimum and proceed with changes step by step.

A case

Situation

Li Hong is a new teacher in a middle school. One day, one of her Chinese colleague Yang Zhen introduces her to their middle-aged foreign teacher Maggy. Yang: Li Hong, this is Maggy, our English teacher from America. And Maggy, this is Li Hong, our new colleague. Li and Maggy: How do you do? Maggy: Your sweater is so smart. Li: Oh, it is only an old one, I bought it last year. Maggy: You are so young and smart, I am sure you are a good teacher. Li: No, no. I am just a newcomer, I should learn from you old teachers. Maggy looks surprised and thinks,” Am I really so old?"

Case analysis:

In this case, Maggy is too bold. She should not be too talkative. Li Hong is too modest. She should be more talkative.

Case analysis:

Li Hong comes from a collectivist culture which emphasizes deference paid to people older than self and modesty displayed on the part of the young. Maggy comes from an inpidualistic culture which values assertiveness and free expression of feelings.

Case analysis:

As a young and new teacher, Li Hong showed her respect to Maggy with a formal greeting. When Maggy complimented Li on her sweater and herself, Li reacted in a typical Chinese way by overusing modesty in front of a teacher older than her. She displayed her humbleness by saying that her sweater was an old one and she should learn from Maggy, an old

teacher. Li’s responses are perfect between Chinese people but terrible in cross-cultural situations like this. She did not realize that her expression of respect could be translated into offence since inpidualistic cultures do not associate as much deference with age as collectivistic cultures do. Therefore, Maggy, coming from an inpidualistic culture, was surprised when Li called her “old teacher”. Maggy did not understand that the word “old” here meant as a compliment, meaning that she had richer teaching experience. Both Li Hong and Maggy communicated only from their cultural perspectives and thus caused miscommunication.

Case analysis:

To avoid miscommunication, Li Hong and Maggy should learn more about each other’s culture and adjust their behaviors accordingly. When Maggy complimented Li on her sweater and herself, Li could simply reply “thank you”. She could use her nonverbal language to show her respect to Maggy, for instance, with a smile, a handshake, etc. (2 points) As to Maggy, she could use fewer complimentary words or more objective questions to reduce Li’s nervousness. She should also understand that one of the key values in collectivism is deference paid to experience and old age.

Techniques about case analysis

Analyze a case from a cross-cultural perspective Apply cross-cultural knowledge in the analysis

Another case

It is the first time for Kate, an elderly American professor to come to teach in a University in Beijing. Wang Hong(王虹), her Chinese colleague, took time out of her busy schedule to visit Kate one day to make sure things were going well from the beginning of her stay in China. As a local resident, Wang wanted to do her best to help Kate. In Kate’s apartment, Wang checked every thing from the telephone line to the closestool (马桶). She wrote down directions for Kate to nearby shopping malls, post offices, supermarkets, flower shops, and other places. After finishing all this, Wang sat down, expecting Kate to offer her something to drink. To her amazement, Kate asked, “Do you want to stay longer?” Your analysis?