Reference no: EM131361887

Organizational Communication

I need a reply/response to these discussion board answers. Just read the discussion board answers, and respond to the information you read by also adding your own point of information about each topic itself to each discussion board answers not about how to correct the person answers by saying he or she needs to add more information or saying you agreed without stating why. Just four to six Lines response each. Please I need good and quality response to these discussion board answers. Please I need good and quality reply, and plsi want you to add more information about the their answers n your contribution to my classmates answers and topic.

Question to my classmates answers below

Activity 1 Question

After reading the Cultural Competency Module, reflect on your own communication competence. In what areas are you weak?  How can you address your weaknesses and build a strong communication competence?

Activity 2 Question

As we've learned from our readings this week, culture plays a significant role in communication. In other words, how we communicate depends on our own culture and the culture of the person with whom we are communicating. Take the self- assessment (located in the Week 2 Content area) and share your observations about your results. Were they what you expected? Identify your biggest challenge in dealing with cross-cultural communication.

Activity 3 Question

Select a country with a name starting with the first letter of your first or last name. Develop your cogent thoughts about the communication practices in that county and demonstrate what you have learned about organizational communication styles for the country you selected.

Activity 1 - Jared Campbell

After reading the Cultural Competency Module, reflect on your own communication competence. In what areas are you weak?  How can you address your weaknesses and build a strong communication competence? Post your thoughtful ideas and then respond to at least 2 of your colleagues.

Honestly, I feel that I am very aware of the majority of information mentioned in this module. Though, just for the purpose of this activity, I will say that I am probably weakest in understanding the intricacies of various cultural perspectives. For example, there were numerous regions or countries that I could not identify with in the module. Though, after further reading, and the self-assessment, I can understand better how and why people of these cultures react the ways they do.

When I attempt to communicate with individuals, I need to understand that even though what I am asking for or stating seems logical to me, others could easily misinterpret it. I think the best way to combat this misunderstanding is to ask follow up questions, ensure comprehension, and attempt to understand apprehension. By asking follow up questions you are ensuring comprehension while not insinuating that you believe the other party does not understand. By ensure comprehension, I meant that it is possible to continue discussing the topic, obviously not ad-nauseum, to find gaps in the other party's comprehension. Lastly, if there is apprehension following communication, it is necessary to follow up and understand the reasons the other party might hesitate. Hope this makes sense.

Marlene Coffey

This module on cultural competency to me was very interesting and informative.  I work for a very diverse school district.  I spent 10 years in elementary classrooms and working with various children one-on-one.  I was exposed to many different behaviors, views, and values.  My one weakness is the inability to speak another language, which did build barriers between non-English speaking students and me and their families.  Due to my inability to speak different languages, I had to find ways to communicate with the children and their parents, guardians, and family.  I learned quickly certain "phrases" and was able to associate them with English.

To build a strong communication competence with the students involved patience.  I found that many times pointing, drawing pictures, smiling, and just sitting next to a student whom did not speak English started to build a bond.  I also learned that to address an issue, it needed to be thought out and that different cultures needed to be handled differently.  For example, when addressing an issue with boys, many of them responded better if I did not look them in the eyes.   Instead, I would sit next to them and discuss it.  I found that communicating with adults was not as easy with parents.  I understand their desire to advocate for the child, but many times it truly was hard when the parent misinterpreted what is being said.  Understanding and respecting different cultures is essential and can make a difficult issue a bit easier when one displays respect.

I also learned to have students demonstrate what I thought I explained to them.  This demonstrated that either what I tried to explain and teach was comprehended the way I intended or my intended message was not received the way I had hoped.  I found that working with elementary children they are loving and need to know that one cares, even if we do not speak the same language.  Working with children who were non-English speaking was a slow, but a rewarding process.  The smile on their face once they grasped the concept was "worth a thousand words".

Activity 2 - Jared Campbell

My results were definitely not what I had expected. They were kind of low. I think that the area in which I struggle is most likely with the different styles of management. I can understand the different values and culture an individual may have. Dealing with a polychromatic environment, however, proves to be difficult due to the need of ensuring all parties are satisfied. I have worked in polychromatic environments my entire life and have never seen a communicative environment that does not leave at least one person by the wayside. I don't know if that is because it was not a priority to my managers, or it was impossible.

 

Marlene Coffey

After taking the self-assessment, I was pleased with my results on paper.  I do wonder though, if I was actually in the given situations, would I have scored the way I did.  I believe it is easier to answer questions to situations that are on paper than to deal with real life experiences.  The one area I thought I would have scored higher was behavioral flexibility.  Although I thought I would have scored at full level, I did not.  After going back to the questions that reflected my score, I realized why.  I am not very adventurous to eat food that contains ingredients I do not know what they are.  I also seldom go out to eat and when I do, I enjoy salads and salmon.  I also realized that my job in the accounting department has rules and they need to be adhered to.  What I failed to realize is that I often do not accept criticism easily pertaining to my work habits from colleagues.  I need to reconsider this issue, change my viewpoint, and be more open.  Constructive criticism is essential and only makes one better.

Activity 3 - Mable Henderson

Mexicans practice an indirect form of communication whereby the receiver will need to imply what is meant and/or read between the lines.  Communication is often provided in a high context with background information assumed depending on the nature of the relationship.  It is often formal in nature, giving sensitivity to a person's age or position; valuing politeness and courtesy.  The person communicating should be emotionally expressive.  Trust and credibility is established by displaying emotion in communications.  Visible displays of feelings are made through nonverbal behavior.

In business settings, there are several guidelines that Mexicans follow in their culture regarding communication.  They view a person's comfort level with public speaking to be a sign of good education and is a requirement of the upper class.  Language reinforces hierarchy and it is suggested to speak more formally with management when possible.  One's clothing also serves as a mode of communication for a person's overall status, and they place a special emphasis on accentuating the positive in all situations.

Maria Vazquez

Venezuela is located in Northern South America.  Its official language is Spanish, but there are numerous indigenous dialects due to the variety of its ethnic groups (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people.)  Venezuelans are very friendly and would go out their way to welcome a guest feels comfortable.  When conducting business with a Venezuelan, a firm handshake with direct eye contact and a welcoming smile is a must.  Their greeting is very formal and they address to the other person by their professional title and last name.  It is a formality to introduce themselves directly to the eldest person in the room and greet or say good-bye to each participant individually.  If invited to a Venezuelan's home for dinner or other event, it is customary to send flowers in advance or if a present is to be presented to the host, the host would open the present right away.  It is a must to arrive 15 or 30 minutes early to an event.  The dress code is formal or casual attire.  Venezuelan's usually offer a cup of coffee at the end of dinner or during other events, it is of bad manners to decline the offer.

During a dinner event, the Venezuelans wait to be told where to be seated and wait until the host says "buenprovecho" (equivalent to enjoy or have a good meal) to start eating.  It is of bad manners to eat with the elbows on the table.

When conducting business meetings, Venezuelans are very punctual.  They prefer face-to-face meetings.  When introduced at a meeting, Venezuelans exchange business cards with everyone at the meeting.  Decision-making does not take place during the meetings.  Meetings are for negotiation and terms exchanges.  Hierarchy is very important for Venezuelans for the person with the most authority makes the decision.  Venezuelans prefer to get to know people before addressing businesses.  To establish trust before conducting businesses is very important for Venezuelans.  Negotiation process is long and could take several meetings before reaching an agreement.  The business attire is very formal during a meeting, appearance is very important for Venezuelans.