Cross-Cultural Intelligence: The Case in Singapore (Term Paper Sample)

Cross-Cultural Intelligence: The case in Singapore
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Introduction
In essence, when folks from different cultures communicate, they initiate intercultural communication. The intercultural moment can either be successful or unsuccessful depending on some key elements. In both local and international companies, culture often shapes communication, and it dictates the potentiality of communication to a business. Singapore’s capital city has many workers and investors from different countries especially Philippine. Unfortunately, indigenous people do not regard foreigners as important people who can aid in the development of their country. Instead, they see them as people who compete with their schools, housing, and other public facilities. Indeed, this phenomenon has welcomed intercultural and interpersonal misunderstandings in the city particularly in Singapore companies (Gesteland, 2012). The abusive campaign hit the climax in the year 2014 when many Philippines migrated to Singapore for work and investments purposes. This essay is divided into two pieces; the part A and B. In part A, it courageously and deeply describes the key elements crucial in cross-cultural communication. These key elements can either initiate effective cross-cultural communication or lead to interpersonal misunderstandings. Part B entails the analysis of Filipino markets as well as designing of marketing and communications plan in an attempt to attract Filipinos’ to attend training in American Training Company located in Singapore. It does this in line with the theories of cross-cultural communication.
Part A
As a result of global business growth, expansion in technology and the coming of internet platforms, cross-cultural communication has become a crucial tool for companies whether they operate locally or globally. In Singapore, over 45.6% of companies in urban areas have employed international employees from Europe, India, Asia, Hispania, China, Africa and Philippine (Matsumoto, 2001).
In 2014, Filipinos organized a celebration that was heavily cursed by Singaporeans on internet platforms including Facebook. In gave birth to racial abuse and prejudice at the time. The argument was; the celebrations should have taken place in Filipinos embassy and not along famous and busy Orchard Road. Many leaders including Prime Minister, the famous Lee Loong came out to condemn such sentiments. In turn, the motion extended to workplaces and Filipinos were even not wanted in the positions because they competed for opportunities and housing facilities (Gesteland, 2012). Ideally, problems associated with cross-cultural communication were experienced at the time. Singaporean policies favored the migration of people into the country due to low birth rates witnessed in the time. Therefore, the government aimed raising its population.
In particular, there was a huge shift of personnel from Philippine to Singapore in 2014 due to the strong relationship that was built by political leaders of the time. However, this movement was not received positively by Singaporeans and, therefore, interpersonal and intercultural misunderstandings took part in many companies. Researchers clearly show the evidence of this situation by keenly looking at tonality, body language. Gestures and words used in places of work in Singapore cities(Matsumoto, 2001). In addition, deep structures like values, prejudices, beliefs, fears, experiences, dreams and feeling were major indicators of such situations. The key elements that took part in influencing cross-cultural communication include; language differences, nonverbal differences, high-context versus low-context cultures, environment & technology, conceptions of authority, and power distance.
Language differences
There is no other big obstacle to cross-cultural communication in companies than using different languages. Difficulties emerging from language usage fall in 3 sects; culturally-based variations among communicators, translation problems and difficulties experienced during the conveying of subtle distinctions. The link between workers and employees in Singapore might be ruined due to misinterpretation of concepts by foreign workers. In Singapore, common languages used are English, Mandarin, Tamil, Malay and some French language. On the other hand, the official language in Philippine is Filipino but English is taught as the second language. Despite restrictions imposed by Singaporean government concerning foreign workers intake, Singaporeans stand firm to blame Immigration policies which favor immigration from countries such as Philippine. As a result, global organizations are likely to face language problems. In the case where global organizations do not accommodate and train on common languages, members are likely to face language challenges.
Firstly, the Singaporeans will feel comfortable to use their languages at the place of work and, therefore, it creates misunderstandings between workers. In turn, social segregation is felt in every corner of city companies. Secondly, through English language can be used to bring together workers from different cultures, there is likelihood that workers will misinterpret concepts and instructions given. Studies on language as a barrier to cross-cultural communication show that 42% of Singaporean workers develop the negative attitude as a result of language difference. Equally, 71.5% of Philippine workers have a feeling that they do not interact rightfully and freely with indigenous due to language obstacle. Furthermore, Geert Hofstede, a theorist identified several dimensions one of them being individualism versus collectivism. In his theory, Geert identified the major cause of individualism which is language. Therefore, differences in language create small groups within the bigger working team. Each team is identified by its language. Eventually, the interpersonal relationship becomes weak. As a result, Singaporean launched an abusive campaign especially to Philippines, who are working in their country.
Environment and Technology
In essence, people utilize resources differently as per what culture dictates. Culture takes part in shaping individuals on how they should look at environment or technology. It makes people either accepts or reject, develop positive or negative towards the certain environment. For instance, climate, population density, topography, population size and availability of natural resources can be the root cause for interpersonal misunderstandings in Singapore. Equally, technology can be grouped into subjugation, control, and harmonization. Singaporeans who always oppose foreign workers especially those from the Philippine country were found not to believe the powers of technology (Matsumoto, 2001). Moreover, many indigenous Singaporeans are rigid in that they do not easily accept a change that has been borrowed from somewhere to their country. For example, Philippine workers might have come with different ways of working, coordinating and marketing in the company. They end up opposing these changes.
Regarding the environment, Singaporeans see Philippines are people who have brought congestion in the city and therefore deteriorating their cities. In 2010, research showed that over 35.2% of Singaporeans see foreign workers from a negative side while overlooking the other. When the two political leaders of Singapore and Philippine reinstated the relationship of the two countries, migration policies became favorable for both sides. Philippines found comfort and better pay in their country of destination. Consequently, the population increased. Unemployment cases were reported, and places of work people realized this. It gave birth to too many questions regarding foreign workers.
Authority conception
People with varied cultures view the distribution of powers in a different manner. Geert Hosfstede, in his theory, calls this phenomenon as ‘power distance’. It makes societies and individuals believe the powers in workplaces in distributed in an unjustifiable way. It is through these perceptions that bring misunderstandings in a business environment. In reality, many workers receive messages based on who is the sender, which rank or position the sender is. It means foreign workers especially managers are likely not to be obeyed by their subjects who are Singaporeans (Gesteland, 2012). They often take seriously messages that emerge from people in top positions than what other fellow workers communicate. In other words, people tend to agree with managers whose origin is Singapore than those who come from Philippine. As a result, the controlling of cross-cultural communication becomes difficult. Fons Trompenaars came up with a theory where he brought a distinction between Neutral and emotional. Neutral remains a situation where people judge messages in a just way while emotional people tend to give a biased interpretation of messages. The situation in Singapore seems to take an emotional direction whereby any Philippine, whether he is productive or not is considered a competitor or a disadvantage to indigenous people.
Nonverbal Behavior
Nonverbal communication plays a big role in informing people about one’s culture. Nonverbal behavior is broken down into prime six areas; body language, kinesics, dress, oculesics, eye contact, dress, and paralanguage. For instance, mode of dressing has been one aspect that brings cultural misunderstandings. Notably, foreigners especially Philippines were found to dress differently from what Singaporeans do. It created an obstacle in that workers and managers could not receive this in a welcoming way. Body language equally creates major misunderstandings. Edward T. Hall, in his theory, discovered that a message can be wrongly interpreted depending on language body (Matsumoto, 2001). Seemingly, many Singaporeans di...