Communicating in Multinational Organizations

Combining current theories and research with practical illustrations, this book examines communication within organizations between people of different cultural backgrounds. Highlighting ways in which misunderstandings arise, contributors show how to foster better relations.

Part One provides theoretical and research foundations for the investigation of intercultural organizational communication. Part Two probes the cultural bases for communication in multinational organizations by contrasting Latin American, Asian, Western European and North American styles of communicating. The final part details issues regarding cultural diversity, intercultural training and adjustment in the workforce.

Published in cooperation with the Speech Communication Association Division on International and Intercultural Communication Division As multinational organizations sweep across the world, the need for an ability to communicate across cultures and countries increases. Timely and accessible, Communicating in Multinational Organizations brings together key scholars throughout the discipline to combine the latest theories and research with practical illustrations applicable to training. They examine communication within organizations between people of different cultural backgrounds, highlighting the means in which misunderstandings arise and the methods that foster better relations. The first section provides theoretical and research issues on communication in multinational organizations; the second section probes cultural foundations by contrasting Latin American, Asian, Western European, and North American styles of communicating; and the third section details such issues as cultural diversity, intercultural training, and adjustment in the workforce. Communicating in Multinational Organizations is an invaluable volume for courses in international management and cross-cultural communication, as well as for scholars, trainers, and practitioners involved with organizations that cross cultural or national boundaries.