Addressing the Communication Challenges - Essay Example

The paper will list 5 specific strategies you would use to deal with this issue and discuss how office productivity by implementing this strategy. Malaysia is a conservative and predominately Muslim country in which patriarchy and deference to authority remain important priorities. From a cultural perspective, Farah may be resistant to say something from her supervisor due to the fact that male touching is inappropriate in her context. Thus, in Malaysia, it would be highly inappropriate for a male supervisor to touch a female colleague and in Farah’s case, this is what she is experiencing.

Farah is also a Muslim which makes inter-sexual mingling even more taboo. Because her society is conservatively minded, this is the third reason which may account for Farah’s resistance to her boss’ comments and unwanted attention. Due to the fact that Malaysian society is patriarchal, Farah, as a woman, may feel uncomfortable approaching her male supervisor and telling him that his behavior is unwarranted. Finally, because Malaysian society is conservative and hierarchal in nature, Farah will not feel as though she can approach her supervisor and let him know that she does not appreciate his behavior.

As a woman coming from a society in which male-to-female touching is not appropriate in a business context, Farah may thus feel uncomfortable discussing her problems with her supervisor. What are the important strategies which can be used to deal with issues surrounding intercultural miscommunication in an office setting? There are a variety of measures that can be undertaken in order to mitigate the fallout from Farah’s unwanted touching by a male supervisor. First and foremost this involves speaking with the supervisor directly and letting him know that touching female colleagues, no matter how friendly, can be perceived by some in a negative light and is not appropriate in an office setting. This conversation should be had with the male supervisor in private and need not be forceful or heavy-handed. It is simply a reminder of the protocol in an office setting. Following this, a conversation should be had with Farah so that she understands that this is perhaps merely an example of intercultural miscommunication and that the supervisor will no longer be engaging in unprofessional conduct with her. This conversation is an important tactic that will alleviate Farah and also remind her that she can continue to operate as a productive member of the office. A third strategy to mitigate this problem would include intercultural awareness training which will provide all members of the office with the tools that they need in order to function appropriately in an office setting. This sort of training can help everyone understand cultural differences and learn to appreciate others from different cultures. Thus, while Farah’s religion may play a role in determining her response to her male supervisor’s behavior, an introduction to Islam and Islamic behavior as part of the intercultural training seminar may be beneficial to all members of the office. Another strategy to deal with this issue would involve posting the rules and regulations surrounding appropriate office conduct in a visible setting so that all employees are aware of what would be considered appropriate and inappropriate conduct. By accepting multiplicity in the office, we are telling all members that they are equally valued but that there are certain fundamental rules which are applicable to all and must be followed. Finally, the office could institute a policy that promotes productive diversity by officially accepting pluralism, negotiation, and flexibility. By promoting productive diversity, each member of the office will be given an opportunity to raise his or her grievances and this provides a forum for constructive criticism. How can these strategies increase productivity? For one, all members of the office will feel more confident knowing that their diversity is valued and that they make a real contribution to the office. By valuing diversity and making that clear to all staff members, people like Farah will feel more comfortable letting their thoughts be known and thus can work hard and contribute to a healthier work environment.

Cultural communication is a very interesting subject to analyze in light of globalization and the interconnectedness of different cultural communities throughout the world. Evaluating one’s own cultural background is difficult to do from an objective standpoint. It is also even more difficult to understand how one’s cultural background affects our communication styles with people from our own culture as well as with people from other cultures. With the aim of understanding cultural communication fully, this brief research paper has sought to address the case of Farah in the Brisbane travel agency and the plethora of issues surrounding intercultural miscommunication in an office setting. The case of Farah in Brisbane has emphatically demonstrated that intercultural miscommunication is real in the twenty-first century and that productivity can be improved by providing a forum for intercultural communication and by demonstrating that diversity and a plurality of opinions are valued within your company.