Learning Portfolio, Cross-Cultural Communications - Literature review Example

Learning Portfolio Name Institutional Affiliation Learning Portfolio Introduction The present paper presents a learning portfolio. The portfolio will involve an analysis of personal reflection concerning three topics, which have been covered in this unit. The portfolio will be aimed at demonstrating my understanding, analysis, as well as the reflection in relation to the three topics of choice. In addition, each portfolio entry will integrate my personal experience and own research, regarding these learning topic. In details, the analysis will focus on three areas; first is the how my learning of each topic relates to my prior knowledge, expectations and experiences, second is how my research tells me regarding the topics and lastly the actions I intend to take regarding the learning about the topics. Week 3: Cross-Cultural Communications Relation of my prior knowledge, experience and expectations to the topic learning My prior knowledge regarding the cross-cultural communication is that is one of the complicated issue in communication. Some communications and signs have different meaning in different cultures. For instance, some communities consider some cultural practices acceptable within themselves while others consider them as taboos. The above concept is enhanced by the stipulation of the present leaning. The learning indicates that cultural awareness is very significant in order to relay the intended message, since different messages have different meaning in different cultures. Therefore, cultural difference awareness helps us to understand the how different cultures communicate and work. I have a personal experience that different cultures attach varying values to different aspects. For instance, the value they attach to their power and status in the society, individualism and collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity and femininity. These aspects affect the communication between these cultures. The idea was harnessed by the topic, which indicate that in relation to power distance, some communities has high power distance while other have low power distance. The same applies to uncertainty avoidance. Research about the topic Gardner (2002) indicated that the cultural context is an important factor in communication. The communication process is greatly affected by the cultural context in which it take place. In this case, there are two communication contexts: high-context and low-context cultures. In the high communication context, thoughts and feelings are not explicitly addressed. Further, trust and relationship are more valued as compared to the business transactions. Key information is embedded in the non-behavior, status, and setting. In the low context, there is explicit communication of feeling and thoughts. In this case, it implies that words derive meaning, while building relations is less emphasized as compared to the business transactions. Inferring from Rogers & Shoemaker (2008), cultural intelligence is one of the important factors when a person intent to have an effective cross-cultural communication. It implies the ability to interpret different cultural unfamiliar gestures, situations as well as devising an appropriate response. Further, Gardner (2002) added that high cultural intelligence helps in interpretation of unfamiliar cultural situations and quick adaptation. It has three components, which operate together, which include cognitive, emotional and physical. In addition, there are five dimensions, which differentiate cultures. These include assertiveness, performance orientation and human orientation. Action Plan From learning of this topic, I have realized that I should improve on cross-cultural communication aspects. To achieve this, I have devised several improvement steps. The first one is building a strong awareness of different cultures. As a result, I will manage to understand how the different cultures communicate and conduct their work. Further, in order to manage effective communication among these cultures, I will make efforts to understand the inclination of different cultures to different aspects. These aspects include time orientation, which may either be long-term or short-term orientation. Others include uncertainty avoidance, which is either high or low. Further, it is significant to understand power distance and the orientation of different cultures regarding masculinity and femininity characteristics. In addition, I will follow the three stipulated steps to improve my intelligence quotient. These include developing my motivation to adopt and learn, building my knowledge, reflecting what I have learnt, and then acting. Topic 4: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Relation of my prior knowledge, experience and expectations to the topic learning My held view regarding conflict is that it involves a disagreement between two or more individuals. The disagreement results because of different viewpoints of the parties involved. It is in line with the topic’s learning, which defines conflict as the clash of the goals, needs, opinions and values between two or more parties. In addition, my view that conflict can have positive or negative effects is well illustrated in the topic. For instance, I was once involved in a conflict with colleague in school. Though we argued a lot, the person ended up being my best friend. The conflict helped us understand one another. The topic holds that some of the positive effects of conflict include exposing the problems, encouraging innovation, and improving the quality of decision. Further, as I also believe, the negative effects of stress include authoritative communication, stress and complacency. Research about the topic As indicated by Zlotkin & Rosenschein (2010), there are different approaches, which can be applied by the parties in conflict, to settle their conflict. These approaches include accommodation, collaboration, competition and avoidance. Accommodation refers to the attempt of one party in a conflict trying to keep the other party happy in order to maintain harmony between them. The next technique is collaboration, which involves seeking the true satisfaction of all the parties involved. In this case, every party has something to give out and something to get from the conflict. Another approach, as stipulated by Ross (2013), is competition. In this case, the parties in conflict work towards the wishes of each other. Every party wants to win out the other party. Every party wants to dominate others though force, and get everything in to his or her advantage. The last approach is avoidance. Avoidance involves every part refusing to participate actively in finding the solution to a conflict. The parties to the conflict downplay the disagreements and tend to stay neutral. According to Ross (2013), there is no single approach, which is applicable in all circumstances. Each conflict circumstance has its own suitable method of resolving it. Action Plan From the above study and evaluation, I have realized that ability to resolve conflicts in any circumstance is very important. Therefore, I will work towards equipping myself with all the conflict resolution techniques. For instance, According to the research, effective compromise and collaborative approaches requires having effective verbal and non-verbal communication between the parties in conflict. To be able to solve conflict using these approaches, I will improve my active listening, smiling and eye contact. Collaboration, on the other hand requires principled negotiation. Therefore, I will improve my negotiations skills, which requires time commitment, energy and time. In this case, I will increase my ability to focus on the needs, desires and concerns of parties in conflict. Further, I will do more research on improving the ability to generate options, such as brainstorming options. As a result, I will be able to handle conflicts effectively. Topic 5: Persuasion and Influence Relation of my prior knowledge, experience and expectations to the topic learning My prior knowledge regarding persuasion and influence is that the two terms are related. Persuasion involves trying to make someone to do or believe in something that you also believe in, or want him of her to do. It involves winning the support of someone. Influence on the other hand involves ability to impact on an individual’s minds or activities. Similarly, the topic considers persuasion as involving changing the peoples underlying behavior and attitudes. For instance, political leaders are influential and persuade their followers to vote for them. Another shared knowledge and experience is that there are three factors, which affects the level of persuasion of a presentation. These are the message, the communicator and the audience. With regard to communicators, experts are considered more persuasive that non-experts. Popular and attractive individuals are also more persuasive. Concerning the message, a fearful message tends to be more persuasive, while the audiences with low self-esteem are persuaded easily. Research about the topic As indicated by Avtgis (2009), there are several fundamental principles, which are necessary for persuasion. These include liking, reciprocity, consistency, scarcity, authority, and social proof. The liking principle indicates that people are persuade easily by the people they like. For scarcity, the scarce something is, the more persuasive it is. Concerning authority, people are easily persuaded in situations where the suggested action is backed by authority. Social proof on its part arises in situations where individuals are influenced by people around them. Consistency on the other hand arises in situations where people tend to stick consistently to their explicit commitment. The influential tactics are operated by changing various information sets of incentives (Mano, 2007). For instance, pressure may involve factors like intimidation, threats and demands. Exchange on the other hand may involve benefits and favor, while rationality involves logical argument. For instance, an individual may use logic to convince another person. Another tactic usually used is the coalition building. In this case, a person obtains support from peers to back his or her interest. Mano, (2007) indicated that impression management is another influential tactic, where the individual may use kindness of flattery. Further, upward appeal is another tactic of influence. In this case, an individual obtains the support from higher levels, where the target is provided with incentives and additional information. Action Plan From the above learning and personal evaluation, I have developed an action plan on how to improve on persuasion and influence. My first step is to understand the six fundamental principles of persuasion, as well as their application in the context of persuasion. These include liking, reciprocity, social proof, consistency, authority and scarcity. Apart from improving my ability to persuade, they will help me comprehend the persuasion concept easily. Another action will be to take is practicing the influential tactics, and operate them by changing the information sets and incentives. It will incorporate applying favor and benefits for exchange and logical thinking as an element of rationality. It will also involve applying different types of pressures such as intimidation, demands and threats. Other essential techniques that I will work on are upward appeal, impression management and coalition building. As a result, I will be in a position to influence and persuade others effectively. References Avtgis, T. A. (2009). Locus of control and persuasion, social influence, and conformity: A meta- analytic review. Psychological Reports, 83(3), 899-903. Mano, H. (2007). Affect and persuasion: The influence of pleasantness and arousal on attitude formation and message elaboration. Psychology & Marketing, 14(4), 315-335. Gardner, G. H. (2002). Cross cultural communication. The Journal of Social Psychology, 58(2), 241-256. Rogers, E. M., & Shoemaker, F. F. (2008). Communication of Innovations; A Cross-Cultural Approach. Ross, L. (2013). Reactive devaluation in negotiation and conflict resolution. Barriers to conflict resolution, 26-42. Zlotkin, G., & Rosenschein, J. S. (2010 July). Negotiation and conflict resolution in non- cooperative domains. In AAAI (pp. 100-105). Read More