GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE

College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

TERM PAPER: MULTICULTURAL

COMMUNICATION IN THE
WORKPLACE

(In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for

Purposive Communication)

BY:
Dorie Shane D.G. Sta. Maria
BSA 1C

November 2022
November 5, 2022

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Table of Contents

Contents Pages

Table of Contents   2

Introduction 3-4

Body/Discussion 4 - 10

Definition (4-5)

History (5-6)

Effect/Impact (6-7)

Problem of Multicultural Communication (7-9)

in the Workplace

Advantages/Disadvantages (9-11)

Conclusion 11

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

INTRODUCTION:

The dynamics of cross-cultural communication are the main emphasis of the

Multicultural Communication concentration. It looks at what happens when people from

two different cultures interact as well as when people from many ethnicities and cultures

coexist in a group, community, or nation.

A workplace that embraces diversity must have workers from a range of

backgrounds. In addition to race, gender, ethnicity, and religion, this also takes into

account factors like age, education, and handicap.

As stated by (Victor D.A.) "Culture and communication are inextricably linked.

Indeed, culture is a sort of communication in and of itself”. Communication is necessary

for forming cultures (or, from a different perspective, one of the processes through which

cultures are created and shared). On the other hand, culture has a significant impact on

how people express themselves and comprehend their environment, or how they

communicate.

 A multi-group path analysis confirmed the validity of the model for the white,

black and mixed race ethnic groups. Although the differences were negligible to medium,

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

white groups seemed to experience a slightly more favourable multicultural environment

compared to black and mixed race groups. (Jackson and Fons, 2018)

 Some promote "managing workforce diversity" initiatives that affirm human

freedom and dignity but others erode it. Building on the former, the "affirming climate" is

proposed here as the most constructive means of managing cultural diversity in the

workplace. (PsycInfo Database Record 2022 APA)

Through an analysis of the results of multicultural communication in the

workplace, this essay aims to focus on a phenomena. The debate that follows is

predicated on the notion that workplace multicultural communication has both positive

and negative consequences.

BODY/DISCUSSION

Definition:

The term "multicultural communication" refers to modes of communicating

among peoples of different cultural backgrounds, whose cultural differences manifest

themselves in different linguistic features (grammatical, phonological, and lexical) and/or

rhetorical styles (Fine, 1991). A society is said to be multicultural if it comprises a

variety of cultural or ethnic groupings. Although people coexist, not all cultural groups

necessarily engage in interesting relationships with one another. For instance, residents of

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

a multicultural area might frequent restaurants and ethnic grocery stores without actually

mingling with their international neighbors.

According to Davel E. and Gadhiri D.P. (2013) organizations are confronted with

culturally varied workers as they do their business on a global scale more and more.

Intercultural connections have intensified both locally and globally as a result of

globalization, ongoing migration, and an increasingly global mass culture. Long-distance

travel is no longer required to experience culture shock. Organizations have never been as

culturally diverse as they are now.

History:

Multicultural communication refers to the interaction of several cultures through

economic or socializing activities. Multicultural communication in healthcare ensures

that patients receive high-quality care. Effective healthcare delivery requires highly

skilled healthcare providers. Multicultural communication has its roots in both

civilization and the blending of various cultures around the world. Additionally,

technology development—such as improved communication tools—has increased

economic growth, transforming the world into a global village. According to

(Gorodnichenko & Roland, 2017), market power and social status are cultural behaviors

leading to more innovative activities. 

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Although various cultural and religious beliefs have changed how healthcare is

provided, communication is still a crucial component in the healthcare setting. One major

issue that needs to be addressed is poor communication in the healthcare industry.

According to Kitao (1985), the development of intercultural communication as a

discipline in the US is described. In cultural anthropology, the roots of cross-cultural

communication are investigated. The evolution of the field in the United States up until

1980 is discussed in terms of publications, professional organizations, conferences,

educational options, and research in this area, as well as the definitions of culture,

communication, and intercultural communication that are used in the literature.

Effect/Impact:

People from high-context and low-context cultures are interacting in multicultural

workplaces more than ever before in today's global economy. Conflict may arise as a result of

misconceptions because cultures have an impact on people both overtly and covertly.

Employees from high-context cultures, like China, Mexico, or Japan, could, for instance,

choose to suggest "no" with their body language rather than using actual words. However,

literal Americans and Canadians frequently miss these minute nuances and may not

comprehend. Smart business managers invest the time to learn about and comprehend the

various cultures represented in their workplace and train employees from other cultures on

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

the best ways to communicate with one another on the job in order to avoid multicultural

misunderstandings.

As stated by Richards (2019), any business has a variety of communication barriers,

but some are more extensive and prevalent than others. When there are obstacles, people are

unable to hear each other clearly, which results in misunderstandings, message alterations,

and the failure to complete projects properly and on schedule.

Problem of Multicultural Communication in the Workplace:

Languages, signs, and other means of communication are interpreted differently by

employees from different backgrounds. This has an impact on their communication, decision-

making, and handling of conflict. Teamwork should be encouraged globally via

organizational variety. Lack of communication brought on by workplace diversity may cause

employees to disagree and cause confusion about business and customer needs.

According to Neo (2015), there are four categories that can impede your team’s

success. Here are the following:

A. Direct vs. Indirect Communication

Western cultures value direct communication with ostensibly clear meaning. Other

cultures frequently convey their messages in a more subtle manner. Communication issues

might arise when Westerners and non-Westerners interact. The degree to which individuals

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

from different cultures get along with one another is a key determinant of an organization's

cohesiveness.

B. Trouble with accents and fluency.

The language barrier is a more overt difficulty in an organizationally diverse

company. Many non-English speakers may feel ignored and undervalued at work, despite the

fact that English is the universal business language. Interpersonal tension and frustration

might result from this occasionally. An organization may suffer harm while not experiencing

an increase in return on investment. Because they are unable to communicate effectively in

their second language, employees who may be subject matter experts may be forced to make

compromises when it comes to helping the team

C. Different attitudes toward hierarchy and authority.

Cooperation is crucial for success and profitability in any firm. However, depending

on their position within the firm, employees may receive different treatment in other cultures.

Negotiation strategies used by other cultures should be covered in diversity training at work.

Multicultural staff, for instance, may approach the manager or CEO in a different manner.

Before moving up the corporate ladder to the executive level, individuals in certain

businesses must make presentations to higher-level team members. In some businesses,

employees and leaders collaborate as a single team across relatively flat hierarchical

structures. Lack of cultural knowledge can cause a disengaged workforce and make certain

workers feel excluded and unappreciated.

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

D. Conflicting norms for decision-making.

Individual cultures have different ways of arriving to an understanding and

making executive decisions, which is not surprising. The length of the decision-making

process, the prerequisite actions, and the level of effort required vary between cultures.

Americans, in contrast to other cultures, prefer to make decisions relatively quickly

without waiting to undertake analysis and comparisons, according to the Harvard

Business Review study.

Advantages/Disadvantages:

There are lots of benefits in the workplace if there are Multicultural

Communication. According to Leonard (2019), he stated that having a diverse workforce

presents a new face to the public. Customers can converse with someone who speaks

their native language or is familiar with their customs. A multiethnic workforce makes

even a small business competitive in a global market, whether it is through language

proficiency or an understanding of certain holidays.

In the workplace, multiculturalism brings together people from a variety of

cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Employers should seek out a diverse business culture

because it has many benefits, regardless of whether the individuals are from various

socio-ethnic backgrounds or other nations. Think about how you, as a business owner,

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

may increase diversity and multiculturalism in your hiring practices and management

style. Encouragement to contribute ideas or criticism during meetings gives workers a

sense of empowerment and fosters an engaged workforce. The diversity of opinions

generates a wide range of ideas that are advantageous to any team. When you have a

group of people from varied cultural backgrounds, each person has a different viewpoint

on events.

But there is also disadvantages in Multicultural Communication in the

Workplace. Likewise, coworkers from various cultures may bring with them different

attitudes, values, behaviors, and business etiquette to the workplace. In a multicultural

workplace, they can be stimulating and even useful, but they can also lead to

misunderstandings or bad blood amongst team member (Reynolds, 2018).

While working in a multicultural team, unpleasant confrontations can arise in a

variety of forms. Unhealthy confrontations may arise, particularly when there is a lack of

cultural understanding. The fundamental problem is poor communication. The obstacle to

efficient communication is language. Physical characteristics can also cause

misunderstandings in a multicultural team, which can rile up the participants and even

ruin the beauty of the cooperative working environment. On the other hand, diverse

points of view can raise the caliber of the job and, in certain instances, can ruin the

synchronization of the work due to a lack of cultural understanding. Teamwork will be

challenging, particularly if a team member feels strange and does not feel like they fit on

the team or in the environment.Adaptation might cause time lapses if a team member is

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

experiencing strange emotions. Pronunciation and linguistic fluency issues cause

significant communication issues (Matveev & Milter, 2004).

CONCLUSION:

As a Filipino citizen who wants to work abroad, I agree with the difficulty of

working or socializing with other people’s language and culture, because what I will do

or say may lead to our misunderstanding due to cultural differences. It can also cause

discrimination, as other’s may prefer whites over blacks. But I also agree that this is a

good opportunity to have new ideas and learn to socialize with others. It will also help to

be more organized and avoid discrimination, but we need to have more respect for each

other. It is also better if, before we go to a country, we already know something about

their cultures so that the flow of communication will be more smooth.

REFERENCES:

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union (2019)

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 Daigimole, Prince (2020) The challenges of working in a multicultural team

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Davel E. and Gadhiri D.P. (2013) Managing multiculturalism in the workplace.

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DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, https://communication.depaul.edu/academics/communication-

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FYR2WaBqLrCHQ/edit

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Jackson, Leon T.B.  and Fons J.R. Van de Vijver (2018) Multiculturalism in the

workplace : model and test.

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Leonard, Kimberlee (2019), The Advantages of Multiculturalism in the Workplace

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communication-challenges-in-multicultural-organizations/

Panda, I. (2022) Multicultural Communication and Its Origin Essay

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Reynolds, Kattie (2018) Benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in the workplace

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#:~:text=Colleagues%20from%20some%20cultures%20may,understand%20across

%20languages%20and%20cultures

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 GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE
College of Accountancy
Vallarta St., Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Richards, Leigh (2019) Main Barriers to Communication

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Schriefer, Paula (2016) What’s the difference between multicultural, intercultural, and

cross-cultural communication?

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communication/

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