Den Interkulturelle Kommunikatören : En studie av kulturens inverkan på kommunikation

AbstractAuthors: Åsa Höjer, Karl WijkmarkTitle: The intercultural communicator. A study of cultures’ influence on communication.Level: BA Thesis in Media and Communication StudiesLocation: University on KalmarLanguage: SwedishNumber of pages: 67Date of seminar: 2009-01-15Advisor: Jens CavallinKey words: Intercultural communication, culture, Hofstede´s cultural dimensions, anxiety and uncertainty, self-confidence, high and low context, verbal and nonverbal communication, Telenor, Pakistan, Scandinavia.Case company: TelenorPurpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate what cultural differences, regarding communication, that are present between Scandinavia and Pakistan. Furthermore the purpose is to illustrate which factors that are important for personnel working for Telenor, that are about to work in a foreign culture, in order to create effective intercultural communication.Methodology: The following study is a case study that has used a qualitative methodology with interviews conducted via e-mail. To be able to interpret and understand human experiences and situations a hermeneutical approach has been taken. Since we have had existing theories which has enabled us to look and test the “real world” a deductive approach has been used.Theoretical perspectives: As a basis for this study lies a cultural theory with focus on Hofstede´s study of specific cultures within nations. Furthermore, theories within the intercultural communication´s area such as stereotypes, high and low context communication, verbal and nonverbal communication have been used. Finally a theory regarding anxiety and uncertainty was applied.Conclusions: By studying the Pakistani culture that is characterized by collectivism, a large power distance and high context communication where the messages are implicit, this study has established that communication is carried out in a rather different way than in Scandinavia. Besides having basic knowledge about the foreign culture, and thereby be able to manage and avoid misunderstandings in the communication, this study has established thatan individual´s personality has a big influence on the effectiveness of the intercultural communication. The person´s cultural background together with his/her individual traits and values creates a personal communication-pattern that is more or less suitable in the intercultural communication encounter