Hurdle obstacles by embracing Chinese culture
Print Edition
AWARENESS of a given local culture is indispensable, particularly when issues arise, and has become a key point of success for global businesses seeking a presence in China.
A diverse nation featuring multiple ethnic groups, intercultural nuances, etiquette and time zones may not always be understood by foreign investors. To succeed in this diverse market, some basic understanding of the local culture is essential.
The global economy is no longer a theory, but a reality. China, with an annual double-digit GDP growth in the past 20 years, is at the center of this global economy.
With its low labor and raw material costs, a growing middle class of consumers and a vast country space are only a few reasons that draw scores of multinational corporations (MNC) to China. Consequently, thousands of foreign professionals are communicating with Chinese on a routine basis through various channels: face-to-face, phone calls, e-mails, text message, letters, and conference calls.
It is generally believed that cultural sojourners have difficulties adapting to a wide range of business, academic and social situations temporarily or permanently in a new culture — the host culture. There are certain obstacles that are particular to intercultural learning, yet there remains a lack of recent research on intercultural learning obstacles of expatriates in foreign cultures, especially in China.
Reducing or eliminating these intercultural learning and adaptation obstacles will help to increase the effectiveness of foreign-Chinese communication, which will then minimize intercultural misunderstanding, and thus enhance productivity of global organizations and enrich intercultural experience for expatriates.
Building upon the existing literature on intercultural learning, adaptation and perception, a qualitative study by Gao Hongmei and Deanna F. Womack from Kennesaw State University investigated and analyzed intercultural learning and adaptation obstacles for expatriates in China.
The study discovered a clear pattern of obstacles. It revealed that expatriates have to overcome three categories to an awareness of Chinese culture: cognitive obstacles, motivational obstacles, and structural obstacles. The cognitive obstacles include an expatriate’s insufficient Chinese proficiency and his/her unrealistic preconception of China.
The motivational obstacles point to an expatriate’s lack of flexibility in adaptation and his/her “comfort zone syndrome.” Finally, the structural obstacles, created by China’s in-group and out-group differentiation and informs as to the expatriate’s role definition.
An expatriate is defined as a “cultural stranger,” who has left his home culture and is temporarily working and living in a host culture. He or she needs to learn and adapt to the local culture to survive and then thrive. “Intercultural learning” refers to the process of obtaining and understanding information on the norms and values of a host culture both prior to, and during one’s host cultural experience.
“Intercultural adaptation” refers to the process of adjustment that a cultural stranger undergoes cognitively, affectively and behaviorally in a new culture. Intercultural learning and adaptation are two intertwined processes any expatriate will experience. To function and thrive in the new cultural environment, an expatriate has to adapt to the written and unwritten norms of the new culture concerning knowledge, emotion, and behavior.
Intercultural learning is the foundation of intercultural adaptation, while intercultural adaptation shows the effect of intercultural learning. It is through intercultural learning that expatriates familiarize themselves with the new rules, norms, and values prevalent in the new cultural context as they adapt themselves to the new language, culture, society, and people.
Defining the obstacles
These three categories are each composed of two barriers. Cognitive obstacles are built upon expatriates’ unrealistic expectations of China and their low Chinese proficiency. Motivational obstacles are those caused by inflexibility in learning and adaptation, or by failure of expatriates to leave their comfort zone by adhering to a social circle that excludes Chinese people. Structural obstacles are those in which the objective existence of the expatriates’ social role conflicts with the collective nature of society in China.
The in-group and out-group differentiation of the Chinese society derives from its hierarchical structure and makes it difficult for any newcomer to become close to a particular Chinese person.
Additionally, the role definition of expatriates, particularly those whose role is as a representative of any foreign government, may hinder the degree of intercultural learning and adaptation achieved.
An expatriate must overcome these six barriers to achieve host-culture competency in China. In turn, low host communication competency may create stressful living conditions and reduce the working efficiency of expatriates and their organizations.
The study suggests the following Five Golden Rules of Intercultural Learning and Adaptation for expatriates heading toward China.
• Chinese language: Try to learn Chinese; it will make life so much easier.
• Open-mindedness: Be open-minded and get ready for an adventure.
• Patience: It takes a long time to build mutual trust between you and your Chinese friends.
• Appreciation: Do not try to impose your cultural characteristics on China; learn to appreciate the difference.
• Learning: Use all communication channels to learn Chinese culture — printed materials, on-line sources, observation and face-to-face interaction, while overcoming all obstacles — cognitive, motivational and structural.
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