Abstract: Since China’s reform and opening-up, more and more foreign-funded enterprises have entered Chinese market and cross-cultural communication problems among employees become relevant, especially in American enterprises in China, there is a big difference between American culture and Chinese traditional culture. This paper uses Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory and Hall’s high-low context theory to study the status of cross-cultural communication among employees working in American enterprises and find specific cross-cultural communication obstacles among employees: language barriers, the conflict of values and the different working habits. To cope with these problems, this study proposes measures from two aspects: employees should adapt to cross-cultural conflicts and master cross-cultural communication competence; employers should establish specific working system and related training courses.

    Key words: Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions; Hall’s high-low context theory; language barriers; conflict of values; different working habits

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Theoretical Framework-2

2.1 Previous Studies on Cross-cultural Communication-2

2.1.1 Introduction of Hofstede’s Theory of Cultural Dimensions-3

2.1.2 Introduction of Hall’s Theory of High-Low Context-4

2.2 Previous Studies on Cross-cultural Communication Among Employees-5

3. Barriers of Cross-cultural Communication Among Employees-6

3.1 Language Barriers-6

3.2 Conflict of Values-8

3.2.1 Arrangements for Life and Work-8

3.2.2 Differences in Moral Norms-9

3.2.3 Differences in Thinking Modes-10

3.3 Different Working Habits-11

3.3.1 Differences in Management Styles-11

3.3.2 Differences in Decision Making-12

3.3.3 Differences in Planning and Implementation-13

4. Suggested Approaches to Improve Cross-cultural Communication Among Employees-14

4.1 Measures Taken by Employees-15

4.1.1 Adaptation to Cross-cultural Conflicts-15

4.1.2 Mastery of Cross-cultural Communication Competence-16

4.2 Measures Carried out by Enterprises-17

4.2.1 Establishment of Specific Working System-18

4.2.2 Establishment of Related Training Courses-19

5. Conclusion-20

References-22