Effects of non-verbal communication across cultures Research Paper

Effects of non-verbal communication across cultures - Research Paper Example The ability for one to exchange ideas with another, understand one another’s opinions, and solve problems is highly dependent on the effectiveness of the communication process (Agliati, Anolli, and Vescovo, 2006). According to Kirch (1979), verbal communication refers to the message content, arrangement and choice of words while communicating nonverbally addresses the message sent using body language. Non-Verbal Communication across Cultures The most common of all forms of non-verbal communication is facial expression (Levine and Adelman, 1993). Nevertheless, interpretation of the different facial expressions across cultures is quite hard. Lists of expressions exist with respect to situations, for instance; those that indicate happiness, fear, sadness and anger. This makes it hard for one to identify what expression is being conveyed and for what reason. Carey (1998) reports that â€Å"facial expressions are the most obvious ones that can be quite misleading, because most are pretty good at covering a lie† (350). ... A suitable example is the United States where eye contact and a firm handshake are considered a basic type of nonverbal communication whereas French people toss while looking at each other’s eyes as a symbol of respect and politeness. However, Kirch (1979) argues that other countries or rather other cultures consider avoiding eye contact as a sign of respect, for instance Africa, some parts of Asia and Latin America. Another common form of nonverbal communication used by people on a daily basis is body gesture (Carey, 1998). Good examples of using body gestures include greeting people using visual signals when initiating a presentation, and beckoning to a waiter instinctively. For instance, in a U.S bar, people walk over to the counter to get their bills while in Thailand, people snap their fingers to get their bills from the waiters in charge. In addition, Thai people greet each other by putting their hands together while in the U.S and with many Christians, people put their hands together while paying respect to the Lord God. In some cultures, bidding someone farewell is done by waving hands while in others it is done by embracing each other (Carey, 1998). Furthermore, people in other cultures hug and touch each other more. Habitats of Northern European countries do not fancy this type of bodily contact as compared to residents of southern countries. Some cultures have limited body contact between sexes to relatives only. Bulgarians nod their heads to signify rejection of a prevailing situation while other people in other cultures nod their heads to signify compliance (Carey, 1998). Culture and Nonverbal Communication The way in which people across different cultures communicate is greatly affected by the variations in

Community Relations & Media Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Community Relations & Media Relationships - Essay Example Public relations activities on the other hand have very minimal or no public participation, with the citizens receiving information of what has been agreed upon by the institution. Public relation activities serve mostly the wellbeing of the organization and the society is the reason why the activity is undertaken, but the members of the community are not the ones who undertake the task (Kowalski, 2007). 2. How Can Principals Identify and Analyze Relevant Publics? Principals can identify relevant publics in schools by verifying who are the customers, producers, enablers and limiters in the setup. They identify who are the major publics of the institution, who are the major publics concerning the given situation at hand and the key opinion leaders of the community or public. This will identify their customers who in this regard will include students and teachers, producers who could include teaching staff, donors and banks, enablers who could include the media, guidance and career cou nselors. They will also identify limiters who could include other schools, universities or learning institutions in the area. Analysis of publics is also vital since it enables principals to get vital information concerning relevant publics which is very imperative for the accomplishment of the program in question (Kowalski, 2007). Principals analyze relevant publics informally through research such as interviews or through formal methods such as surveys or focus groups. They analyze the consequences the public has on the institution and vice versa. 3. Discuss Ways Principals Can Influence the Development of Community Relations. Principals can influence the development of community relations by various ways which could include the encouragement of use of school facilities by the community after normal school times which is a good use of resources. They can also introduce a banquet to honor old students where prominent people can be invited as speakers. They can also introduce a seni or citizens banquet which can be hosted by a department of the school where the senior citizens can be involved in the preparations, which will create a bond between the community and the school. A career day can be introduced which will allow the students to have educational information about their future careers and also the community to learn about the students and the school, to understand their future employment needs. The principals can also introduce the distribution of periodic newsletters to the families of the students and other members of the community around the school (Kowalski, 2007). The principals can also introduce senior citizens passes which can allow the citizens to attend school functions without being charged. This will make them feel appreciated by the school and part and parcel of its operations. It is also wise for principals to relay news to local media , highlighting ways principals can influence the development of community relations special events and ac tivities so that the community may be kept abreast of what is going on. When honoring students for academic and other achievements, the community could be involved with other students in attendants too. These methods among many others can greatly influence the development of community relations 4. What Information Should Be Contained In A Media Relations Plan? The information that should be contained in a media relations plan include a details including an overview of the organization which will

Case study 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case study 4 - Assignment Example cool, fun and objects that can be used for reading different materials, Apple was able to appeal to a segment of consumers who were ready to spend lots of money for such features. The three most important factors of success in Apple are investment on innovation, strategic market segmentation and emphasis on customer satisfaction. First, Apple spends 2.5 billion on developers to create a range of applications for is products. Second, Apple focuses on one section of the market by fulfilling their needs and requirements, and in turn they do not hesitate to spend on the products. Last, Apple practices excellent customer service, in addition to a variety of quality products and services, which satisfies needs of customers and earns their loyalty. Steve Jobs played a crucial role in steering the company to heights of success, and the company can respond by upholding his strategies. I think the company will still be successful because the growth and prosperity lies not only on leadership, but also on strategic ventures, which Steve Jobs left behind. Therefore, I would be willing to invest in Apple because the company still maintains her strategic decisions and market ventures. Microsoft was not able to achieve success like Apple because of failure to design attractive products, focus on the general market instead of creating differentiation with a profitable segment, lack of strategic leadership and decision making, poor innovation and customer satisfaction and finally, lack of product