1st Edition
The Art of Intercultural Business Communication A Competency-Based Approach
This book examines intercultural business communication issues and practices from a global and interdisciplinary perspective with an Asian focus, which is essential to any contemporary study on business communication. It broadens reader’s understanding of language, culture, and international business and equips them with intercultural business communication tools.
The authors incorporate frameworks from business, management, and communication disciplines. Divided into three parts: the first focuses on developing theoretical frameworks for language, culture, and international business streams, and the second addresses link-pin communication theories and practices. Link pin is the bilingual communicators standing between primary communicators and relaying messages back and forth in an interactive communication process. The book concludes with revisiting and integrating universal theories to move toward global situational theories meeting this ever-changing intercultural environment. Approaching business communication from the individual, organizational, and industry levels, the book’s integrated conceptual framework allows readers to progress to more advanced business communication concepts in a staged way. Readers will gain an appreciation of the underlying theories of business communication and practical guidelines to apply the frameworks to meet their own commercial needs.
An essential guide for practitioners and researchers in today’s global business environment. It also benefits students with majors in intercultural business communication and international business.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Introduction and Overview
2. Intercultural Communication Environment and Process
3. Language Competency and Language-Based Communication Zones
4. International Business Competencies and IB Competency-Based Communication Zones
5. Intercultural Competencies and Intercultural-Based Communication Zones
6. The Application of Competency-Based and Attitude-Influenced Communication Strategies
7. Effect of Link-Pin Channels in Intercultural Business Communication
8. Theory and Practices of the Link-Pin Channel Communication in Intercultural Business Communication
9. Intercultural Business Communication in the Digital Age
10. A Proposal for Global Situational Theory in Intercultural Business Communication and Concluding Thoughts
References
Index
Biography
Bertha Du-Babcock is Chair Professor of Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages. Her teaching included universities in China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Du-Babcock's research focuses on theory development and teaching innovations in intercultural business communication. She has authored 48 journal articles, 8 books, and 13 chapters.
Richard D. Babcock is Emeritus Professor of Management at the University of San Francisco. His research focuses on developing theoretical frameworks relating language and culture in global business contexts. He has extensive consulting experience, including clients from 25 US-based and international organizations (Johnson & Johnson).
The book provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in intercultural business communication, business, and management. Particularly, scholarship and research are increasingly shifting to Asia, reflecting the need to realign global business communication. I especially applaud their attempt to integrate the proliferation of varied theories and research findings and move toward a more comprehensive and integrated theoretical base. This collaborative book is evidenced by the authors' broad spectrum of international experience in cross-cultural communication and business management, undoubtedly making this well-researched book guide future research and pedagogy in intercultural business communication.
Vesa Peltokorpi, Professor, Hiroshima University, Japan
This book has taken a much-needed interdisciplinary perspective, examining intercultural business communication issues and practices. The most appealing aspect of the book is how the authors integrate multiple disciplines to avoid the academic silo effect and move toward a global situational theory. As a business school professor, former Director of International Business Programs, and an international business consultant, I wholeheartedly champion this book's multifaceted approach that addresses the increasingly interdisciplinary business school of the future. The book will guide future research and pedagogy in intercultural business communication.
David A. Victor, Professor, Eastern Michigan University, USA
Throughout my 30+ years of multinational business career, I have been a practitioner of intercultural communications. Reading Du-Babcock and Babcock's upcoming book, a new perspective strikes me - a more comprehensive and structured way - of looking at the practice. You can hardly find a better pair to dwell on this subject. They have jointly 80 years of experience on the subject matter, both in research and teaching. Anyone in an environment that requires cross-cultural understanding or someone preparing to enter the field will benefit immensely from this book.
Xin Guo, Retired Executive (Career International) and Former Managing Director of Mercer Greater China
