The Importance Of Communication In China's Culture?

In order to manage employees, the need to communicate with them is of utmost importance. Understanding the culture of the people a company employs, whether domestic or internationally, is just as important. Apple, Inc., a company who “relies on inclusion and diversity to spark innovation,” manages and communicates with its employees differently depending upon their location and culture. (“Apple - Inclusion inspires innovation.,” n.d.) Whether or not Apple, Inc. communicates effectively and efficiently to manage their employees in China properly is the focus of this paper.

The culture that people live in determines how they respond to their future employers. When two completely different cultures are involved in a joint-venture, such being in the same company, there tends to be communication break downs from management all the way down to low-paying positions. The understanding of China’s way of life is most important to U.S. companies that

(Hofstede, n.d.) In other words, there are those at the top who tell everyone else at the bottom what to do. Individualism is shunned while people act in the best interests of their family or any group that they are a part of. (Zhang & Huang, 2013, pg. 118) Their society, much like ours, is driven by success and achievement and especially competition. Rules are to be followed no matter the circumstance as there is no second-guessing superiors. (Zhang & Huang, 2013, pg. 121) Traditions overcome any indulgence people may have. (Hofstede, n.d.) Understanding this type of culture allows the Western world to communicate more effectively with the Chinese while doing business with them. Having said that, people who have the capability to go to school in China, to be more than a laborer, should learn how to read, write, and speak in English as well as in their own language in case they go into business with the Western