Response to the article "Nonverbal Language in Cross-Cultural Communication"

          I found this article, retreived from Ebscohost and written by Wang Di-hua LI Hui, to be very interesting as it pertained to chapter 11 on Communication in Organizations.  The discussed the differences in nonverbal communication between cultures.  All cultures use nonverbal communication, however they differ greatly in their use of them.  Studying this is important to organizations that work internationally as misinterpreting these signals or failing to recognize them mey result in a misunderstanding.  Additionally, being able to understand these symbols may reveal motivations, feelings, and intentions that are not blatantly stated. Nonverbal communication can include facial expressions, gestures, body language, body space and eye contact.  The author points out that nonverbal communication is largely out of our control as it is subconcious and is determined by socio-cultural factors.  The author then goes on to describe many differences between several cultures' use of nonverbal communication.  For example, in America, when someone nodds their head up and down, it either means "yes" or they are signaling that they understand something.  However, in the middle east, nodding the head down means the person agrees and nodding the head up means they disagree; in Japan it simply means the person is listening.  In America, a firm handshale is considered a good greeting but in France it is considered rude and rough, a light handshake with very little pressured is prefered.  In Latin America, a strong hug or pat on the back is the common greeting method, and in Ecuador a handshake is a sign of extra special respect.  In India, the namaste greeting is most commonly used and i Japan the bow or several bows is the norm for a greeting.  In America, the thumbs up sign is a positive gesture and signals "cool" or "ok" or "yep, all set;" but in France or Belgium it is a huge insult meaning "you are not worth anything."  the author goes on to give several more examples of differing nonverbal communication across cultures.  I think this topic is very important to organizational theory and behavior because in organizations, there are many times that communication with individuals from other cultures may be required.  Althoug there is a huge focus on lanuage, nonverbal communcation is often forgotten, yet its implications and meaning are hugely important.  Not understanding these differences can result in insults and big misunderstandings, so it is important that we are aware of these differences across cultures.

Response to the article "Why Teams Don't Work" by J. Richard Hackman retrieved from EBSCOHOST

         I found this article to be extremely facinating because it re-iterated what I have believed my entire life-that teams are not as productive, efficient, or effective as individuals.  I am an extremely independant worker and have always despised working in teams; however, as chapter 10 points out, teams can be very beneficial.  This article, written by a J. Richard Hackman, Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Harvard, points out that from an early age we are told that team work is good and important.  Throughout my college management courses, teamwork has also been taught (chapter 10 on teams for this week of class).  Yet in my college experience, teams NEVER work out; I either wind up doing all the work because I really want an A and have high standards, or I get extremely frustrated with the group and accept work that I know I could have done a better job on if I had done it alone.  According to Hackman, I am not alone in my opinion.  He expresses that teams are very rarely more productive than the individual and that research has shown that most teams can't even agree on what they are supposed to be doing.  He also explains that its a myth that teams are more productive and we are taught this myth throughout school and childhood.  People like to think teams are democratic and effecient-however, all of Hackman's research has proved otherwise and has strongly alluded that individuals by themselves are more effecient.  I completely agree with this article as I have never had a good team experience and will continue to make an effort to avoid group work whenever possible.