7 Masters Relation Taiwanes e
Female 29 PR 2.5 3
8 Masters MBA Taiwanes e
Male 35 Productio n
5 13
The research subjects of the interview respondent includes 5 Taiwanese managers which consist of 3bachelors and 2 masters, positions are sales, marketing, human resource, public relation and production manager respectively. The rest 3 Chinese managers are project, distribution and information managers respectively, while 2 of them obtain a bachelor’s degree and one of them obtain an associate’s degree.
Table 2
How satisfied are you with the communication & example*
Degree Position Nationalit y
Satisfactio n
Question 1
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Very Communication network is great, staffs responds to
information
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Very Short communication
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passage, management transmit information
through most levels simultaneously
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Neutral Aren’t too many issues, just regular
4 Bachelors Distribute Chinese Satisfied Subordinate always listen and are willing
to do as directed
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Very Management always provide enough
information
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Very Have good direct communicate and employees are willing to listen
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Very Everyone work as team, share issues and problems to be
solved
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Neutral Not too much
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different than other companies
As we can see that the satisfaction level in communication for the Taiwanese managers are mostly “very satisfied”, while only 1 out of 7 managers gave a “neutral” rating. On the other hand, for the 3 Chinese managers, they have rate the communication “neutral”,
“satisfied” and “very satisfied” respectively. From the response from the Chinese managers, it is clear to see that communication has not been a great success to the Chinese manager.
*In this table, every manager has answered satisfied with the communication within the organization yet numerous communication gaps and issues are occurring, this issue will be discussed in the limitation area after the conclusion.
Table 3
How do you feel about the information you receive & example Degree Position Nationality Question 2
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Very consistent most of the time
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Consistent to departments
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Pretty consistent mostly
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Accuracy and right to the point
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Always on time and accurate
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Very useful and related to day to day activity
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7 Masters PR Taiwanese Always relevant
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Usually the information is timely and directions are clear
The responses in the information receiving have been very clear cut that the information received is “consistent”, “accurate”, “on time”, “relevant”, and “directional”
Table 4
Are there any barriers to open and efficient communication between departments?
Degree Position Nationality Question 3
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese No
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes, usually different project based, not much same interest
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Not too much communication between departments
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Minimal communication between departments
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Not enough communication channels
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Sometimes, other department isn’t willing to share progress
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7 Masters PR Taiwanese Yes, there isn’t a convenient communication medium
8 Masters Production Taiwanese No, usually the head of department talk one on one
Clearly we can see from all respondent regardless of nationality that there is a clear barrier between the departments, issues mainly being there is not too much
communication between departments, no convenient communication medium and channel, or simply that departments are not close with each other.
Table 5
Do you understand how your role contributes to achieving business outcomes?
Degree Position Nationality Question 4
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Yes
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Yes, to guide and supervise employees
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Yes
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes
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7 Masters PR Taiwanese Yes
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Yes , my role directly link to the business outcome
The responses for this specific question are very coherent, that every manager understands how their role is contributed to the business outcome.
Table 6
Are you kept well informed about company’s plans and progress? If not, please indicate Degree Position Nationality Question 5
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Plan yes, progress not so much.
Do not receive lots of feedback
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Yes
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes, but it takes time to see the result, the progress period is long
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Sometimes, once I heard the new plan from other managers. I was not informed by the management
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes, meeting are often held for discussion and the progress
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7 Masters PR Taiwanese Yes
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Plans no, progress yes. Plan is uncertain sometimes
3 out of 8 managers are not kept well informed about company’s plans and progress. For the sales manager was not kept informed about the progress and does not receive
feedbacks as planned. The information manager heard the new plan from some other manager and was not informed by the management.
Table 7
Is there good communication in your group?
Degree Position Nationality Question 6
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Yes
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes, by having small meeting and communicate
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Yes
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Only when the deadline is close
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes
7 Masters PR Taiwanese In my team, yes
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8 Masters Production Taiwanese Most of the time, but sometimes difficult with the counterparts
The responses for having a good communication in the group is very consistent except for the production manager observed that communication is sometimes difficult with the counterparts. For the information manager and public relation manager, the good
communication happens conditionally, information manager stated that there is only good communication when the deadline is close, and the public relation manager stated that there is only good communication within her team.
Table 8
Is most of the information you receive on a daily basis detailed and accurate?
Degree Position Nationality Question 7
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Yes, precise and accurate along with direction
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Usually receive email first thing, if not there is a bulletin board
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Yes
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes, though sometimes not very timely
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7 Masters PR Taiwanese Yes
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Yes, instructional and self-explanatory
The information that the managers receive on a daily bases has been very consistent with every manager regardless of nationality. There has been no information asymmetry or biased information throughout the departments.
Table 9
How do you most effectively communicate with your employees?
Degree Position Nationality Question 8 1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Face to face
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Face to face
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Face to face
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Face to face
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Face to face
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Face to face
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Face to face
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Face to face
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All the managers found the most effective communication between the employees is face to face instead of using skype, email or telephone.
Table 10
What are some challenges in management change or communication in an International Joint Venture?
Degree Position Nationality Question 9
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Lack of enthusiasm sometimes, do tasks minimally
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Sometimes hard to manage new hired employees
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Different values and language tones
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Attitudes and objective sometimes not very clear
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Cultural differences, unfamiliar
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Culture difference, style of work, and presenting styles
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Managers held different views
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Culture difference, language spoke, body language, norms and values
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international joint venture, all the managers are experiencing some sort of communication problems regardless of the nationality. The main reasons being “culture difference”, followed by managers not having the same views are different norms and values throughout the organization.
Table 11
Have you find miscommunication due to cultural difference from different ethnic? Please describe
Degree Position Nationality Question 10
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Language barrier as the main issue
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Yes, different understanding and expectations
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Language difference
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Always, not being able to understand clear directions
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Yes, different values and value
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes, different understanding on the same agreements
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Not too much in particular
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Yes, always somehow the work done usually not up to the standard
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In the question of finding miscommunication due to cultural difference from counterpart, every manager except the public relation manager find miscommunication issues between the counterpart, mainly due to the “language difference” and the work done or style being different. The possible explanation that the public relation manager has not find
communication issues between the counterpart might be of her tenure in the company being only 2.5 years, the shortest duration out of all the interviewed managers, meaning that she possibly have not encountered with too many counterparts and inexperienced in dealing with them.
Table 12
Do you find any difference in dealing with issues between your counterparts?
Degree Position Nationality Question 11 1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Not very often
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Mainly not being able to be punctual
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Nothing major, employees always know what to do
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes, finish assigned tasks on their own and in different ways
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Different values, stubborn and will not take short cut
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Yes, they always say yes and ok to
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request even when they don’t fully understand the job tasks and
requirements
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Yes, time management is poor managed
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Yes, different ways in dealing with matters, more individually based
When the interview respondents were asked if there has been issue dealing with
counterpart, 6 out of 8 managers agreed there has been some sort of issues or problems.
While one of the Chinese manager finds no issue dealing with counterpart reason being
“nothing major, employees always know what to do”.
Table 13
Are there any oral communication issues between your counterparts?
Degree Position Nationality Question 12
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Speaks too fast, always ask to repeat
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese No
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Misinterpretation of messages at the most
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Yes, therefore demonstration of the process would take place
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5 Bachelors Info Chinese Not really
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Usually says yes and ok, but do not finish by the deadline
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Not much
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Yes, but always solve it with direct commands or orders
In the question of whether there has been oral communication issue, 5 out of 8 managers agreed there has been oral communication issue, such as speaking too fast,
misinterpretation of the message. While other 3 managers that do not observe oral communication issue are marketing, information and public relation managers.
Table 14
What would be the preferred way in communicating with your counterparts?
Degree Position Nationality Question 13 1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Face to face
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Face to face
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Face to face is good, preferably writing to keep record
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Face to face is preferred, but showing and demonstrating is also
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helpful
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Face to face
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Face to face along with orders
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Face to face, sometimes using skype to reconfirm
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Face to face, followed by bookkeeping
The most preferred way in communication with the counterpart is face to face, with some sort of help of record keeping and work demonstration, for clarification and
reconfirmation purposes.
Table 15
What differentiate you from your counterparts?
Degree Position Nationality Question 14
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Different opinion, different standpoint and different reasons and
logic
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Do not understand the long-term goal, see short-term as it is
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Sometimes the feedback or message are delayed
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4 Associate Distribute Chinese Always looked confused as if no directions were given
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Very efficient, tough, and like to do thing in teams
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Sometimes coercion have to be applied for them to get started
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Willingness to learn, though short vision
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Always have great confidence, and does not ask for help when unclear
There has been a great difference between the ethnicity of Taiwanese and Chinese in the workplace. From most of the Taiwanese managers perspective is that their counterparts have different standpoint, reasoning and logic. The responses also suggested that the Chinese managers do not see goals in long term but in short term, along with some coercive forces to be applied to initiate work. On the other hand, for Chinese managers, the responses of what differentiate them from Taiwanese managers are not core value related, such as “feedback being delayed”, and “very efficient, tough, and like to do tasks in teams”.
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Table 16
What is your attitude towards change?
Degree Position Nationality Question 15
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Depends on the circumstances, if needed then it’s a must
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Necessary if need, yield more opportunity in the market
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Depends on the situation
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Indifferent
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Observation, optimistic
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Organization always need to transform to adapt to the market
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Enthusiastic
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Positive attitude
In the question asked for the attitude towards change, none of the mangers are against the idea of change, but the degree of enthusiasm of the responses varies. Such as the Chinese managers responded “depends on the situation”, “indifferent” and “observation,
optimistic”, though the responses does not oppose the idea of change, but the degree of participation seems minimal, however, the responses from Taiwanese manager are very enthusiastic, with responses such as “necessary if need, yield more opportunity in the
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“positive attitude”.
Table 17
How do you define the effectiveness of a leader?
Degree Position Nationality Question 16
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Have achieved greatness and able to manage
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Being able to have strategic planning skills and enforce it
accordingly
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Knowing what to do at the right time, competence
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Ethic, knowledge, expertise
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Good judgement and utilize sources well
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Have visions, plans, implementations, progress, and
succeed
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Incorporate the useful resource to reach optimal level
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Timely, punctual and leading
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When asked for the definition of a leader, the responses are not consistent because everyone’s definition of the effective of a leader is different, ranging from “being able to have strategic planning skills and enforce it accordingly”, “ethical, knowledge, expertise”
to “have visions, plans, implementations, progress, and succeed”. Being timely, punctual and leading is also listed as one of the effectiveness of a leader by one of the managers.
Table 18
Please rate the following from 1 to 5 as the most important factor that will lead to successful change
When the respondents were asked the rate the four elements out of 5, all the Taiwanese manager believed that both the leadership and communication are extremely important with the average rating of 4.8/5 for both element. While the Chinese manager’s rating of communication only averaged 3.33/5, yet having a rating of leadership averaged 4.67/5.
Therefore, for the Chinese employees they believe the leadership skill is extremely important, but the communication is not as important.
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With the lowest rating being the individual’s acceptance to change averaged 3/5 followed by the organization’s acceptance to change with the average of 3.5/5.
The rating from the highest to lowest is as follows:
Leadership, Communication, Organization’s acceptance to change, Individual’s acceptance to change.
Table 19
What is the most important characteristic of a quality leader?
Degree Position Nationality Question 18
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Innovativeness and persuasiveness
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Logical, visionary, experience
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Responsible
4 Associate Distribute Chinese Competence, knows everything inside out
5 Bachelors Info Chinese Experience, logical and rationale
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese Punctuality, responsible
7 Masters PR Taiwanese Charismatic, willingness to listen and teach
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Vision, well-educated
The responses regarding to the question of the most important characteristic of a quality
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“visionary”, and “logical”. Other responses include “responsible”, “innovativeness”,
“experience” etc.
Table 20
Describe a case where an approach of leadership was used
Degree Position Nationality Question 19
1 Bachelors Sales Taiwanese Gather feedback, responses and openness to comments
2 Bachelors Marketing Taiwanese Lead the team by sharing of experience
3 Bachelors Project Chinese Communication
4 Associate Distribute Chinese N/A
5 Bachelors Info Chinese N/A
6 Bachelors HR Taiwanese During an incident of conflict between a Taiwanese and Chinese
staffs, sat them down and negotiate the terms.
7 Masters PR Taiwanese N/A
8 Masters Production Taiwanese Communication
When asked to describe a case where an approach of leadership was used, 2 of the 3
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include a case as well. In having managers willing to take on the role of a leader and also taking on the responsibility will reduce conflicts and chaos in the departments. In the case of production manager, the communication leadership skill was used mainly because the number of direct subordinates is relatively more compare to the others, therefore,
communication and coordinating skills must be applied to make sure the production process is running smooth.
The following table will obtain five main communication problems observed from the interview responses, and the possible causes of the problems. The five main
communication problems observed are, Expectations not clear, misinterpretation, employees not open with each other, incompetence in understanding instructions, and functional areas are not being collaborated.
Table 21
Observed key communication problems
Communication problems Causes
Expectations not clear Managers do not discuss expectations with subordinates, therefore no agreements on
reaching the strategic goals, and not having a clear benchmark or goal, have
difference in interest Misinterpretation, not being able to
understand each other, not being on the same page
Cultural differences, language barrier
Employees not open with each other Employees do not trust each other; do not share information with each other across departments. Prefers to work individually
rather than groups.
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Incompetence in understanding instructions
Does not have the required skill sets, no trust between employee and superior Functional areas are not being
collaborated
No interactions between the departments.
The following table is a comparison of the communication problems stated in the
The following table is a comparison of the communication problems stated in the