BUS340 Week 4 Discussion 2 Message Analysis Adapting to Different Cultures

My boss’s email contains a number of errors that I would seek to correct from a competent communication point of view. First of all, my boss assumes that others will do things just like he does things. The assumptions that the new transfers will be willing and culturally free to shake hands are a wrong perception. According to Bovee and Thill (2018) assuming that others will do things just as one does falls short of culturally competent communication. In this case, using neutral words that make the new transfers comfortable such as ‘we wholeheartedly welcome you to the US’ would have communicated the message intended by the boss.

Secondly, the contraction, ASAP, can be confusing. It would need to be paraphrased in a way that makes it clear to everyone. It may be a common cliché in the US but the new transfers may not be conversant with it. Therefore, ensuring that the words used are neutral and familiar even to people who speak English as a second language would have been of critical importance. This would have made it possible for the boss to bring in the intended warmth in the email.

The message of the email is not audience centered. Instead, it is based on the interests of the boss. It the cultural cognizance recognized in the email is founded on the culture of the boss. At least, the boss would have used a culturally competent language to avoid being too selfish. As well, instead of using the first person reference, the email sender would have used pluralistic reference to make the message inclusive of all members.

I would redraft the massage to read as:

“I want to welcome you to our little family here in the States immediately. Your arrival gives us an opportunity to meet one on one. I am greatly excited to meet you all, and I will do my level best to acquaint you in America.

References

Bovee, C. L., & Thill, J. V. (2018). Business communication today (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/