Communication as cause, symptoms and solution for culture shock in Swedish working environment

Abstract

Culture shock is often associated with contacts with exotic cultures and primarily with the differences in religion, customs and traditions. However, it is also a communication-based phenomenon (Kim in Gudykunst, 2005, p. 379 ). The purpose of this thesis is to study culture shock in working environment as a communication-based phenomenon and see how communication functions as a cause, a symptom as well as a solution for culture shock. Since culture shock is a multidimensional phenomenon and strongly subjective experience qualitative semi-structured interviews were used in order to provide informants with opportunity to freely talk about their experiences. Informants were 14 expatriates1 from 11 different countries who work in two big international companies in Sweden. Low or moderate level of culture shock was reported by majority of the informants, one third reported insignificant problems, while one informant experienced high level of culture shock referring to it as a “scary experience”. The study finds that specific patterns of interpersonal and organisational communication in the host culture including quality and quantity of interactions within the host culture and towards strangers influence intensity of culture shock. Furthermore those expatriates who work in international and more culturally competent host environment experienced less culture shock then those surrounded with strongly locally oriented host environment with few or no contacts with other cultures. Ambiguous or poorly specified role and especially personality requirements common in the host culture influenced culture shock too. The use of host culture language also influenced behaviour and power balance and was positively related to higher level of stress and perceived difficulties in communication.