Responding to the Setting Intercultural communication affects institutional communication. Knowledge is needed to know when to use formal and informal communication. There will be circumstances when assertiveness and harmonious communication skills are needed. This paper will discuss formal and informal communication and how it is used, assertiveness and harmonious communication and how it is used, and conflict management.
Assess the Context for Informality Verses Formality Formality is used in collectivistic cultures, and informality is used in egalitarian and individualistic cultures (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, & Roy, 2013). Within an institution, there are times to use formality and informality. Formal communication uses a direct approach,
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When there are disagreements at the institution, the appropriate strategy would be to use the integrating strategy. The integrating strategy focuses on protecting all individuals’ images, and it strives for closure to the situation (Neuliep & Johnson, 2016). There have been times when the institution has used a dominating strategy in order to protect its image and to take control of the situation, and this style is an assertive style of communication. When the faculty wanted to unionize, the administration held meetings and used a dominating approach to handle the situation. The institution is more masculine than it is feminine, so the institution uses more assertiveness than harmonious characteristics. During the reorganization of the hierarchical chart, the administration used an integrating strategy, which is a harmonious style. The administration allowed for concerns to be addressed, and this showed that the administration wanted to involve all individuals.
By using assertiveness and harmonious strategies in order to resolve situations, it would benefit the institution. There will be times when one style is needed over the other. When a direct approach is needed so that there is less confusion on the issue and on the possible solutions, assertiveness is the approach that would be used (Neuliep & Johnson, 2016). When a less confrontational approach that protects all individuals’ viewpoints is needed, a harmonious strategy would be beneficial (Neuliep & Johnson,