Does Culture Matter?

via Global Services:

We would like to list out a few examples of failure in communication, with specific reference to the Indian scenario:

•		An Indian programmer is being briefed by the foreign client about the required changes in the new program. When asked if everything is clear, he replies, “Yes.” When his work is being received, it turns out that he had not understood everything; in fact, major parts in the software were wrong. Like many other cultures, Indians are reluctant to say “No.” Indians may say “Yes,” when they mean “No,” as they may not want to communicate a negative feeling. This is called a “wobbly yes.” For instance, to a straightforward question like, “Do you know ERP 4.5?” the Dutch engineer will reply “No,” an American engineer will reply “No, but I would be happy to learn,” and an Indian will reply with a “wobbly yes.” A further inquisition will reveal the difference. The only solution for making an Indian forthright is to create an atmosphere of trust and informality.
•		Indians are less likely to engage in small talk in comparison to most of their western counterparts, as opposed to the British, who are said to “feel the terror of silence” in an elevator. The lack of small talk is usually interpreted as unfriendly. To make matters worse, some Indian providers train their employees not to ask any personal questions in order to avoid cross-cultural embarrassment.
•		Indians tend to be too optimistic about time and schedules. If an Indian is asked how much travel time is needed to reach a certain destination, the answer will probably be inaccurate and will not include the possibility of encountering traffic jams. Though this may stem from the noble intention of giving a friendly impression, it does tend to create difficulties across cultures. Potential problems or delays are not considered. A jest on this goes as follows, “When an Indian programmer says the work will be finished the next day, it only means it will not be ready today.” With experience, one can anticipate the same and ask probing questions to find out the issues that have been overlooked.
•		The Indians complain that the Dutch are sometimes rude and impolite. For example, the Dutch want to be clear and direct. If something is wrong, they will not hesitate to mention this. An Indian lady programmer, who had recently started to work in a project for a Dutch client, was found crying one morning, in front of her screen. She had just received an e-mail from the Dutch project leader, with a list of what she had done wrong. For her, it was a very impolite and unfriendly message. For the sender, it was just a number of topics, which had to be corrected; it was definitely not meant personally.
•		A good sense of humor can surely improve social interaction. However, what we consider funny, might not be the same in other cultures. For instance, the Dutch refer to a person who makes an outstanding contribution to teamwork as, “The best horse in the stable.” A Dutch project leader once used this phrase while complimenting a talented Indian programmer in the team. Although it was translated into English, the Indian programmer did not understand the positive meaning of the remark and considered it as him being linked to an animal, which obviously meant a feeling of hurt.