Time Concepts in Intercultural Business. India and Germany in Comparison

Term Paper , 2014 , 18 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Business economics - Miscellaneous

Time is inseparably intertwined with our lives. We seldom stop to think about it because it appears to be a natural constant, which has always been and always will be. Most people are oblivious to the fact, that our perception of time and our ways to handle it are not uniform but culturally shaped. To say it with the words of the US-American anthropologist Edward T. Hall, who is one of the leading theoreticians in the field: "Time is a core system of cultural, social, and personal life. In fact, nothing occurs except in some kind of time frame. A complicating factor in intercultural relations is that each culture has its own time frames in which the patterns are unique. This means that to function effectively abroad it is just as necessary to learn the language of time as it is to learn the spoken language." (Hall 1983, p. 3).
Consequently, different time frames might explain many misunderstandings in intercultural collaboration. Due to globalization, companies invest all around the world and it becomes more and more relevant for them to understand, why the attempt to implement their management approaches in culturally different contexts often fail. It is not enough to look at the surface only – time matters as well. Accordingly, Sahay emphasizes that taking time and space into account will lead to a more holistic understanding of implementation problems by going beyond the search for the elusive dependent variable that determines success or failure (Sahay 1998, p. 149). It is my ambition to strive for a deeper understanding as well.
The underlying questions of this paper are: what kind of time related misunderstandings can occur in intercultural collaboration of Indians and Germans? And correspondingly, what do business people need to know about the time perception of the other to work together successfully? In order to answer these questions, I will use Hall's theoretical dimensions of polychronic and monochronic time. Investigating the applicability of this framework to India and Germany, I will try to locate both on a range from polychronic to monochronic time and analyze if typical misunderstandings occur. Finally, I will try to put these considerations into a greater context by discussing the question, if time concepts can be related to culturally different systems of thought. In doing so, I will refer to the theory of holistic vs. analytic cognition by Nisbett et al.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Time matters
• The dimension of polychronic and monochronic time.
  • polychronic time
  • monochronic time
  • typical misunderstandings
• Indian time
  • karma and eternity
  • Relationships
  • conflicts with M-time
  • summary - understanding Indian time
• German time
  • scheduling and compartmentalization
  • summary - understanding German time
• Systems of thought
  • holistic vs. analytic cognition
  • linking systems of thought to concepts of time

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the time-related misunderstandings that can arise in intercultural collaboration between Indians and Germans, focusing on educated business people from urban centers. The paper will utilize Hall's theoretical dimensions of polychronic and monochronic time to analyze the time perception of both cultures, identifying potential areas of conflict. It will also consider the relationship between time concepts and cultural systems of thought, drawing on the theory of holistic vs. analytic cognition by Nisbett et al.

• Understanding the cultural nuances of time perception in India and Germany
• Identifying potential misunderstandings in intercultural business collaboration due to differing time concepts
• Analyzing the relationship between time perception and cultural systems of thought
• Exploring the applicability of Hall's polychronic and monochronic time dimensions to India and Germany
• Developing strategies for effective intercultural communication and collaboration based on time-related insights

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Time matters: This chapter introduces the concept of time as a culturally shaped construct, emphasizing its significance in intercultural relations. It highlights the importance of understanding time frames in different cultures for effective international business collaboration.
• The dimension of polychronic and monochronic time: This chapter provides an overview of Hall's theory of polychronic and monochronic time, outlining the key features of each dimension. It emphasizes the importance of viewing time perception as a continuum rather than a dichotomy, acknowledging that individuals within a culture may exhibit varying degrees of time sensitivity.
• Polychronic time: This chapter delves into the characteristics of polychronic time, highlighting its flexibility, focus on relationships, and cyclical nature. It explores the concept of "P-time" as a cultural construct that prioritizes human interaction and consensus building over rigid schedules.
• Monochronic time: This chapter explores the characteristics of monochronic time, emphasizing its linear nature, compartmentalization, and prioritization of schedules. It examines the concept of "M-time" as a cultural construct that values efficiency, punctuality, and task completion.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the key concepts of polychronic and monochronic time, intercultural communication, cultural differences in time perception, and the relationship between time concepts and systems of thought. It explores the application of these concepts to the specific contexts of India and Germany, highlighting the importance of understanding cultural nuances in international business collaboration.

• College: http://www.uni-jena.de/ (Fachbereich Interkulturelle Wirtschaftskommunikation)
• Course: Seminar Wirtschaftsbezogene Kulturgeschichte Indiens
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Anna Carina Mühlhans (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V300060
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656979470
• ISBN (Book): 9783656979487
• Language: English
• Tags: time, concepts, intercultural, business, india, germany, comparison