Communication Styles
American Business Culture
Interesting Facts
Corporate Jargon
100
In some cultures, people often avoid saying a direct "no" to maintain harmony. What term describes this type of communication?
A) Direct
B) Explicit
C) Indirect
D) Assertive
C) Indirect
100
In American business, what one word is very commonly used to begin a professional email to a new contact, typically followed by their name?
"Dear"
Acceptable alternatives: "Hello" or "Hi"
100
This country is famous for its philosophy called "Lagom." This idea means "just the right amount" – not too much, not too little – and guides their daily life and business. Which country is this?
Sweden
100
'We need to achieve synergy between these two departments.'
In plain language, what does "synergy" mean here?
Working together to achieve a greater combined effect than working separately / cooperation.
200
What term describes subjects like politics, religion, or personal money that are generally considered improper or unsuitable to talk about when you first meet business colleagues from different cultures?
Taboo Topics
200
You're in a meeting with a 24-year-old project lead who’s giving feedback to a senior engineer. No one seems surprised. What does this situation reveal about American business culture?
A) Age and hierarchy are deeply respected
B) Technical competence often outweighs seniority
C) Promotions are based on loyalty
D) Criticism should only come from top-level management
B) Technical competence often outweighs seniority
200
This country has a tradition called "nemawashi", where decisions are discussed informally before meetings, so that everyone agrees in advance and no one is surprised.
Japan
200
"Let's do a deep dive into the Q3 sales figures."
What does "deep dive" imply in this corporate context?
To conduct a thorough and detailed analysis or investigation into a specific topic.
300
Look at this message:
"Hi Alex, regarding the marketing report, it's quite...interesting. Some parts are definitely unique. I'll need to give it another look when I have a moment. Thanks."
Is their feedback clearly positive, clearly negative, or unclear? What communication style requires you to "read between the lines"?
Unclear (or Ambiguous).
High-context communication.
300
In American business culture, what is the preferred way to give praise and criticism?
A) Praise and criticism are best kept private
B) Praise is usually private, criticism is public
C) Both are given openly, no matter who's around
D) Praise is often public, criticism is usually private
D) Praise is often public, criticism is usually private
300
This mindset and business phenomenon promotes working long hours, often at the expense of personal time or well-being, as a measure of success and ambition in the business world.
Hustle culture / workaholism
300
In plain English, what does PTO mean in this sentence?
PTO means Paid Time Off (time off work for which you are paid).
400
Look at this email:
"Subject: Urgent: Marketing Report Feedback Hi Alex, The marketing report has issues. Pages 3-5 need significant revision. Data is inaccurate. Please revise and resubmit by EOD Friday. Thanks, John"
Is this email an example of direct or indirect communication? Why?
Direct communication - low context.
Characteristics: Explicit, clear, factual, to-the-point.
400
In American professional texts, some individuals commonly use an ellipsis (...) to indicate a soft pause or a casual trailing off. For example:
"Meeting at 2 PM... see you there..."
Considering typical communication norms in cultures like Ukraine, how might this American usage of an ellipsis often be interpreted in a business message?
Conveying uncertainty, doubt, passive-aggressiveness, or hinting at something unsaid/negative.
400
In some Middle Eastern countries, if you say you really like a business person's personal item (like their watch or pen), what surprising thing might happen?
They might feel culturally obliged to offer or give that item to you as a gift.
400
"Let's focus on the low-hanging fruit first to show quick progress."
What does "low-hanging fruit" mean in this situation?
The easiest tasks or problems to solve, or the most obvious opportunities that require little effort.
500
You are trying to get a clear timeline for a project from an international team. When asked "When will it be done?", a team repeatedly replies: "It will be ready when it is ready."
What communication approach are they likely using? What does this tell you about their culture's perception of time and commitments, and how can you adapt your approach to get more specific deadlines?
They are likely using a highly indirect and potentially high-context communication approach, and perhaps a polychronic view of time (where flexibility and relationships are prioritized over strict adherence to schedules).
Shift from "When" to "What needs to happen for it to be ready?"
500
Think about tech companies in Ukraine. What is one example of a communication habit or way of working that Ukrainian companies now use, which comes from American business?
For example: use of first names regardless of hierarchy, feedback culture, direct communication in tech teams, emphasis on "getting things done," use of Slack/digital tools for quick communication, agile methodologies.
500
In Turkish grammar, there is a specific past tense used when the speaker did not personally witness an event, but rather heard about it from someone else. What informal, culturally descriptive name is sometimes given to this unique grammatical tense?
"Gossip" tense
500
"Trying to manage every single social media platform manually feels like boiling the ocean."
In plain English, what does "boiling the ocean" mean in this business context?
Attempting an impossible (or impossibly large / unmanageably vast) task.