Space orientation PDF

Preview

Summary

Space orientation notes...

Description

Space orientation is How we relate to physical and psychological boundaries From Klockhohn and Strodtbeck’s Value Orientations  Public, Private or mixed? 

Cultures differ in their perception of space, what some cultures consider as private, it might be considered as public by another culture.



Space orientation doesn’t have to be only physical  There is also what is called “personal zone”



cultures differ when it comes to proximity during a conversation. In case this personal zone is crossed, this will cause discomfort. -

EG. In some cultures, some personal or family issues are discussed openly, while in other cultures where privacy is of high importance there has to be high formality in conversations where the focus lies on business rather than on personal issues.

 Public : openly ask and converse about personal issues can be seen as nosy, insensitive or unprofessional to someone more private who only wants to talk about business 

One approach is that space is owned by individuals and privacy is important. Meetings are held behind closed doors and are by invitation only. The alternative is open ownership, where people can go where they please and meetings are open to all who want to attend. -

Can cause cross cultural conflict in IB as a someone from a culture which focuses on public space can be seen as rude barging into meetings, intimate hugs to someone from a culture that focuses on private space  potentially cause tension and ruin business deal

-

In the photo:

 China is a country which has little focus on private space.  The proximity of the models and the people shows how most space is publicly shared. It also shows intimacy which also draws from its highly collectivist culture which establishes relationships...