Response to Sara Ross Ch 8 and 19

Sara is right about being careful using stereotypes. I know what it is since I work in multicultural environment. Sometimes people carelessly can make a comment about your skills or abilities mentioning your cultural background. This sounds very insulting. So, when communicating with co-workers from other cultures, I always avoid mentioning about their backgrounds. I try to sound neutral. I remember this from my International Management course. My instructor was from Argentina. He shared his experience managing multicultural teams. It is easy to ruin reputation with stereotypes but it is hard to rebuild trust again.

Chapter 8 and 19 reading

Ch.8

This chapter is really handy when it comes to writing styles. I found out that there are different styles that companies use in their environment. But what I discovered for myself is that bureaucratese style really exists. That is why some information is easily understood and other I have to read 3 or more times to get an idea what they want from me. Interestingly, in some companies they practice bureaucratic style on purpose. But it is a great idea to pass the law to use plain English in government documents to avoid confusion. America is the country of immigrants, so it is important to use simple language when you write instructions, emails, directions etc. Another valuable advice is to keep in mind cultural factor. The writing voice we use here may sound offensive and rude in other cultures. So, it is good idea to consult with someone who is familiar with particular culture you are dealing with.

Ch.19

This chapter talks about managing client's projects. We know how to use reader-centered approach. Now we can rephrase it: client-centered approach. It is important to understand client's needs and communicate with the client throughout the project. Also, working on the project, we also must learn about client's target audience. It will ensure better outcome. The last guideline tells how to deliver the final product. Usually we follow up by sending a letter or instructions how to use product. Or we could provide some information on software that was used to develop client's product etc. We need to use some level of creativity to keep a good relationships with the clients.