Globalization
Globalization
takes us to an understanding of
transformation, advancement, and
interdependence.
People should acquire knowledge and
skills that account for “global communication
competence” because it is only through global communication competence can people from different cultures communicate effectively and productively in the globalizing society.
Communication means "Communicare"
Globalization - Corporate Giant
Swain (1980) and Canale (1983) termed this as communicative competence (CC)
which they defined as the synthesis of an underlying system of knowledge and skill needed for
communication. in their concept of communication, competence refers to the knowledge of an
individual about language and about other aspects of language use.
Cooley and Roach (1984) defined communication competence as the knowledge of
effective and appropriate communication patterns and the ability to use and adapt that knowledge
in various context.
1. It deals with knowledge. The cognitive elements of competence include knowing how to
do something and understanding why things are done the way they are (Hargie, 2011).
2. The ability to use. Individual factors affect our ability to do anything. This definition
accounts differences on intellectual ability. At the individual level, a person’s
physiological and psychological characteristics affect competence.
3. The ability to adapt to various contexts. What is competent or not varies based on social
and cultural contexts, which makes it impossible to have only one standard for what
counts as communication competence (Cooley and Roach, 1984)
Communication competence has been the primary undergraduate learning goal along with other
key skills like writing, critical thinking, and problem solving.
The National Communication Association (NCA) has identified what students should be able to in terms of speaking and listening competencies by the time they graduate from college.
Expected Skills for College Graduates.
1. State ideas clearly.
2. Communicate ethically.
3. Recognize when it is appropriate to communicate.
4. Identify their communication goals.
5. Select the most appropriate and effective medium for communicating.
6. Demonstrate credibility.
7. Identify and manage misunderstandings.
8. Manage conflict.
9. Be open-minded about another’s point of view.
10. Listen attentively
Global Communication Competence
Competence is the ability of individuals that relates effectively to self and others in
daily life. It is an integration of various components based on the individual’s cognitive,
affective, and behavioral abilities.
Chen (2005) defines communication competence as an innate individual trait that is
not related to personal intellect or education.
Weinstein (1969) supports that communication
competence is an internal ability that is naturally enhanced and luminated through the promotion
of empathy in the process of socialization.
In the global communication context, competence
further requires individuals to be equipped with the ability to acknowledge, respect, tolerate, and
integrate cultural differences in order to be qualified for enlightened global citizenship (Chen and
Starosta, 1997, 2003)
According to Chen (2005), there are four dimensions for global communication
competence: global mindset, unfolding the self, mapping the culture, and aligning the interaction.
These components are summarized as follows:
1. Global Mindset. It enables individual to regulate the complexity, ambiguity,
contradiction, and conflict embedded in the turbulent change of the globalization process.
2. Unfolding the self. It refers to the ability to look for shared communication symbols and
project the self into another person’s mind by thinking the same thoughts and feelings
and same emotions as the person (Chen and Starosta, 1997, 2000). Unfolding the Self comprises the following components:
a. Ceaseless purifying. The self must be ceaselessly edified, constantly liberated,
and perpetually purified in order to play the most important and fundamental role
in achieving the productive living of globalizing society.
b. Continuous learning. The continuous improvements create superior individuals
who possess a refined and elegant character and a balance of mind
c. Cultivate sensitivity. Refinement and cultivation transform the superior individual
into an excellent one whose actions are in harmony with the high standard of
values and whose utterance of truth sets a good standard to the global citizens
without disgracing his/her integrity.
d. Develop creativity. The ability of unfolding the self is an important way to
promote creativity, learning, and innovation in the process of globalization.
e. Foster empathy. Great empathy formulates the ideal of fellow-feeling by
expanding the self-consciousness of one’s fellow persons.
3. Mapping the culture. The ability of mapping a culture requires us to contrast cultural
differences that may motivate us to prefer alternative styles of cultural expressions and
engender in us desire to retool so that we can better function with the demands of global
environment and cope with changing environment rapidly.
4. Aligning the Interaction. To act or align interactions effectively in the process of
intercultural or global communication enables individuals to get the task done and attain
communication goals for being a successful global citizen