A study of the main factors causing intercultural communication problems in the perspective of the demographic specifications of the employees: a research in a multinational organization

In recent years, several factors have resulted in an environment that depends on more intercultural communication. The contributing factors include development of communication and transportation technologies, increase in the world population, changes of economical centers of the world trade, growth of international organizations and tourism activities. Today more organisations are operating in the international arena and they employ more manpower from different cultures. The employees of modern organisations are becoming increasingly involved in international business relationships. But due to problems arising from cultural differences, they experience more diffficulties. The main purpose of this study is to research some of the intercultural communication problems in a multinational military organization. In order to achieve this, firstly, communication, culture, intercultural communication concepts and some basic theories about culture have been examined. In addition to that, cultural differences that cause communication problems have been discussed. Secondly, a poll has been applied in an organization as a case study. According to the results of this study, it is reported that there is a significant relationship between intercultural communication problems and members? demographic data such as nationality, sex, age etc. People tend to have more intercultural communication problems in the areas that highlight differences of social behavior and custom, differences of view for personal values and differences of religion and belief. Mistakes in written language, having different gestures and differences in job methods have the least problematic effect in the intercultural communication. It is considered that increasing awareness and sensitivities to cultural differences like religion, language, social attitude, customs, body language, etc.; the differences of cultural norms and values on which cultural attitudes and behaviors are based; and culture?s different approaches to the time, space, nature and relation with the other people will help to reduce intercultural communications problems. It is essential for multicultural organizations to educate their employees about many facets of cultural differences in an attempt to improve intercultural problems. This is one strategy to reduce the potential for communication problems