Barriers to Intercultural Communication : -A Case Study on IKEA Japan

Sammanfattning: This study focuses on exploring barriers to intercultural communication among managers atIKEA Japan. It investigates what challenges MNC subsidiary managers experience whilecommunicating and interacting with people from different cultures.For this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the respondents were ofSwedish and Japanese nationality holding management positions at IKEA Japan.The research concluded that the respondents experienced the barriers differently, some feltstressed over uncertainty while others felt excited. A common theme across all the barriers waslanguage difficulties. Language differences were the most prominent stumbling block.Nonverbal communication was of greater importance to the respondent that does not speakJapanese well and is often used as a tool to aid verbal communication.The respondents did not see stereotyping and ethnocentrism as a clear hindrance to interculturalcommunication. However, from their responses, it is evident that there are some issues. TheJapanese tend to bunch all Westerners together and assume they are unable to speak Japaneseand understand Japanese customs. The Japanese have a strong sense of pride in their cultureand a strong preference for speaking Japanese. The Swedish managers may even lose therespect of Japanese co-workers if they do not speak Japanese perfectly.