Summary
This research was greatly influenced by the increasing number of multicultural organizations
wiling to and operating in the ever internationalizing and globalizing economy. Therefore, Yeo
and Pang (2017) focused on understanding the significant role that cultural values impact on
public relations practice using Singapore as the study population. There exist various hybrid
cultures in Singapore, a factor that inspired the researchers to analyze on the country’s
operationalization of multiculturalism and make comparisons with the collective or individual
societies across the globe. This study was guided by the Gudykunst’s (1998) seven dimensions
influencing communication based on individualism-collectivism guide.
It was found that managing diversity among many organization’s stakeholders was challenging
since most of the MNC practitioners and public funded institutions found it difficult to work with
stakeholders from diverse cultures. Cultural values were found to greatly influence
organizational practice. Similar to how multiculturalism is carried out as a policy among many
civil servants, government and public-funded institutions’ practitioners expressed the concern for
addressing and integrating cultural values in communication collateral.
The issue of influence of culture on organization communication has been addressed based on
seven key cultural communication dimensions. It was found that most companies were not
consistent with collectivistic cultures because individuals had no opportunities for their self-
disclosure. Individual uncertainty was based on collectivism because many practitioners utilized
Afrah Salah Ahmed MukhtarCOM 21532665018
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group-based uncertainty. The dimension of communication rules reported a collectivistic
approach where practitioners focused on in- or out-groups with team members. A collectivistic
face-negotiation was widely accepted in Singapore because of its significance in impacting
multicultural communication in organizations. Turn-taking in communication, persuasive
strategies, and conflict management dimensions all were based on collectivisms. Practitioners
believed that it is only through group discussions or meetings that such aspects were utilized in
organization communications.
My Analysis of The Report:
Communication is a key cornerstone to public relations. Understanding what influence the
communication approaches or skills is of importance as to how utilizing communicative tools is
to the general public relation practice in corporate or local organizations and multinational
incorporations. Therefore, understanding how cultural values are influencing communication
practice is a key aspect that public relations practitioners should understand in our today’s
progressive economy that is surrounded by multicultural environments.
A PR practitioner with general background of multiculturalism is in a position to understand and
manage diversity between internal and external organizational stakeholders. There will be no
effective or creative way of communicating organization’s challenges if practitioners lack skills
to acquaint and recognize other stakeholders’ multicultural minds or their multicultural groups
based on aspects like race, religion, or ethnicity. This will help in understanding other diversity
dimensions, which will serve as a steppingstone towards public relations practice in
organizations thus placing firms at greater heights of succeeding in the multicultural and
globalized era of business.
Afrah Salah Ahmed MukhtarCOM 21532665018
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References
Yeo, S. L., & Pang, A. (2017). Asian multiculturalism in communication: Impact of culture in
the practice of public relations in Singapore. Public Relations Review, 43(1),