International meetings

Advantages of teleconferencing

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is electronic communication between people, who are in separate locations. Teleconferences, or distant meetings, are held by means of IT. There are three basic types of teleconferencing:

§ Audio-conferencing – verbal communication via telephone (telephone conference calls).

§ Video conferencing – television-like communication augmented with sound (on-line video conferencing);

§ Computer conferencing – printed communication through keyboard terminals (e-mail and Internet messages).

Ø Many people can participate in meetings, and they can give more ideas and points of view;

Ø Communication between the home office and field staffs is maximised

Ø It saves an agency time and travel costs.

Ø It saves people money, travel time, transportation cost.

International meetings are an area where cultural differences between professionals can and do clash. In some countries, a meeting is used for consultation and discussion. In others, meetings are used primarily to present the boss’s opinion or transmit corporate directives. In some cultures, meetings will follow a carefully organized plan, while in others they depend on the issues raised or the people involved.

In Japan the chairperson’s role is to achieve a consensus of opinion. This often involves the chairperson withdrawing from the proceedings to allow participants to work their way slowly towards a solution. In the US, however, the chairperson is expected to drive the meeting to an agreement using charisma and force of personality.

In Russian meetings, do not be surprised if the chairperson allows angry exchange or even a walkout by some participants. These actions are usually a ploy and do not constitute a breakdown. It is common practice for the “protesters” to re-enter a meeting and resume the discussion.

Western meetings generally run to a tight schedule with an organised, pre-planned agenda. Meetings are for business. After a few pleasantries in the meeting room, the common term in the West is ‘Let’s get down to business’. Other cultures see the meeting as the arena for building personal relationships and strengthening bonds. Getting down to business comes further down the priority list.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-20