M E
M O
Date: October
18, 2001
To: Robert
Meyer
From: Jeni
Patton
Subject: Guidelines for Documentation in Solomon Islands
Since Lagerhead
Pharmaceuticals expanded into the global marketplace, I have been working with
the International Documentation Division to develop guidelines for writing
technical documents for workers in other cultures. Recently, we have been focusing on the cultures of the South
Pacific, and this memo addresses the culture of Solomon Islands.
Solomon
Islanders are primarily subsistence farmers and fishers and the population is
nearly homogeneous with 93% Melanesian, 4% Polynesian, 1.5% Micronesian, 0.8%
European, and 0.3% Chinese. (“Solomon Islands,” CIA) Only two percent of the
population speaks English, but the common language is Pijin, a form of Pidgin
English. Our workers will be
Melanesians from all areas of the country with a secondary school education
based on the British model and will read, write, and speak English fluently.
They will likely be first generation school completers and newly introduced to
the urban lifestyle.
Based on the research done
on Solomon Islands before selecting the South Pacific region for our expansion,
trust and relationship building are important.
Decision-making requires consensus achieved through extensive
discussion. Solomon Islanders are
generally curious and willing to ask questions for clarification and they are
also willing to argue, criticize, and disagree. However, once they have made a decision they do not like to be
contradicted, especially if it involves a departure from their customary ways.
Kastom (custom) refers to traditional beliefs and land
ownership. Despite the predominance of
devout Christian belief, Solomon Islanders continue to follow traditional
practice, especially among the 75% of those living in villages. (“Destination
Solomon Islands”) Therefore, we must
spend time building relationships and be open to alternate solutions suggested
by our workers.
Group loyalty is an important
aspect of Solomon Islands culture. The
“wantok system” describes groups of people who speak the same language as
related to each other. Wantok is
Pijin for “one talk” or one language.
An important implication of this system is that every member of the
group considers anything that belongs to a member of the group as community
property. In the village this
philosophy works well, but when an individual moves into an urban area where
housing, food and clothing cost money, the wantok system causes difficulty.
Because of the culture’s
experiences during WWII and the formation of cargo cults, Solomon Islanders’
attitude toward foreign companies or aid organizations is, “What will you give
us?” They are not shy about asking for
what they want, but are accepting, within reason, when denied their requests.
Solomon
Islands participates in a number of international organizations, including:
United Nations, World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization,
International Labor Organization, International Monetary Fund. (“Solomon
Islands,” CIA)
Solomon Island law follows
the British system of law and states, in part, that all foreign investors in
Solomon Islands are entitled to
·
enjoy the benefits and
rewards of all legitimate entrepreneurial efforts including payments for
patents, technology, management, technical assistance as well as other special
provisions.
·
all rights under the
Solomon Islands constitution and before the law
·
the settlement of
disputes in accordance with internationally agreed criteria and the laws of
Solomon Islands
Although our workers are
fluent in English, it is not their first language. Therefore, short sentences
and simple, non-technical vocabulary are a necessity. Implications of the wantok system and traditional beliefs must be
carefully considered. We need to build consensus and avoid using a patronizing
tone by being respectful of their history and culture. Thus, we can build trust and a positive
relationship with our workers.
Our workers speak English,
but their first language is one of over 120 tribal language groups on the
islands. Within these language groups,
the majority are high-context cultures.
They rely heavily on tradition in their personal dealings. Between these language groups, however, the
use of Pijin creates a low-context common culture. Any use of English,
therefore, puts Solomon Islanders into a low-context situation.
Relating new ideas and
concepts to something within their experience will help gain acceptance. Consider using stories, in the form of case
studies, to explain important points.
Solomon Islanders tend to be storytellers, so Americans view them as
indirect communicators. Another
contributor to this perception is that the common language used for
communication is Pijin, which, by definition, lacks constructs for complex
concepts.
Predictions or projections
are unlikely to carry much impact for Solomon Islanders because time is almost
static in this tropical country where rain brought by the monsoon is the only
seasonal variation. Dances, songs, and
stories depicting the past are common.
Young people tell stories about WWII as if it happened in their
lifetime. For these reasons, stories will best convey future concepts.
While everyday interactions
tend to be respectful but casual, bureaucratic processes govern official
interactions. Solomon Islanders have
absorbed the model of British bureaucracy and imitate it faithfully. The average worker may have no interest in
reading any documentation but will be able to duplicate complex tasks after
minimal demonstration.
With our expansion into the
global marketplace, I recommend Lagerhead Pharmaceuticals adopt one of the
following ethical standards:
·
SA8000 http://www.cepaa.org/Standard%20English.doc
·
Caux Round Table
“Principles for Business” http://www.cauxroundtable.org/ENGLISH.HTM
·
Global Sullivan
Principles http://globalsullivanprinciples.org/principles.htm
We can use any of these sets
of principles as a guideline to ensure ethical communication in the global
marketplace. For example, the Global
Sullivan Principles includes the statements, “We will:
·
Develop and implement
company policies, procedures, training and internal reporting structures to
ensure commitment to these Principles throughout our organization.
·
Provide a safe and
healthy workplace; protect human health and the environment; and promote
sustainable development.
·
Work with governments
and communities in which we do business to improve the quality of life in those
communities-- their educational, cultural, economic and social well being--and
seek to provide training and opportunities for workers from disadvantaged
backgrounds.”
We should provide our
workers with a hard copy of the documentation.
The documentation should contain short sentences and simple,
non-technical vocabulary. The documentation should include case studies related
to our workers’ experience.
Additionally, our training program should allow new workers to observe
and learn from experienced workers on the job.
This socialization process is important in building trust and personal
relationships.
“Destination Solomon
Islands.” Lonely Planet World Guide Online. 25 Jan. 2001
<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/pacific/solomon_islands>
“Investment Rights of
Foreign Investors,” Solomon Islands Online. 18 Oct. 2001
<http://www.solomons.com/irights.htm>
“Principles for Business,” Caux
Round Table Online.
18 Oct. 2001
<http://www.cauxroundtable.org/ENGLISH.HTM>
“SA8000,” Social
Accountability International Online. 18 Oct. 2001
<http://www.cepaa.org/Standard%20English.doc>
“Solomon
Islands,” CIA World Factbook 2000 Online. 18 Oct. 2001
<http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bp.html>
“Solomon
Islands,” Polisci.com Online. 25
Jan. 2001
<http://www.polisci.com/almanac/world/nation/BP.htm>
Sullivan,
Leon H. “Global Sullivan Principles.” Online. 18 Oct. 2001