UNDERSTANDING WORKPLACE DYNAMICS : COMMUNICATION STYLES BETWEEN TURKISH MANAGERS AND INDONESIAN EMPLOYEES IN A LABOUR-INTENSIVE SETTING

Abstract

This study examines how four Indonesian employees navigate daily communication with Turkish managers in a labour-intensive furniture factory in Central Java. Guided by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Hall’s high-context communication, and Ting-Toomey’s Face-Negotiation Theory, the research uses descriptive phenomenology to identify key communication barriers and coping strategies. Data from in-depth interviews reveal five themes, including language challenges, top down instructions, workers’ interpretation efforts, peer support, and hopes for clearer communication. Findings highlight how cultural differences, such as firm tones and implicit messages, often lead to confusion, which employees manage through silence, peer consultation, and non-confrontational adaptation. Despite these strategies, all informants express a need for more empathetic and two-way communication from managers to reduce miscommunication and workplace stress.