This document discusses cultural environments and their impact on international business operations. It covers several learning objectives:
1. Understanding methods for learning about cultural environments, including cultural literacy and ethnocentricity.
2. Analyzing the major causes of cultural difference and change, such as cultural diffusion and how cultures form or are imposed on others.
3. Discussing behavioral factors like social stratification systems, work motivation differences, and relationship preference variations between high/low power distance and individualist/collectivist cultures.
The document provides examples and definitions for many cultural concepts and frameworks for analyzing differences between nations and regions.
02 The Cultural Environments Facing BusinessBrent Weeks
To understand methods for learning about cultural environments
To analyze the major causes of cultural difference and change
To discuss behavioral factors influencing countries’ business practices
To understand guidelines for cultural adjustment
01 Globalization and International BusinessBrent Weeks
To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
To understand why companies engage in international business and why international business growth has accelerated
To discuss globalization’s future and the major criticisms of globalization
To become familiar with different ways in which a company can accomplish its global objectives
To apply social science disciplines to understanding the differences between international and domestic business
To examine the broad foundation of ethical behavior
To demonstrate the cultural and legal foundations of ethical behavior
To discuss the importance of social responsibility when operating internationally, especially in the areas of sustainability
To discuss some key issues in the social activities and consequences of globalized business
To examine corporate responses to globalization in the form of codes of conduct, among other things
02 The Cultural Environments Facing BusinessBrent Weeks
To understand methods for learning about cultural environments
To analyze the major causes of cultural difference and change
To discuss behavioral factors influencing countries’ business practices
To understand guidelines for cultural adjustment
01 Globalization and International BusinessBrent Weeks
To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
To understand why companies engage in international business and why international business growth has accelerated
To discuss globalization’s future and the major criticisms of globalization
To become familiar with different ways in which a company can accomplish its global objectives
To apply social science disciplines to understanding the differences between international and domestic business
To examine the broad foundation of ethical behavior
To demonstrate the cultural and legal foundations of ethical behavior
To discuss the importance of social responsibility when operating internationally, especially in the areas of sustainability
To discuss some key issues in the social activities and consequences of globalized business
To examine corporate responses to globalization in the form of codes of conduct, among other things
> To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
> To understand why companies engage in international business and why international business growth has accelerated
> To discuss globalization’s future and the major criticisms of globalization
> To become familiar with different ways in which a company can accomplish its global objectives
> To apply social science disciplines to understanding the differences between international and domestic business
> To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
To explain the rationales for governmental policies that enhance and restrict trade
To show the effects of pressure groups on trade policies
To describe the potential and actual effects of governmental intervention on the free flow of trade
To illustrate the major means by which trade is restricted and regulated
To demonstrate the business uncertainties and business opportunities created by governmental trade policies
To grasp company strategies for sequencing the penetration of countries
To see how scanning techniques can help managers both limit geographic alternatives and consider otherwise overlooked areas
To discern the major opportunity and risk variables a company should consider when deciding whether and where to expand abroad
To know the methods and problems of collecting and comparing international information
To understand some simplifying tools for helping decide where to operate
To consider how companies allocate emphasis among the countries where they operate
To comprehend why location decisions do not necessarily compare different countries’ possibilities
11 The Strategy of International BusinessBrent Weeks
To evaluate industry structure, firm strategy, and value creation
To profile the features and functions of the value chain
To assess how managers configure and coordinate a value chain
To explain global integration and local responsiveness
To profile the types of strategies firms use in international business
06 International Trade and Factor MobilityBrent Weeks
To understand theories of international trade
To explain how free trade improves global efficiency
To identify factors affecting national trade patterns
To explain why a country’s export capabilities are dynamic
To understand why production factors, especially labor and capital, move internationally
To explain the relationship between foreign trade and international factor mobility
08 Cross-National Cooperation and AgreementsBrent Weeks
To identify the major characteristics and challenges of the World Trade Organization
To discuss the pros and cons of global, bilateral, and regional integration
To describe the static and dynamic impact of trade agreements on trade and investment flows
To define different forms of regional economic integration
To compare and contrast different regional trading groups
To describe other forms of global cooperation such as the United Nations and OPEC
> To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
> To understand why companies engage in international business and why international business growth has accelerated
> To discuss globalization’s future and the major criticisms of globalization
> To become familiar with different ways in which a company can accomplish its global objectives
> To apply social science disciplines to understanding the differences between international and domestic business
> To define globalization and international business and show how they affect each other
To explain the rationales for governmental policies that enhance and restrict trade
To show the effects of pressure groups on trade policies
To describe the potential and actual effects of governmental intervention on the free flow of trade
To illustrate the major means by which trade is restricted and regulated
To demonstrate the business uncertainties and business opportunities created by governmental trade policies
To grasp company strategies for sequencing the penetration of countries
To see how scanning techniques can help managers both limit geographic alternatives and consider otherwise overlooked areas
To discern the major opportunity and risk variables a company should consider when deciding whether and where to expand abroad
To know the methods and problems of collecting and comparing international information
To understand some simplifying tools for helping decide where to operate
To consider how companies allocate emphasis among the countries where they operate
To comprehend why location decisions do not necessarily compare different countries’ possibilities
11 The Strategy of International BusinessBrent Weeks
To evaluate industry structure, firm strategy, and value creation
To profile the features and functions of the value chain
To assess how managers configure and coordinate a value chain
To explain global integration and local responsiveness
To profile the types of strategies firms use in international business
06 International Trade and Factor MobilityBrent Weeks
To understand theories of international trade
To explain how free trade improves global efficiency
To identify factors affecting national trade patterns
To explain why a country’s export capabilities are dynamic
To understand why production factors, especially labor and capital, move internationally
To explain the relationship between foreign trade and international factor mobility
08 Cross-National Cooperation and AgreementsBrent Weeks
To identify the major characteristics and challenges of the World Trade Organization
To discuss the pros and cons of global, bilateral, and regional integration
To describe the static and dynamic impact of trade agreements on trade and investment flows
To define different forms of regional economic integration
To compare and contrast different regional trading groups
To describe other forms of global cooperation such as the United Nations and OPEC
04 The Economic Environments Facing BusinessBrent Weeks
To communicate the importance of economic analysis
To discuss the idea of economic freedom
To profile the characteristics of the types of economic systems
To introduce the notion of state capitalism
To profile indicators of economic development, performance, and potential
1
MBA 670 Capsim: Strategic Decision Making
Project 5 - Creating an International Business Plan
Learning Topics
2
MBA 670: Strategic Decision Making
Project 5 Learning Topics
1 Assess the Characteristics of MediCorp's Potential Customers in
the Selected Country
International Cultural Differences
Communications, teamwork, organizational hierarchy, and positive attitudes toward management roles
are essential in any organization. These are crucial in international business, as problems are often
exacerbated by subtle cross-cultural differences. When defining roles in multinational teams whose
members have diverse attitudes and expectations about organizational hierarchy, these cultural
differences can present a challenge.
Culture is a system of values and norms that is shared among a group of people. The ways people
interact socially, their mutual expectations, and the values they share all have consequences for doing
business and managing across cross-cultural boundaries.
How a country's cultural differences relate to international business can be seen in the following
examples:
• In Japan, social hierarchy and respect for seniority are highly valued and are reflected at the
workplace. Those in senior management positions command respect and expect a formality and
deference from junior team members.
• In Scandinavian countries, societal equality is emphasized. Workplaces therefore tend to have a
comparatively flat organizational hierarchy. In turn, this organization can result in relatively
informal communication and an emphasis on cooperation across the organization.
• The way to address colleagues and business partners varies in different countries. While
Americans and Canadians tend to use first names, in Asian countries such as South Korea,
China, and Singapore, colleagues tend to use the formal address, Mr. or Ms. So do Germans and
many Europeans.
• The concept of punctuality also differs between cultures. Where an American may arrive at a
meeting a few minutes early, an Indian or Mexican colleague may arrive well after the scheduled
start time and still be considered on time.
• Attitudes to work also differ. While some may consider working long hours a sign of commitment,
others may view it as an encroachment on their personal time and a sacrifice of essential family
time.
• Greeting customs are highly culture- and situation-specific. In the United States and Canada, a
simple handshake while looking a person in the eye is the norm. In Japan, bowing is the
traditional greeting—the deeper the bow, the greater the respect shown. In India, you put hands
together as in prayer and say "namaste." In Arab countries, men might hug and kiss each other
(but not a woman) on the cheek.
• In Latin America and the Middle East, the acceptable physical distance needed to respect
someone's personal space is much shorter than what most Europeans and Americans feel
comfor.
1
MBA 670 Capsim: Strategic Decision Making
Project 5 - Creating an International Business Plan
Learning Topics
2
MBA 670: Strategic Decision Making
Project 5 Learning Topics
1 Assess the Characteristics of MediCorp's Potential Customers in
the Selected Country
International Cultural Differences
Communications, teamwork, organizational hierarchy, and positive attitudes toward management roles
are essential in any organization. These are crucial in international business, as problems are often
exacerbated by subtle cross-cultural differences. When defining roles in multinational teams whose
members have diverse attitudes and expectations about organizational hierarchy, these cultural
differences can present a challenge.
Culture is a system of values and norms that is shared among a group of people. The ways people
interact socially, their mutual expectations, and the values they share all have consequences for doing
business and managing across cross-cultural boundaries.
How a country's cultural differences relate to international business can be seen in the following
examples:
• In Japan, social hierarchy and respect for seniority are highly valued and are reflected at the
workplace. Those in senior management positions command respect and expect a formality and
deference from junior team members.
• In Scandinavian countries, societal equality is emphasized. Workplaces therefore tend to have a
comparatively flat organizational hierarchy. In turn, this organization can result in relatively
informal communication and an emphasis on cooperation across the organization.
• The way to address colleagues and business partners varies in different countries. While
Americans and Canadians tend to use first names, in Asian countries such as South Korea,
China, and Singapore, colleagues tend to use the formal address, Mr. or Ms. So do Germans and
many Europeans.
• The concept of punctuality also differs between cultures. Where an American may arrive at a
meeting a few minutes early, an Indian or Mexican colleague may arrive well after the scheduled
start time and still be considered on time.
• Attitudes to work also differ. While some may consider working long hours a sign of commitment,
others may view it as an encroachment on their personal time and a sacrifice of essential family
time.
• Greeting customs are highly culture- and situation-specific. In the United States and Canada, a
simple handshake while looking a person in the eye is the norm. In Japan, bowing is the
traditional greeting—the deeper the bow, the greater the respect shown. In India, you put hands
together as in prayer and say "namaste." In Arab countries, men might hug and kiss each other
(but not a woman) on the cheek.
• In Latin America and the Middle East, the acceptable physical distance needed to respect
someone's personal space is much shorter than what most Europeans and Americans feel
comfor.
Dissecting culture and its application to business.docxmadlynplamondon
Dissecting
culture and its
application to
business
What we’ll cover
1. What is the nature of culture?
2. Variety and variation in culture
3. How have globalisation, migration and diversity impacted on
national culture?
4. Use these insights to critically evaluate models of national culture
5. Culture traps: problems and pitfalls to avoid
6. Dynamic models of culture
7. Groupwork exercise: apply your cultural knowledge to business
practice
1. What is culture?
Read the following descriptions of national values
for China, India, Britain
•What do these descriptions tell us about the nature of
culture?
i.e. what kinds of things do we call ‘culture’?
• How long might it take an outsider to understand these
values?
So what is the nature of culture?
“a complex frame of reference that consists of patterns of traditions,
beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and meanings that are shared to varying
degrees by interacting members of a community”
(Ting-Toomey, 1999, p.10)
traditions rituals, ceremonies, rites of passage
beliefs, values, norms underlying principles governing behaviours
symbols language (verbal, non-verbal) also images
meanings Interpretations of symbols held by members
‘shared to varying degrees’ not every single member of the culture to the same degree!
‘a frame of reference’ for making sense of the world
Culture is socially constructed; a basis for shared, collective identities
What are the key
words to highlight
in this definition?
Another definition
“the coherent, learned, shared view of a group of people about life’s
concerns that ranks what is important, furnishes attitudes about what
things are appropriate, and dictates behaviour”
(Varner & Beamer, 2011, p.5)
coherent an entire, consistent world view
learned we are not born with it; culture is transmitted
view of a group agreed, shared views of a society
What are the key
words to highlight
in this definition?
The Iceberg of Culture
In awareness Visible
Out of conscious
awareness
Invisible
Self-awareness
The Iceberg of Culture Fine arts Literature
Drama Classical music Popular music
Folk dancing Games Cooking Dress
Notions of modesty Conceptions of beauty Ideas about child raising
Rules of descent Cosmology Relationship to animals Courtship practices
Patterns of superior/subordinate relations Definitions of sin
Conceptions of justice Notions of leadership Incentive to work Tempo of work
Attitudes to the dependent Approaches to problem solving
Patterns of group decision making Eye behaviour Conceptions of cleanliness
Theories of disease Conception of status mobility
Roles in relation to status by age, sex, class, occupation, kinship etc
Definition of insanity Nature of friendship Conception of self
Patterns of visual perception Body language Facial expression
Notions of logic and validity Patterns of handling emotions ...
The meaning and dimensions of culture-Lecture-03(Helen Deresky)Shifur Rahman
Culture refers to the acquired knowledge that:
people use to interpret experience and generate social behavior, and
forms values, creates attitudes, and influences behavior.
In fact, culture comprises the shared values, understandings, assumptions, and goals that are:
Learned from earlier generations.
Imposed by present members of a society, and
Passed on to succeeding generations.
Prepared by
Md. Sohel Chowdhury
Assistant Lecturer
Dept.of Management Studies
University of Barisal
international business
,
what is culture
,
values andnorms
,
culture
,
society
,
and the nation-state
,
hofstede’s cultural dimensions in dubai
,
spoken language
,
individuals and groups
,
cultural dimensions in germany
,
cultural dimensions in china
,
cultural dimensions in india
,
cultural dimensions in england
,
social structure
,
religious and ethical systems
,
islam
,
implications for managers
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
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2. Learning Objectives
To understand methods for learning about
cultural environments
To analyze the major causes of cultural
difference and change
To discuss behavioral factors influencing
countries’ business practices
To understand guidelines for cultural
adjustment
4. What is Culture?
“A system of values and norms that are
shared among a group of people and that
when taken together constitute a design
for living.”
- Hofstede, Namenwirth, and Weber
Cultural literacy
Detailed knowledge of a
culture that enables a
person to function
effectively within it
√√
Ethnocentricity
Belief that one’s own
ethnic group or culture
is superior to that of
others
XX
7. Cultural Factors Affecting
International Business Operations
Culture is an integral part of a nation’s
operating environment
every business function is subject to potential
cultural differences
8. Cultural adjustments
Companies need to decide when to make
cultural adjustments
Fostering cultural diversity can allow a
company to gain a global competitive
advantage by bringing together people of
diverse backgrounds and experience
10. Cultural Collision
Cultural collision can occur …..
when a company implements practices that
are less effective
when employees encounter distress
because of difficulty in accepting or
adjusting to foreign behaviors
11. Avoiding Cultural Collisions
People on both sides of the context barrier
must be trained to make adjustments.
Background information is essential when
explaining anything. Cultural Awareness
Do not assume the newcomer is self-reliant.
Need to make an effort to become more self-
adjusted.
Country-by-country analysis can be difficult
because subcultures exist within nation- Need to
focus on relevant groups
13. How Cultures Form and Change
Cultural value systems are established
early in life but may change through
Change by choice
Change by imposition (cultural imperialism)
Cultural diffusion-contact with other
culture
Creolization-mixing culture element
14. Patterns of Diffusion
Diffusion refers to how something spreads.
A drop of ink, for example, will spread
through a glass of water until the ink and
water blend into a single mixture.
15. Impact of Cultural Diffusion
Positive Impacts
Access to
information and
ideas
Access to
products
New
entertainment
Negative
Impacts
Loss of local
businesses
Introduces new
problem
Loss of cultural
identity
16. Cultural Diffusion
The spread of cultural ideas, practices,
or goods from one group of people to
another
Oreo sign outside a grocery store in
China
18. Introduces new negatives
(such as health problems)
New kinds of soda, such as Sprite and Coca-Cola
introduced a huge increase in cavities and tooth
decay in China
20. Behavioral PracticesBehavioral Practices
Affecting BusinessAffecting Business
1-Issues in Social Stratification
2- Work Motivation
3-Relationship Preferences
4- Risk-taking Behavior
5- Information and Task Processing
6-Communications
21. 1- Social Stratification
Group affiliations can be
Ascribed group memberships
based on gender, family, age, caste, and
ethnic or national origin
Acquired group memberships
based on religion, political affiliation,
professional association
Two other factors that are important
education and social connections
22. 22
Social Stratification
Caste system
• A form of closed system of
stratification in which social
position is determined by:
~ the family into which a
person is born
• Change in that position is
usually not possible during
an individual's lifetime
Immobility and inherited
status
• Examples: Japan, India
Five different levels of
the Indian caste system
1. Priest
2. Ruler, Warrior,
Landowner
3. Merchants
4. Artisans, Farmers
5. Outside class system -
known as
‘Untouchables’
23. Caste Systems
•Closed stratification system
•Resources and social rewards
distributed based on ascribed statuses
•Lifelong status determined by that of
parents
•Prohibits marriage outside of caste
•Caste system in India has been
challenged but still plays a major role
Types of Stratification Systems
24. 24
Social Stratification
British class system
1. The upper class – involve
wealthy and powerful
people
2. The upper-middle class –
members involve in
important occupations and
the prestigious professions
3. The lower-middle class –
members involve in clerical
work and the less
prestigious professions
Class system
• A form of open social
stratification in which the
position a person has by
birth
can be changed through his
or her achievement or luck
• Examples: US, Britain,
China
28. 2-Work Motivation:
How Much Do People Value Work?
The motivation to work differs across
cultures
Studies show
the desire for material wealth is a prime
motivation to work
people are more eager to work when the
rewards for success are high
In countries with high work centrality, people
tend to work more hours per week
High levels of work centrality may lead to
dedicated workers
29. In some culture LESS value on Leisure
time and more on Productivity
Example of FRANCE and US (OECD
research 30 countries)
Among 30 countries, France have most
vacations, 135 min per day drinking and
eating and 530 min sleeping
American spend 74 min per day in eating
and drinking and 518 minutes in sleeping
32. Work Motivation:
Hierarchy of needs theory
Hierarchy of needs theory
fill lower-level needs before moving to higher
level needs
The ranking of needs differs among
cultures
33. Maslow's Theory &
International Managers
Managers in U.S., U.K, Europe and Latin
America report that autonomy and self-
actualization are the most important but
least satisfied needs.
Some East Asian managers think that
hierarchy of needs is western-oriented and
focuses on the individual
34. Adapting Maslow's Theory to Asia
Nevis suggested changing hierarchy for
China:
Belonging
Physiological
Safety
Self-actualization
There is no esteem need in Nevis'
hierarchy.
35. 3- Relationship Preferences
Relationship preferences differ by culture
Power distance
high power distance implies little superior-
subordinate interaction (e.g., Mexico, South
Korea, India)
low power distance implies consultative style e.g.,
Austria, Finland, Ireland)
36. Low power distance
culture
High power Distance
culture
Boss and employees treat one
another as equals + equals rights
Employees respect managers and
managers expect obedience
Decentralisation of the power
The ideal boss is a democrat
Centralisation of the power
The ideal boss is an autocrat
- Subordinates expect to be
consulted /
- Boss expect initiatives from
employees
- Subordinates expect to be told what to
do /
- Boss is expected to take all the
initiatives
People disapprove of status-
Narrow range of salaries
Privileges for managers are expected-
Wide range of salaries
Less formal social interaction Formal social interaction
37. Relationship Preferences:
Individualism and Collectivism
High individualismcountries:
(e.g., U.S., Canada, Sweden)
High collectivism countries: –
(e.g., Indonesia, Pakistan)
38. 4- Risk Taking Behavior
Risk taking behavior differs across cultures
Uncertainty avoidance
handling uncertainty
Trust
degree of trust among people
Future orientation
delaying gratification
Fatalism
attitudes of self-determination
39. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions:
Uncertainty Avoidance - people
feel threatened by ambiguous situations
High uncertainty avoidance countries:
high need for security- people worried
strong belief in experts and their knowledge
structure organizational activities
more written rules
less managerial risk taking
(e.g., Germany, Japan, Spain)
Low uncertainty avoidance countries:
people more willing to accept risks of the unknown
less structured organizational activities
fewer written rules
more managerial risk taking
more ambitious employees
(e.g., Denmark and Great Britain)
40. 5-Information and
Task Processing
Cultures handle information in different
ways
Obtaining information
low context versus high context cultures
Information processing
Monochronic versus polychronic cultures
Idealism versus pragmatism
41. High-context vs Low-context cultures
High-context cultures
Emphasize on establishing and strengthening
relationships in the communication process
Non-verbal communication is as important as
verbal communication
Examples: Asians, Arabians, Latin Americans
Low-context cultures
Emphasize on exchanging information and is
less focused on building relationships
Pay more attention on spoken words and less
attention on non-verbal communication (body
language, eye movement
Examples: Americans, Canadians, Australians,
Germans
42. Monochronic vs. Polychronic
Monochronic cultures
Like to do just one thing at a time
Orderliness
They do not value interruptions.
The Germans tend to be monochronic
Polychronic cultures
Like to do multiple things at the same time.
A manager's office in a polychronic culture
typically has an open door, a ringing phone and a
meeting all going on at the same time.
Polychronic cultures include the French and the
Americans.
43. Interactions between types
can be problematic.
A German businessman cannot
understand why the person he is meeting
is so interruptible by phone calls and
people stopping by.
Is it meant to insult him?
When do they get down to business?
Similarly, the American employee of a
German company may be disturbed by all
the closed doors - it seems cold and
unfriendly.
44. 6- Communications
Cross border communications do not
always translate as intended
Spoken and written language
Silent language
Color
Distance
Time and punctuality
Body language
Prestige
49. Spoken and Written -Formality
Examples:
A written note might say,
"Would you like to go out to lunch? “
The person who would write that note,
might alternatively say, in person,
"You wanna go out for lunch? "
50. Spoken Communication
Motorola face difficulty assigning cell
phone numbers in China because certain
sound in Mandarin came out wrong
If the number end in 54 7424
You will sound as if you are saying
I die, my wife dies and my child dies
51. 51
Opening a meeting
Germany Formal intro. Sit down. Begin.
Finland Formal intro. Cup of coffee. Sit down. Begin.
USA
UK
France
Japan
Spain/
Italy
Number
of
minutes
Informal intro. Cup of coffee. Jokes. Begin.
Formal intro. Cup of tea.
10 min small talk. Casual beginning.
Formal intro. 15 min small
talk. Begin.
Formal intro. Protocol seating. Green tea. 15/20 min sm
talk. Signal from senior member. Begin.
20/30 min small talk while others arrive.
Begin when all are there.
55 1010 1515 2020 2525
Adapted from Richard D.
Lewis
56. CROSS-CULTURAL MEANINGS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF
INDIVIDUAL COLORS
GREEN: Represents danger or disease in
Malaysia, envy in Belgium, happiness in
Japan and sincerity, trustworthiness in
China.
BLACK: In western countries black is
colour of mourning whereas in some
countries is associated with power.
WHITE: Symbolizes mourning or death in
East Asia, but happiness and purity in
Australia, New Zealand and USA
57. When United Airlines first started
flying from Hong Kong, they gave all
of their passengers a white carnation
as a complimentary gift. many of
passengers refused to accept the gift.
The reason for the refusal was that
white carnations represent death or
bad luck in many parts of Asia. As a
result, the airline decided to change
the color of the carnations to red.
59. Do managers have to alter their customary
practices to succeed in countries with
different cultures?
Must consider
Host society acceptance
Degree of cultural differences
and distance- Cultural Friction
Cultural Shock-Ability to adjust
Reverse culture shock
Company and management
orientation
60. Dealing with
Cultural Differences
Three company and management
orientations
Polycentrism
business units abroad should act like local
companies
Ethnocentism
home culture is superior to local culture
overlook national differences
Geocentrism
integrate home and host practices
61. Strategies for Instituting
Change
Value Systems
Cost-Benefit Analysis of change
Resistance to too much change
Participation
Reward Sharing
Opinion Leadership
Timing
Learning Abroad
62. Opinion Leaders
An Opinion LeaderOpinion Leader is Someone Who is
Knowledgeable About Products and Whose
Advice is Taken Seriously By Others.
An Opinion LeaderOpinion Leader is Someone Who is
Knowledgeable About Products and Whose
Advice is Taken Seriously By Others.
Have Prescreened,
Evaluated, and
synthesize
Product Information
Have Prescreened,
Evaluated, and
synthesize
Product Information
Are Similar to
the Consumer
in
Values and
Beliefs Are Socially
Active in
Their
Community
Are Technically
Competent and
Have Expert
Power
Are Often Among
the First to Buy
New Products
Opinion
Leaders
Opinion
Leaders
International Business Environments and Operations 14e by Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan
The Learning Objectives for Chapter 2 are
To understand methods for learning about cultural environments
To analyze the major causes of cultural difference and change
To discuss behavioral factors influencing countries’ business practices
To understand guidelines for cultural adjustment
Learning Objective 1: To understand methods for learning about cultural environments.
Culture refers to the learned norms based on values, attitudes, and beliefs of a group of people. Culture can be based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, work organization, profession, age, political party membership, income level, and so on. International business activities incorporate people from all different groups and backgrounds, thus, every business function is subject to cultural differences.
Most people recognize that cross-country differences exist, but they don’t always agree on exactly what they are. It can be beneficial to foster cultural diversity in some cases. Bringing together people of diverse backgrounds and experience can give companies a deeper knowledge about products and services and ways in which to produce and deliver them.
But keep in mind that cultural collision can create problems. Companies doing business in another country must determine which of that nation’s business practices differ from their own and then decide what adjustments, if any, are necessary in order to operate efficiently.
People on both sides of the context barrier must be trained to make adjustments.
Background information is essential when explaining anything.
Do not assume the newcomer is self-reliant.
In order to increase their chance for success, managers need to develop their awareness of and sensitivity to other cultures. They can do this by educating themselves. Gathering some basic research on another culture can be instructive. In addition, managers should consider the information they gather to determine if it perpetuates unwarranted stereotypes, covers only limited facets of a country and its culture, or relies on outdated data. Managers should also observe the behavior of those people who have garnered the kind of respect and confidence they themselves will need.
Note though that subcultures do exist within nations and groups from different nations can actually be quite similar. International managers need to focus on relevant groups—differentiating, for example, between the typical attitudes of rural dwellers and those of urban dwellers, or those of young people versus old people.
Learning Objective 2: To analyze the major causes of cultural difference and change.
Culture is learned – from parent to child, teacher to student, peer to peer, and so on. So, while cultural value systems tend to be established early in life, they can change. Change can be by choice or it can be imposed – this type of change is called cultural imperialism.
Cultural value systems can also change as a result of contact with other cultures. This is known as cultural diffusion. When this change results in mixing cultural elements, the process is known as creolization. Creolization Occurs When Foreign Influences
are Absorbed and Integrated With Local Meanings
Learning Objective 3: To discuss behavioral factors influencing countries’ business practices.
Social stratification determines an individual’s class, status, and financial rewards within a culture. It’s determined by individual achievements and qualifications, and by affiliation and membership in groups.
An individual may belong to a group because of age, gender, family, racial, or ethnic variables. This is known as ascribed group membership. When membership is based on religion, political affiliation, or professional association it’s an acquired group membership.
In general, equalitarian societies tend to put more emphasis on acquired group membership. Keep in mind that education and social connections also impact an individual’s rank in a society.
The desire to work differs across cultures. In countries where material wealth is valued, there is generally a greater motivation to work. This of course, also helps to promote economic development. In fact, the higher level of development that exists in some countries can be explained by the work of Max Weber who suggested that self-discipline, hard work, honesty, and a belief in a just world foster work motivation and, thus, economic growth.
Typically, people are also more eager to work when the potential rewards are high.
We can also measure attitudes toward work and achievement using the masculinity-femininity index. The degree to which individuals are assertive, confrontational, and aggressive in their relationships with others varies across borders. These attitudinal differences help explain why an international company may encounter managers abroad who behave differently from what it expects or prefers.
The hierarchy-of-needs theory suggests that people fill lower-level needs before filling higher level needs. An understanding of this theory is helpful to managers as they make decisions regarding reward preferences of employees in different countries. In very poor countries, for example, workers might be motivated with enough compensation to simply satisfy their needs for food and shelter. Workers in other countries may be motivated by other needs.
Relationships preferences – and more specifically the interactions between bosses, subordinates, and peers – also differ from country to country.
Power distance refers to the general relationship between superiors and subordinates. Where it is high, people prefer little consultation between superiors and subordinates. Employees usually prefer one of two management styles: autocratic -ruling with unlimited authority - or paternalistic - regulating conduct by supplying needs. Where power distance is low, they prefer “consultative” styles.
Individualism is characterized by a preference for fulfilling leisure time and improving skills outside the organization. It also implies a low preference for receiving compensation in the form of benefits and a high preference for personal decision making and on-the-job challenges.
In contrast, collectivism encourages dependence on the organization and a preference for thorough training, satisfactory workplace conditions, and good benefits.
How people approach risk also varies from country to country. Four types of risks are important: uncertainty avoidance, trust, future orientation, and fatalism.
In cultures where there is high uncertainty avoidance employees prefer following set rules even if breaking them may be in the company’s best interest. Similarly, many consumers are not prepared to risk being early adopters of products.
In cultures where trust is high, the cost of doing business tends to be lower because managers don’t spend much time fussing over every possible contingency and monitoring every action for compliance with certain business principles.
Business decisions can also be influenced by a culture’s attitude toward the future and whether it’s worthwhile to delay gratification in order to invest for the future. Optimistic about the future
They think they understand it and can shape it through their actions.
Planning, implementing and controlling (as opposed to going with the flow, letting things happen).
Finally, if people believe strongly in self-determination, they may be willing to work hard to achieve goals and take responsibility for performance. But if they’re fatalistic and believe every event in life is inevitable, they’re less likely to accept the basic cause-and-effect relationship between work and reward.
How information is perceived, obtained, and processed differs from country to country.
In low context cultures people generally regard only firsthand information that bears directly on the subject at hand as being relevant. Managers typically spend little time on small talk and tend to get to the point. In contrast, in high-context cultures people see seemingly peripheral information as pertinent and infer meanings from things said either indirectly or casually.
In monochronic cultures people prefer to work sequentially. So, for example, a transaction with one customer is completed before dealing with another. But in a polychronic culture, people often feel more comfortable working simultaneously on a variety of tasks, such as dealing immediately with multiple customers who need service.
Cultures that prefer to establish overall principles before tackling smaller details take an approach called idealism, while those that focus more on details than on abstract principles take a pragmatic approach.
Keep in mind that an individual’s approach to information processing can affect business in a number of ways. In a culture of pragmatists like the United States, for example, labor negotiations tend to focus on well-defined issues—say, hourly pay increases for a specific bargaining unit. However, in an idealist culture like that of Argentina, labor disputes tend to blur the focus on specific demands as workers tend to rely first on mass action—such as general strikes or political activities—to publicize basic principles.
Communication across cultures can be problematic when communications are not translated with the same meaning as intended. This problem can occur with not only with spoken and written language and but also with silent language.
Even a slight misuse of words or phrases can have a significant impact on the meaning of a message. Moreover, it’s important to recognize that even when two countries share a language problems can exist. For example, some 4,000 words have different meanings in British and American English.
Silent language refers to a host of nonverbal cues. How these physical cues or “body language” are perceived and interpreted varies between cultures. Many Western countries, for instance, associate black with death ,while white has the same connotation in some parts of Asia. Similar differences exist with perceptions of time and punctuality. In the United States, people usually arrive early for business appointments, a few minutes late for dinner at someone’s home, and a bit later still for large social gatherings. In other countries though, the concept of punctuality in any or all of these situations may be different.
The appropriate distance people maintain during conversations and prestige also differs between countries. For Americans, the customary distance for a business discussion is 5 to 8 feet; for personal business, it’s 18 inches to 3 feet. The much smaller distances common in Latin America can make many Americans quite uncomfortable. Likewise, a U.S. manager who places great faith in objects as cues to prestige may underestimate the status of foreign counterparts who don’t value large, plush offices on high floors. A foreigner may underestimate U.S. counterparts who perform their own services, such as opening their own doors, fetching their own coffee, and answering unscreened phone calls.
e Chinese and Russians favour less personal space in the business environment than their counterparts in Northern Europe and Canada.
These images show how a simple gesture is interpreted quite differently around the world.
BLUE: common corporate color in the U.S.
but it is perceived as cold and evil in East Asia but stands for warmth in the Netherlands; coldness in Sweden; death in Iran and purity in India.
Blue denotes femininity in Belgium and the Netherlands, but masculinity in Sweden and the USA.
YELLOW: Represents warmth in the USA, but unfaithfulness in France. It is associated with jealousy in Russia, but pleasant, happy, good taste, royalty in China.
In Brazil purple and yellow are perceived as symbolic of sorrow and despair.
Learning Objective 4: To understand the guidelines for cultural adjustment.
So, are managers required to change their customary practices to match those of the host culture? The answer is not always clear. In general, host cultures don’t expect that foreign managers will totally conform with their norms and values, but it is important that they understand and respect the local culture.
Managers need to consider how they will be received by the host country, and make adjustments accordingly. In many cases, host countries are willing to view foreigners differently. Managers should also be aware that closely clustered countries may not be as alike as they seem, and so adjustments may be necessary in some cases. Women’s roles and behavior, for example, differ substantially from one Arab country to another even though Arab countries overall are similar culturally.
Sometimes, managers going abroad experience culture shock—the frustration that results from having to absorb a vast array of new cultural cues and expectations, and then reverse culture shock when they return home.
Companies and managers doing business abroad will typically take one of three basic approaches when dealing with foreigners. Those that take a polycentric approach believe that business units abroad should act like local companies. In contrast, those that take an ethnocentric orientation believe that the home culture is superior to the local culture, and therefore national differences can be overlooked. Finally, those that integrate both home and host practices have a geocentric orientation.
Managers should recognize that excessive polycentrism or ethnocentrism can be dangerous. A geocentric approach is often the safest.
Companies that choose a geocentric approach to their operations will often combine both home and host practices requiring that people in both countries adapt to some degree. Companies may face some resistance to these changes, and so must manage the process carefully.
There are various ways to implement changes. Companies may need to promote changes in value systems. A cost-benefit analysis of change can reveal whether a change makes sense. Moving too quickly can create additional resistance to change. Many companies find that encouraging stakeholders to become involved in change and sharing the rewards of making changes can be beneficial. Similarly, using the right channels of influence and the right timing can make a big difference in whether change is accepted. Finally, companies should recognize that they can gain important knowledge from other companies in the market. Emulating their methods can often be successful.
Opinion leaders are product-category or activity-group specific. They tend to have greater product knowledge, more exposure to relevant media, and more gregarious personalities than their followers. They tend to have demographics similar to their followers. A situational variable, product dissatisfaction, motivates many individuals to become temporary opinion leaders. The term market maven is used to describe individuals who are opinion leaders about the shopping process in general.