This document discusses cultural competence in business between Australia and Asia. It notes that cultural differences can complicate business and damage trust if not managed properly. The presentation aims to help businesspeople understand key cultural differences in areas like communication style that exist between Australia and countries in Southeast Asia. It provides an analysis of cultural dimensions like individualism and power distance and gives practical tips businesspeople can follow to improve their cultural competence when working in Asia.
2. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleFocus of this session
Cultural
Competence
B
C
Behavioural
A
3. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleCultural differences make business more complicated
4. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleCultural risks in many common business activities
5. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title style
Good /neutral relations
Behaviour wrongly
explained
Negative
evaluation
Stereotypes
activated
Trust
eroded
Motivation
falls
Intolerance of
small errors
Relationships,
reputation and
results all
jeopardised
Low cultural competence damages trust
6. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleChallenge and opportunity
Culture adds complexity
and risk.
Competence manages
complexity and reduces
risk.
7. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleUGM Cultural Risk Mitigation Tool
8. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleFor business success, you need to …
Understand
Australian cultural
preferences
Understand
ASEAN cultural
preferences
Bridge the gap
between the two
8
9. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleIceberg analogy
visible
values
communication
preferences
10. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleIndividual……Group
0
20
40
60
80
100
Individualism
90
20 14
26 32
20 20 20
27
43
Aus China Indonesia Malaysia Philippines
Singapore Thailand Vietnam Asian Avg. Global Avg.
11. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleEquality……Hierarchy
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Hierarchy
36
80 78
104
94
74
64
70 73
55
Aus China Indonesia Malaysia Philippines
Singapore Thailand Vietnam Asian Avg. Global Avg.
12. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleAustralian thinking: anti-deference
12
• Direct, familiar language
even to senior people
13. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleAustralian English reflects the culture
13
• Australian
English
• Use of
abbreviations
• Australian
humour
14. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title stylePart of the cultural legacy
14
Behaviour
fairly similar
across most
situations
15. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleBeing indirect can serve useful purposes
16. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title stylePutting options forward
START START
END END
17. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleProblem-solving approach
18. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleAnger, annoyance
19. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleDifferent perspectives, different strengths
Australian approach Asian approach
Direct Indirect
Truth Harmony
Independent Reciprocal
20. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleDefining cultural competence
Success =
making
adjustments
that are:
practical
realistic
appropriate
effective
(even
partially)
20
21. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title styleSome common challenges for Australians
What is NOT said
Implying and inferring
Absence of ‘yes’ and the ‘casual yes’
Avoiding questions
22. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title style6 practical things you can do
1 • Listen more
2 • Practise picking up hints, inferences
3 • Focus on rapport and trust
4 • Clarify meaning
5 • Share intentions
6 • Strike a balance: be yourself & adjust!
23. Click to edit Master title styleClick to edit Master title style
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margaret@ugmconsulting.com