Communications across cultures, French, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Middle Easterner.

1. o Influences of various areasInfluences of various areas
o Religious values and normsReligious values and norms
o International interactionsInternational interactions
o Major occupationsMajor occupations
o LocationLocation

2. o Language nuancesLanguage nuances
o Time orientationTime orientation
o Formality in relationshipsFormality in relationships
o HospitalityHospitality
o MaterialismMaterialism
o Space – orientationSpace – orientation
o Conflict and agreementConflict and agreement

3. o People – oriented.People – oriented.
o Smile a lotSmile a lot
o Love to talkLove to talk
o Use the whole body to communicateUse the whole body to communicate
o Handshake is warm, but not very firmHandshake is warm, but not very firm
o Membership to the aristocracy is lineage, not moneyMembership to the aristocracy is lineage, not money
o Tout le mondeTout le monde
o Leisure – loving peopleLeisure – loving people
o French prefer image to factFrench prefer image to fact

4. o Small talkSmall talk
o Academic arguementsAcademic arguements
o Intellectual conflictsIntellectual conflicts
o Polychronic tendenciesPolychronic tendencies
o Tact & diplomacy are considered better than franknessTact & diplomacy are considered better than frankness

5. o Detail – orientedDetail – oriented
o PrecisePrecise
o Direct peopleDirect people
o Well orderedWell ordered
o Well plannedWell planned
o Believe in hard factsBelieve in hard facts
o Admire those who are well organisedAdmire those who are well organised
o Hard work & Discipline very highlyHard work & Discipline very highly

6. o OrderlinessOrderliness
o Creative peopleCreative people
o Formal peopleFormal people
o Often give the impression of being cold & reservedOften give the impression of being cold & reserved
o A very private raceA very private race
o Extremely polite and well manneredExtremely polite and well mannered

7. o Not very easy to understandNot very easy to understand
o Expressionless visagesExpressionless visages
o Conflict is best resolved through harmony & negotiationConflict is best resolved through harmony & negotiation
o Emotional race disguise this fact through self control & inEmotional race disguise this fact through self control & in
deference to societal normsdeference to societal norms
o High technology and superior qualityHigh technology and superior quality
o Communication is indirect, vague and leaves a wide marginCommunication is indirect, vague and leaves a wide margin
for personal interpretation by the receiverfor personal interpretation by the receiver
o Japanese prefer third party introductions and involvementJapanese prefer third party introductions and involvement

8. o PunctualityPunctuality
o Sober, conservative style, & look neat & orderlySober, conservative style, & look neat & orderly
o Small, classy giftsSmall, classy gifts
o Colours, black signifies joy and red is considered luckyColours, black signifies joy and red is considered lucky

9. o Chinese prefer to deal through intermediariesChinese prefer to deal through intermediaries
o Be a large contingentBe a large contingent
o Going against the national interestGoing against the national interest

10. o Islamic country, permits the easy coexistence of other beliefsIslamic country, permits the easy coexistence of other beliefs
o Women here are unveiled & enjoy greater freedomWomen here are unveiled & enjoy greater freedom
o Close – knit society discourage individualismClose – knit society discourage individualism
o Modern – day Indonesia, with its new found prosperity isModern – day Indonesia, with its new found prosperity is
becoming individualistic.becoming individualistic.
o Bribery and other forms of corruption are rampantBribery and other forms of corruption are rampant
o Negotiations and bargainingNegotiations and bargaining
o Time is treated like rubber, i.e. it can be stretchedTime is treated like rubber, i.e. it can be stretched
o These values is ‘sembah’These values is ‘sembah’

11. oVital issues revolve around prayer, five times in the day,Vital issues revolve around prayer, five times in the day,
charity, fasting, Hajcharity, fasting, Haj
oStrict adherence to the rules that proscribe pork andStrict adherence to the rules that proscribe pork and
alcoholalcohol
oA non – materialistic society, hard work and self relianceA non – materialistic society, hard work and self reliance
were more valuablewere more valuable
oToday Malay dream is to own the three Cs – cars, condosToday Malay dream is to own the three Cs – cars, condos
and credit cardsand credit cards

12. oTradition- loving people, respect for elders, courtesyTradition- loving people, respect for elders, courtesy
towards all, affection for friends and family, etiquette andtowards all, affection for friends and family, etiquette and
good manners & attempts at achieving harmony with thegood manners & attempts at achieving harmony with the
environment.environment.
o ‘‘Adad’ and ‘rukun’Adad’ and ‘rukun’

13. o Restlessness, mobility, generosity, hospitality, gallantry,Restlessness, mobility, generosity, hospitality, gallantry,
courage, patience and endurancecourage, patience and endurance
o Compatability with modernityCompatability with modernity
o Business and trade are valued careersBusiness and trade are valued careers
o Business meetings are rarely privateBusiness meetings are rarely private
o Is considered rude to show impatience at suchIs considered rude to show impatience at such
interruptionsinterruptions
o Personal rapportPersonal rapport

14. o Mutual trustMutual trust
o RespectRespect
o Gifts are freely givenGifts are freely given
o Strong sense of fair play and prideStrong sense of fair play and pride
o Honour and social prestige must always be maintainedHonour and social prestige must always be maintained
o Equally, public confrontation & conflict must be avoidedEqually, public confrontation & conflict must be avoided
o Bluntness is considered disrespectfulBluntness is considered disrespectful

15. o Know & understand important historical factsKnow & understand important historical facts
o Aquaint yourself with the basic geographical, social,Aquaint yourself with the basic geographical, social,
political and economic facts about the country concernedpolitical and economic facts about the country concerned
o Find out who the major heroes are, past & present, inFind out who the major heroes are, past & present, in
various fieldsvarious fields
o What is the major religion followed, & are their anyWhat is the major religion followed, & are their any
important taboos you should learn about?important taboos you should learn about?
o Who are the major decision – makers?Who are the major decision – makers?

16. o What are the important social customs and culturalWhat are the important social customs and cultural
expectations?expectations?
o What is their concept of time?What is their concept of time?
o Is any significance attached to particular colours ?Is any significance attached to particular colours ?
o What gifts would be appropriate and which inappropriate?What gifts would be appropriate and which inappropriate?
o What is the correct greeting protocol?What is the correct greeting protocol?
o What are some of the key phrases in the country’s languageWhat are some of the key phrases in the country’s language
that must be mastered for smoother communication?that must be mastered for smoother communication?