This is a short survival kit for you to get inside the Asian business culture and mentality, and thus, to be able to boost your business success. Focus is on Southeast Asia.

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HANUMAN CONSULTING
SURVIVAL KIT
TO ASIAN
CULTURES AND
MENTALITY
- Focus on
Southeast Asia

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East Asia
Greater China
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Asian Puzzle
Distinguish the areas. Can you do it?
Note: Mentality doesn’t always follow the national borders.

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- Two powers: China and Japan
- Southeast Asia at the crossroads of India, China,
and Arabian merchants.
- Long roads of colonialisation
- Independence during ”The Great Wars of Europe”
- Unification and disputes of Asian countries
Influences of History

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Belief is fundamental.
• Believe in something, otherwise you don’t exist.
• Religions and beliefs are diverse and can be overlapping.
Which religion dictates the behavior and belief of each individual?
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Islam
• Christianity (and its sub religions)
• Confucianism
• Taoism
• Shintoism
• Animistic beliefs and others

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How about a Local Language?
• Japan: Japanese (note: differences depending who you talk to)
• China: Putonghua (hanyu) and several other dialects (Cantonese is quite different
from Mandarin)
• Korea: Korea
• Myanmar: Burma
• Laos: Lao tai (ethnic dialecst, thai, vietnam, chinese)
• Kambodza: Khmer
• Vietnam: Vietnam (feel free to try: French, English, Russian)
• Indonesia: Java, Sundanesia, Malay, Mandurese, Minanglabau, Indonesia, Batakki,
Bali, Chinese, Aceh etc
• Malaysia: Bahasa malaysia (English)
• Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano and others (Pilipino, English)
?!

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Mentality and Values 1/2
- From Confucianism: moral, relations, family, respect for elders, hierarchial
thinking, harmony and conflict avoidance.
- ”Face”: keep, save or give.
- Define status in order to communicate in a proper manner.
- Concept of time is often based on feelings rather than what the ”rolex”
indicates.
- Pay attention to symbolism and meanings when giving gifts.
- Eating is interaction as its best. (Note. Sitting order defines who pays the bill.)

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Mentality and Values 2/2
- Redefine terms i.e. shake off your
own understanding on such concepts
as democracy, corruption, truth and
lies, friends and enemies, mistakes,
nepotism, contract, showing respect.

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Business Mentality 1/2
- Complex and hierarchial: do you really know who decides?
- Step at the time, planning secondary.
- ”Out of sight, out of mind”
- No public criticism.
- Debt of gratitude is a loan.
- Short agreements, long (business) relations.
- Business done with ”friends” and with ”friends’ friends”
- Official and unofficial meetings mix.

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- Authority inherited, not based on accomplishment.
- Three groups for an Asian: family, friends and enemies.
- Communication is hierarchial.
- Collectivism before individualism (”we” instead of ”I”)
- Useful third persons for awkward situations.
- Win-win = everybody gets something (but not necessarily ”win”)
- Trust first, details later.
- Celebrate, have fun, eat & meet!
Business Mentality 2/2
NO:”Time is money.”
BUT: ”Money talks.”

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Stereo-
types:
Prepare
with
reserva-
tions
Their
expect-
ations about
you
Personali-
ty:
Background
and
behavioral
style
Before Going…
Market
study:
history,religion,
ethnicity,
legalities, intl &
national
relations, etc.

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Want to indulge more into
Asian Mentality and Cultures?
Hanuman Consulting
www.hanuman.fi
maria@hanuman.fi
Tel. +358 40 5868899