****I need help please*** Please type. Due to the significant impact of culture
ID: 400069 • Letter: #
Question
****I need help please*** Please type.
Due to the significant impact of culture in the business environment, conduct a cultural analysis of your project country. In this discussion, you will work on the following critical elements: Values and Communication and Business Etiquette. Discuss Hofstede’s dimensions of culture that influence business in Africa. Use The World Factbook and Commisceo Global Culture Guides to expand this further by identifying specific elements of communication, both verbal and non-verbal. Finally, using Commisceo Global Culture Guides, identify five rules of business etiquette that would directly influence business interactions. What risks or opportunities can you identify from this analysis of culture? Consider areas of management that can be adjusted when considering cultural drivers. Please cite if you can. Thanks.
Explanation / Answer
With the advent of globalisation many corporates have expanded businesses worldwide. It is an essential requirement for any business personnel representing a company, having been awarded the responsibility of visiting its company's offices, located in another nation with significantly different culture, to completely acquaint themselves with every Nuance of the culture as well as prevailing business etiquette before visiting such a Nation. The importance of intercultural Management within a business environment has been stressed upon extensively and its effectiveness supported by extensive research, making it an important requirement for assuring success in a global market. Any individual who does not adequately prepare themselves for a visit to a foreign Nation which substantially different cultural practices main seriously undermine, the chances for building successful collaborations or acquiring quality customers. Any diligent employee judicious about quality output will definitely acquaint themselves with all prevalent cultural values, attributes, method of communication required, the business practices prevalent, the perception of time, as well as, accepted norms for decision making. Hence, it is essential that all managers educate themselves regarding the cultural behaviours which exist within the area that they operate comma and would also do well in being aware of cultures prevalent in major Nations world wide, as with globalisation diversity in workforce has become commonplace and the same can also be utilised in managing the team in a better and more efficient manner, through adopting the correct methods of communication and praise with every team member, whichever culture they may belong to. It is important to be sensitive to the culture of any person we are getting into a long term business relationship with, so that the required comfort level is achieved, as well as, middle ground reached. In Asian countries the communication is more subtle and formal as compared to the United States. Communication is also engaged in a deferential manner without ever resorting to any direct sentence which may be considered offensive or aggressive.
The cultural themes present in China are deep-rooted in centuries-old beliefs and traditions, as well as, Confucian values. Acknowledging as well as, appreciating the hospitality offered by a host, is essential in Chinese culture and exhibits respect for the culture and proving the seriousness of intentions. The Chinese have endured many extreme adverse situations and believe in exhibiting patience and endurance in business dealings also by drawing out meetings, to get to know the person they are entering into a relationship with. They also insist on lengthy negotiations, as it provides them immense satisfaction to indulge in the bargaining process, to be sure they have obtained the best possible offer. It is therefore considered improper in China to hurry through or cut short meetings, which is considered insulting and my seriously impact the outcome of the meeting or the relationship.
It is considered insulting to all other people present if the soles of the feet are displayed by putting the feet up for the feet are used to point at anyone, in the middle and the Far East.
In almost every Asian country a business card is expected to be accorded extreme respect in the presence of the person offering the card as it is considered to be a symbol of the person and the business and disrespecting the card bye ignoring it, writing on it of holding it in any manner is regarded as disrespect to the person and the Enterprise. It is essential to Accord due respect to the card when it is offered by noting the contents, probably make a positive comment, and only then place it in the pocket.
An extremely strong handshake is considered admirable in the United States and the sign of a strong personality and leadership skills. In Philippines however it is considered to be a sign of great aggression and an intent to hurt. It is akin to squeezing a person exceptionally hard, which is done to prove superior strength or disregard for the other person's emotions.
In Arab Nations it is rude to offer the left hand for a handshake or to indicate a greeting as the left hand is considered unclean, it is also not acceptable to heat or drink with the left hand how to pass food to another with the same. It is considered a mark of deliberate insult to the host if a person indulges in these actions.
The Hofstede model is based on 6 major dimensions of Human Resource Management which can be classified as individualism, power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation and intelligence. With reference to these characteristics in relation to Germany it is based on clan culture where it is the accepted societal norms that cooperation and coordination among all individuals is essential for establishment of effective communication through a style which is participated and direct. Authoritarian leadership and control are not easily accepted unless they prove their expertise. This attitude is mostly a reason due to the existence of a large and strong middle class. Therefore Germany is not a country which believes in power distance.
Individualism is basically the extent to which an individual can exist as an I as opposed to a we. It is the interdependence that exist among individuals within a society on the basis of the existence of dependence within the family structure and society as a whole. Highly individualist exercises exhibit nuclear family relationships rather than large joint family and extended family interactions. The German society is highly individualistic and self fulfillment and self-worth are the driving forces which cultivate a high sense of duty and responsibility.
The masculinity parameter defines the basic male characteristics of competitiveness, achievement and success with the definition of success being simultaneous to the qualities inherent in the winner. This value system is indicated early right at school level and is seen to be prevalent throughout organisational levels. This is opposed to the feminine qualities which are consistent with enjoying what one does and finding fulfillment in it. This definition besides the major motivating factor within the culture. Germany exhibit decidedly masculine social culture achievements and performance have high regard and a values true appreciation the society shows absolute respect for work by following a lift to work attitude rather than work to sustain. Before performance within every level of the organisation is expected to be optimal and managers required to be assertive as well as decisive.
Uncertainty avoidance deals with the acceptance of the fact that the future holds a degree of ambiguity resulting in anxiety due to unforeseen events. This dimension explain the extent of threat generated by uncertain and unforeseen future events and the system that exist within the culture to avoid such events. Germany follows the uncertainty avoidance by preference for a deductive approach to planning and decision making. Detailing and extensive analysis to arrive at conclusions based on such in-depth analysis are seen to avoid uncertainty.
Long term orientation explain how is society reacts to challenges of present and future on the basis of past history. Germany exhibits a pragmatic orientation with the society believing in adaptation and change as being important for growth. Traditions are modified to the major aim of the society of perseverance in achieving success and practice of thriftiness along with the necessity to save and invest.
Indulgence within a society is viewed as the way a society treats children and the extent to which they are socialized. It also is viewed as an ability inherent in people to control desires and impulsiveness. German society exhibits restrictive rather than an intelligent culture thereby it can be considered to be a restrained society. The happiness level in these countries may be low as people feel the restriction of social norms and avoid indulging themselves also viewing leisure as gratification of Desire.
On the basis of the, Commisceo Global culture guide the major rules of business etiquette influencing business interactions can be identified as rules governing all protocol related to communication relationships, business meetings, business negotiations and dress.
It is essential to understand the protocol related to communication and relationship management which may be formal or informal the mode of introduction to be used, weather networking and relationship building encouraged and weather relationships and meetings need to be in a formal or informal environment the basic culture of the country goes a long way in providing an understanding and managing most of these factors. Business negotiations also vary extensively along with the method of decision making and the people involved in it. As the experience in dress can be a major factor in creating harmony and a feeling of communalism through this medium it is intelligent to use dress etiquette to create the right impression deriving an advantage from a simple task.
In this global environment it is essential that strategy be employed in every business process and with recent research the importance of time in international business negotiations has become an established fact. Various characters have different perceptions of time and conduct all business processes on the basis of this perception, and tend to analyse all prospective business partners and Allies with reference to the attitude towards time. Therefore it becomes important to understand the perception and orientation of each culture towards time as time as a major impact on punctuality at business meetings and events as well as the pace of negotiations and discussions. A clear understanding of cross cultural differences regarding perception of time can prove to be a major advantage to arrive at positive outcomes. American anthropologist and prosperity researcher Edward t hall segregated time into two modes on the basis of which the cultures across the world can be grouped, that is, monochronic cultures, m time and polychronic cultures, P time.
Given the fact that both these cultures have essentially opposing perceptions of time and matters of importance it can result in major frustration irritation and misunderstanding on both sides when business deals having negotiated between countries with cultures from M time and P time. Play understanding of the time culture of an organisation can go a long way in enhancing business deals and ensure positive results for all Deals And negotiations with minimum investment of time and energy. Following few guidelines while negotiating with cross cultural countries can prove to be a major advantage some of them are listed below:
It is essential that the party who the deal is to be closed with is known in depth, therefore sufficient time allocation should be provided to get to know the opposite party much more than in a domestic environment.
All cultural aspects relating to perception of time and basic behavioral norms prevalent within the culture regarding business meetings and perceptions should be clearly studied.
Holding all negotiations within the home territory provides an edge where time can be manipulated to our advantage with both involved parties adequately satisfied.
It is essential to keep an open ticket for return in case the deal is to be negotiated in a foreign country, as this keeps all options open and allows one to have control over their own time.
It is important that no deadlines be set for the meetings as it may be essential to have extra time available buy exhibiting patience and appearing to welcome extensive informal interaction to satisfy the other party.
When the negotiations are between opposing cultures it is essential to understand that the other party may not share similar time perception and keeping this in mind the deadlines and dates are located should be more realistic and not based on personal perception.
Within all international business negotiations it is important that relationships beyond the contract and deals be emphasised and strengthened as in many cultures relationships are the focus and emphasis rather than time.
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