Title: Cross cultural Business Behaviour
1Cross cultural Business Behaviour
- Web reader
- http//docweb.khk.be/Jan20Agten/logincross.htm
2Whats in a word?
- Multi-cultural
- Enumeration, number, many
- Inter-cultural
- Interaction between different cultures
- Exchange
- Melting pot mixure
- Intra-cultural
- Differences within one culture,
- Eg. workers employees in Belgium
- Eg. Youngsters adults / students teachers
- Corporate culture
- Cross-cultural
- Intention to meet and to bridge on an equal basis
3Interculturalism
- Related to culture(s)
- Derived from the latin word inter and takes
place between different cultures - Dynamic concept focusing on exchange and
mediation - Multiculturalism describes the situation of many
cultures existing side by side of whith each
another
4Intercultural Reflections
- The forces that bring people from other cultures
into your life are dynamic, potent and ever
present. - Myron W. Lustig, Jolene Koester
5What?
- The single greatest barrier to business
success is the one erected by culture. - - Edward T. Hall and Mildred Reed Hall
Culture is a thin but very important veneer that
you must be careful not to scratch. People from
different cultures are basically the same and
respond in the same way. However, make sure that
you understand their basic customs and show
interest and willingness to learn differences
between your cultures. - Mike Willis
6Differences in culture
- CULTURE
- In ordinary speech, the word culture refers to
the entire way of life of a society. - To the sociologist and anthropologists, culture
consists of all the shared products of human
society. - These products are of two basic kinds
- Material ArtifactsPhysical Objects Clothing,
Schools, Factories, Cities, Books - Non material language, Ideas, Beliefs, Rule,
Customs, Skills, Family patterns, Political
systems - Hospitality companies entering a new market use
different approaches to address these issues - Todays hospitality managers must be able to
understand and adapt to different cultures
7Why?
- Meeting, dealing, entertaining, negotiating,
corresponding with people of a different culture
can be a minefield. - Learning the simple do donts can help to
avoid simple mistakes and help generate respect
and understanding. - Thus, success of your mobility requires two
things - 1 intercultural awareness and
- 2 effective cross-cultural communication skills.
- It also helps to minimize a cultural shock!
8The Nordic way of doing business or is there
one?
9A cultural survey
- Based on Hofstedes theory
- http//www.geert-hofstede.com/geert_hofstede_resou
rces.shtml
10Cultural DIMENSIONSHofstede
- Power Distance (PDI)
- Individualism (IDV)
- Masculinity (MAS)
- Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI)
- Longterm Orientation (LTO)
11Power distance (PDI)
- To what extent do we accept that some people have
more power than others? - High Low
- hierarchical egalitarian
- top-down top-down / bottom-up
- Latin Germanic
12Individualism vs collectivism (IDV)
- Individualism
- I
- small group
- independence
- personality
- Â WesternÂ
- Collectivism
- we
- extended family, group
- interdependence
- harmony
- Portugal, Greece, Spain, Africa, Asia, Latin
America
13Masculinity vs femininity (MAS)
- Femininity
- don t be different
- sympathy for the weak
- solidarity, caring
- environment
- Scandinavian countries, The Netherlands, Africa
- Masculinity
- be the best
- ambition, competition
- money, performance
- success, technology
- Italy, Germany, UK, Belgium, USA
14Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI)
- Strong UA
- uncertainty threat
- the unknown danger,
- risk averse
- distrust, stress
- Greece, Latin countries, German speaking
countries, Finland
- Weak UA
- uncertainty normal
- the unknown interesting
- risk taking, Â openÂ
- relax, Â coolÂ
- Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Dutch
15Longterm Orientation (LTO)
- LTO
- Future directed
- Perseverence
- Thrift
- Short-term Orientation
- Past and present oriented
- Tradition
- Perseveration of face
- Fulfilling social obligations
16Culture Hofstede
- Cultural Differences are programmedCulture is
the sofware of the mind - ex. Interpretation of State Regulations
- Every thing what is not forbidden is aloud
- ? FR
- Every thing what is not aloud is forbidden
- ? D
- Many things which are forbidden are aloud if not
controlled - ? B
17Culture Hofstede
- Levels of cultural programming
Inherited and learned
Specific to individual
Personality
individual
Specific to group or category
Culture
Learned
Inherited
Human nature
Universal
18Culture as an iceberg
manners, customs, language, history
explicit
1/9
tacit
Values, vision of the world, presumptions,
way of thinking
8/9
19Culture Onion-diagram
symbols
heroes
rituals
values
practices
20Symbols
21Symbols
22Heroes
23Rituals
24Symbols
25Culture Hofstede
- Cultural Differences
- programmed ex.
- Universal theory of needs ? universal
- Maslovs theory in US (low collectivism)
- dimensions are based on world statistics
- explanations for obvious differences
26The process of living with differences
- Exercice Barnga
- Playing cards
27Culture as a static concept
- Define membership and identity
- Create exclusion of non members
- Regulate external adaptation
- Regulate internal integration
- Maintain norms that create order
- Hence favour survival
- and resist or absorb change
28Culture as a dynamic conceptdiversity as a added
value
- Cultural differences are challenging
- Challenge creativity
- Open minded
- Stimulate communication
- Never the same
- Attractive
- Boost change
29Why diversity in business
- Due to its service oriented nature, and the rapid
expansion of the industry worldwide, the need for
cultural awareness and management of a diverse
workforce are becoming essential components for
a successful outcome. - There are many examples of successful companies
that failed to maintain their success when
expanded their business into other countries
simply due to lack of cultural differences among
employees and guests in the host country, and
their inability to manage a diverse workforce. - Companies that prosper have the capacity to
effectively solve problems, rapidly adapt to new
situations, readily identify new opportunities
and quickly capitalize on them. This capacity can
be measured by the range of talent, experience,
knowledge, insight, and imagination available in
their workforces. - According to Dr. Santiago Rodriguez, Director of
Diversity for Microsoft, true diversity is
exemplified by companies that hire people who
are different knowing and valuing that they
will change the way you do business. - Andreas Christoforou The need for Cultural
Awareness and Diversity Management
30FACTORS MOTIVATING COMPANIES TO DIVERSIFY THEIR
WORKFORCE
- Social Responsibility
- Economic Payback
- Resource Imperative
- Legal Requirement
- Marketing Strategy
- Business Communications Strategy
31How to manage differences?
- Discuss in your team and collect the differences
- What language(s) do you speak at home?
- How many times do you have to have met someone
before you invite them into your home? - What do you do to welcome someone into your home?
What would your grandparents do differently? - What drink do you offer a guest?
- How do you greet a guest handshake, kiss,
embrace? Does this depend on their age nd if
theyre male of female? - What is your favourite place in your home?
32Crossing the cultural treshold
- Compare your team findings with the sample given
in Crossing the cultural tresholds - What suits, what differs?
- Discover the differences in inter-cultural
perspective and in intra-cultural perspective
33Mind the cultural gap
- Misunderstandings as an invitation to take
contact - Etiquette
- Please
- Smiling
- Shaking hands
- Kissing
34(No Transcript)
35Misunderstandings as to know
- Hygiene
- wash dishes
- washing and bathing
- personal washing
- nose blowing and sniffing
- animals - pets
- carpets
36Misunderstandings as to discuss
- Food and drink
- Serviette
- Fresh crusty bread
- Bar visit (number of drinks way of paying)
- Leave a little in glass
37Misunderstandings as to feel
- Time
- Polite is be late 10 min early is polite
- Organic time linear time
- Time for going out
- Agreeing and disagreeing
- Impossible to say no
- Wanting to please by saying yes
38Exercise on identity
39Unique Personality
- education
religion -
- sexe
City/rural -
- gender
-
- black/white
- ethnicity
unique personality
Social - economic -
- nationality
- age
-
- decent
Physical/mental condition -
- profession
family -
40Cultural identity
41Cultural identity
We are all exciting immigrants
Cultures dont meet, people do!
42Culture as Backpack
- In different contexts differents aspects of
identity - Shopping culture I am unique
- Easily move flexibility
43Cultural Risks
44Diversity and identity
- DIVERSITY (DIVERSE WORKFORCE)
- A diverse workforce consists of diversity in
- Racial background
- Ethnic background,
- Language,
- Religion,
- Age,
- Gender,
- Sexual orientation,
- Lifestyle,
- Education,
- Experience,
- And/or ability differences (Hayles et al, 1997).
- Each of these characteristics and experiences
makes a person unique - Hayles et al (1997) stated that diversity
provides access to a larger pool of knowledge,
skills and abilities, which can create a huge
benefit to an organization.
45Questions ?
- Has culture an influence on business?
- Is culture a manageable thing?
- On an individual level? (micro)
- On a interprise level? (meso)
- On a structural level? (macro)
- How does culture function?
46Culture Onion-diagram
symbols
heroes
rituals
Own culture
values
New culture
practices
47Culture in business
- Cultural awareness is absolutely essential to
trading abroad - Cultural awareness helps you to
- Adapt your product
- Understand your costumer
48Culture in business
- Two Iron Rules of International Business
- the Seller Is Expected to Adapt to the Buyer.
- the Visitor Is Expected to Observe Local Customs
49Culture in business behaviour
- Cultural dimensions
- Identity
- Management of diversity
50Misunderstandings
- MOTTO
- If you find yourself getting irritated by what
someone from another culture does or says, the
chances are that one of you has misunderstood
something
51Language
- Reflect
- will promote and disseminate the importance of
language skills in SMEs by developing - Easy Trader
52ECO - European Career Orientation