Ever wondered whether culture influences how people do business? It would interest you to know that there are 4 main aspects of business that vary depending on culture:
1. Negotiation – when striking a deal, some cultures such as the Japanese prefer a win-win outcome where both parties leave the table having gained something, while Americans and Spanish business people approach negotiations with a win-lose mentality where each side desires to leave with the most gain.
2. Communication – is a big part of culture. While doing business, directness in communication is interpreted as aggressive in some cultures such as the Egyptian and Japanese. On the other hand, it is commonly thought that Israelis prefer direct communication that is straight to the point.
3. Time – different cultures place varying importance on punctuality and lateness. Germans are famed for always being on time while Latinas are late out of habit. Americans prefer quick and brief meetings, while Japanese prefer to take their time during business meetings.
4. Emotional display – surprisingly, emotions play a role in business depending on the culture. Some cultures such as Spanish and Latin American value a display of emotion while doing business. On the other hand, the English and Germans find it off putting to show emotions in serious matters such as business
As you can see, cultures vary and as such doing business in different parts of the world is also quite different.
By Jingya Li
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