cross culture operations- asia (finaml)

8/8/2019 Cross Culture Operations- Asia (Finaml)

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CROSS CULTURE OPERATIONS- ASIA

A presentation by:

Namrata Shrivastava

Niyati Lawand

Pranali Surve


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Introduction

All people are the same ... its only theirhabits that are so different!

-Confucius

Culture is the specific learned norms of a

societythat reflect attitudes, values, and

beliefs.

Culture is dynamic and evolves over time

Economic development and globalization


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Factors Affecting the Communication

Process

Spoken language

Written language Silent language

-color associations

-conversational distance

-perception of time

-kinesics [body language and gestures]


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Managerial Issues Associated with

Cultural Differences

Accommodation of foreigners

Cultural distance [degree of similarity] Culture shockand reverse culture shock

Managerial orientations

polycentric

ethnocentric

geocentric


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Majorproblems of cultural collision are likely to occur if:

-a firm implements practices thatdo not reflect local customs andvalues and/or

-employees are unable to accept

or adjust to foreign customs.


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Business Etiquette By Region

Bangladesh

Women do not shake hands but instead greet others with a polite nod.

The "thumbs up" gesture is considered obscene

When crossing legs, feet or shoes should not be pointed towards

anyone.

When receiving anything the right hand is always used.

Bangladesh has a large Muslim population and also has cultural ties toIndia.

such as the prohibition against using the left hand for certain

activities.

If giving gifts, avoid white flowers as they are for funerals. Never give

money. It is considered bad form to open gifts in front of the giver.


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Central Asia

Many countries in this region have traditions based on Islam and

share values with other parts of the Muslim world. Guidelinesregarding etiquette in the Middle East are often applicable to Central

Asia as well. This holds especially true in Muslim majority countries

such as:

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan,

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Singapore

Singapore, a formercrown colony of the United Kingdom, is the third

most densely populated country in the world and possesses the

highest standard of living in Asia. Many standards of etiquette in

Western societies are in place here as well.

Singapore has a very heterogeneous population with Chinese,

Indians and Malays as the largest ethnic groups. As such, many

points of etiquette noted above in regard to China, India, Indonesia

andMalaysia can apply.


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GreaterChina

Avoid holding or reading a book where people are gambling or engagingin an activity based on luck (such as investing on stocks) or offering to

share a pear with relatives.

The Chinese are not keen on physical contact, especially when doing

business.

It is considered rude to slap, pat, or put one's arm around the shoulders

of another.

While splitting bills at restaurants as is common among younger people,

older adults might consider it a matter of prestige to pay for the bill and

will often compete for the honor.

Specially when showing respect, when giving cash to someone, it is

given to one with both hands and the head slightly bowed.

Cash bills are usually held in both hands, and the receiver picks them up.


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Vietnam

When going out to eat with other people, it is prestigious to pay forthe meal. It is therefore rude to prevent someone from paying if they

have made the offer first. On the other hand, inviting others for a

meal, drink or event automatically creates the expectation that the

one giving the invitation will pay for the others.

It is customary to pour alcoholic drinks for others before pouring forone's self.

When children invite adults to begin eating, it should begin with

people with a higher prestige in the family. (It goes in order of oldest

to youngest, with the male being higher than the female.)


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Greater India Guests are generally offered a refreshment depending on the season and the time of visit.

The word "drink" as a noun almost always refers to alcohol in Indian English.

As India has a long colonial history, many rules of Western (specifically British) etiquetteare widely observed.

some situations, using both hands together is a sign of respect, such as a handshake,

offering a gift or giving something in the temple.

Some points of etiquette in the Middle East apply here, especially in regions where the

Muslim presence is strongest.

Many people in India and surrounding regions avoid shaking hands with individuals of the

opposite gender.

Most often, especially with more elderly individuals, Hindus greet with palms together and

say Namaste (or its variants Namaskaram and Vanakam down south and 'Nomoshkar' in

Bengal.)

In the Hindu community, it is common for young people to seek the blessings of elders by

bending and touching their feet. However, this practice is not followed in the Muslim

community as in the Muslim faith, one must only bow down before God. It is considered impolite to address a person who is older or holds a higher status by their

first name. In Hindi, the first name is usually followed by "ji"to show respect.

It is considered impolite to kiss a significant other in front of parents or other elders.

Never talk about caste, and certainly not about any person's caste in particular.


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Turkey

A small part of Turkey (3%) is in Europe and many points of European etiquette

apply. As Turkey has a Muslim majority, points ofEtiquette in the Middle Eastmay apply as well.

As beliefs regarding bad luck from open umbrellas indoors are taken seriously by

some people, close umbrellas before bringing them inside. Some people believe

that passing a knife directly to a person is bad luck as well.

Avoid hand gestures with which one is unfamiliar, such as making a fist with the

thumb placed between the middle and index fingers.Many of these are offensive.

Any comment to a person about the appearance of the latter's female relatives or

wife might be seen as rude.

If invited to dinner, one is expected to bring something (usually dessert). Avoid

bringing alcohol unless sure that the host partakes.

Friends might greet each other by shaking hands and touching or kissing one orboth of the cheeks. This is inappropriate for business.

Blowing one's nose at a table is met with disgust and frowned upon even if one

has cold.


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Thailand Thai greeting consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a

prayer-like fashion.

(The higher the hands are held in relation to the face and the lower the bow,the more respect or reverence the giver is showing.)

Touching someone (even a child) with the foot is a taboo as Thai Buddhism

considers this an impure region of the body.

It is especially important to not to sit with the soles of ones feet at images of

the Buddha.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body and thus touching

someones head, even accidentally, requires an immediate apology.

Thais hold their king in very high regard and thus Currency, postage

stamps, magazines covers and any other items with the kings image are

never tossed to the ground or treated harshly..

Kissing in the streets and any public display of affection are consideredrude.

Some parts of Southern Thailand have a large Muslim population making

applicable certain points of etiquette in the Middle East. Western etiquette

applies among the communities ofBangkok and Pattaya.


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Philippines Influenced during its history by centuries ofSpanish rule and the

U.S., and a lively influx of influences from around Japan,C

hina,India,Middle East, and the West, the Philippines has a unique and

particularly formal sense of etiquette concerning social functions,

filial respect and public behavior.

While the Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic, some areas

have a Muslim majority and many points ofEtiquette in the Middle

East can apply.

Filipinos hold gentlemanly etiquette in high regard

Gift giving is important on many occasions such as weddings and

birthdays.

Money, flowers or prayer cards are acceptable gifts.

Good posture is expected at the dinner table.

Filipinos place importance on proper introductions.


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Cultural and Personality (over all)

Temper Tantrums

In the Asia,

Speaking in a raised voice, shouting and swearing and a display of temper are considered

in excusable.

The person involved will suffer a lose of face and the person who has shown the anger a

loss of respect that may never be regained.

Compliments

Beware and Danger

Do not praise an Asians beautiful child, do not say how fat and healthy or how much it has

grown. It is believed that this cast an evil eye and some harm may come to the child or

person.

Touching people

Westerners are touchy people. In some cases this is considered an unnatural form of

intimacy.

Discussions on a personal or emotional level

In the Asian culture, much value is placed on the reserved

Conversely, Westerners are reluctant to discuss the price paid, salary, rent, etc. To the

Asian, this is a sign of friendly interest.

Continued..


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Asian yes

Sometimes means, I hear what you are saying, but I do not necessarily agree. It

could mean no or maybe.

When I dont want you to feel bad, I say yes with my mouth and no with my face.

Formality

Asian cultures are much more formal and traditional than Western cultures.

The Asian appreciates and respects preliminaries and form.

The importance of the deal is measured by how much formality surrounds it and how it

is set up.

Asian face Saving face. If you go to a party in Australia, you are expected to bring your own

bottle of sprites. In Asia, the host would feel insulted (lose face). It might imply that the

host did not have enough for him to drink.

Business ethics:

Asian like formality.

Cleverness is admired.

The Asian business is often a family concern.


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Type of logicSpiral (more roundabout and subtle).

Expression of Agreement and Disagreement

More difficult to say no even if one means no, disagreement expressed

nonverbally.

Communication of Information

Meaning is often implied or must be inferredUse of indirect languagepatterns

Expression of Honesty:

Subtle

nonverbal

Expression of Self

:"We"-oriented and Receiver-sensitive

Cultural Values Expressed


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Continue..

Thinking Orientation

Tends to take context and the specific situation into account in rule

interpretation

The Individual

Group duty and preservation of harmony

ature of the Business Relationship

Most important business cannot occur until relationship if sound,believe in written agreement.

Conflict Resolution

More mediation though trusted third parties

Time Sense During Meetings

Appointments less driven by exact start and end times Conflict results

Win-Win

To lose is to win

Lose in order to win


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