INTERNATIONAL HR
It is evident that in today’s economy, globalization has affected every facet of the way businesses are run and the way customs view companies. This is also true of HRM and IHRM. We have seen that businesses that usually operated in a monolithic culture and environment are now finding their markets, suppliers and customers from all over the globe. Some of them even outsource their HR functions to other countries.
For this discussion, I chose a country I had visited a few years ago, United Arab Emirates - U.A.E. In UAE, status is important and must be recognized by using the correct title when addressing someone. Their custom is to use Sheikh meaning Chief, or Sheikha for a woman. In this part of the world, people are addressed generally by their first names such as Mr. John. When greeting people it is important to acknowledge the most senior person in the room first.
Handshakes are used and can last a long time. Etiquette recommends that one waits for the other to withdraw their hand first before doing the same. When introducing a man to a woman, it is advisable to wait and see if a hand is extended. The right hand is always used as the left is preserved for bodily hygiene and considered unclean. Holding hands among men is common and does not carry the same connotations as it does in the U.S.
Many people in the Middle East claim a more modest area of personal space than is usual in the U.S. Accordingly, it could seem rude for an individual to step away when another individual is stepping closer.
Doing business in the Middle East, revolves much more around personal relationships, family ties, trust and honor. Business relationships are therefore built on mutual friendship and trust. The initial meetings are about relationship-building, trust and establishing compatibility. The working week generally is Sunday through Thursday. Attitudes to time