...Ethical Challenges in Latin American Cultures A Study of the Impacts of Culture in the Business Environment Warrington Thomas Edison State College International Management 372 Professor: Baker 06/16/2013 Elements Influencing Social Culture Culture is defined as a system of values and norms shared among a group of people and when taken together represent a system of living. Culture is not static but always evolving and it is important to take various factors into consideration when attempting to conduct business in international countries. Valuing cultural diversity in the workplace can boost morale and productivity. An effective employee who feels discriminated against because of cultural differences might get disconnected and leave the company. Values are the things that people believe to be right, good and desirable. Values are often reflected in the political and economic system of a country and includes society’s attitude towards things such as individual freedom, democracy, truth, honesty and loyalty among many other things. Ethics include the standards of moral behavior that are acceptable by a society as right or wrong. It includes basic moral values such as integrity, respect for human life, self-control, honesty, courage, cheating, cruelty and the list continues. Latin Americans are very proud of their culture individuals attempting to do business in this part of the world should be aware of the social conventions. ...
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...Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship MGT 5012– Twenty First Century Management Practices Date of Submission: March 17, 2013 Title of Assignment: Managing Cultural Diversity Syllabus: MGT 5012- 21st Mgmt Practices 26 Over the years, the workforce has grown to have diverse groups of people working together. Diversity is defined as the differences or dissimilarities among people. These differences can be age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, education, experience, and any characteristic used to distinguish between people. (Jones, 2011) To understand the present, a look at the history of diversity in the workplace will be discussed. I will research and discuss the cultural diversity and how managers today have evolved over the years to learn how to handle it. I will discuss certain steps that managers can take to effectively manage the diversity in their workplace. I will look into the business etiquette and protocol of countries like the United States, Mexico, and Japan. I will also look into where these countries fall on Hofstede’s model of national culture. I will also discuss why it’s important for mangers to learn about a culture they are not familiar with when doing business to make sure they don’t offend the other person or company. History of Diversity in the Workplace The workforce slowly changed after World War II as a growing number of minority groups began to speak up and demand...
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...conducting business in a country with a culture that is unknown to you, it is best to prepare and understand that country's traditions and culture as best as possible. In order to be successful in business in Japan, one must understand the dynamics of an intercultural relationship on a business level as well as a personal level to ensure that no offense is created . This report will focus on Japan; what differences we see between Japan and Canada culturally while studying abroad, and what helps create a strong successful business relationship. II. Determinants of Culture Culture is a system of values and normalities that are considered a way of life in society. Culture influences how we think, talk, pray, eat, dress, interact and, communicate. Our behaviour, attitude, personality and beliefs have been shaped by the culture we were raised in. “Culture is transmitted through language, material objects, ritual, institutions and art, from one generation to the next.” (n.d., Dictionary) Even with the effects of globalization, countries around the world are still distinct from one another. So how do we really set apart one culture from another? Here are the determinants of culture: * Social Structure - Consists of institutions, rules, and practices. Social structure assigns roles and powers to individuals in a society. It is the social relation of one person to another person where a stable arrangement of institutions by which the people in a society interact and...
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...but also doing business with people around the world. Enterprises enter foreign markets in order to expand the market or look for resources or reduce cost etc. However, Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) not only need to know the political, legal and regulatory environment in host country but also the culture difference which is very important to lessen the cultural problems and know how to solve it wisely. Companies may be abandoned by customers or spend a lot of money to recover their reputation if MNEs’ managers do not understand the cultures of the countries they deal with. The influence of international trade liberalization has presented not only substantial opportunities but also some challenges for domestic and international companies (Watchravesringkan 2011). The aim of this essay is to discuss the importance of culture difference to MNEs. In this essay, culture and society will be discussed in the first part. The following part is about the importance of cultural difference to international managers. Finally, it will discuss the methods to understand cultural difference. Dowling & Liesch (2009) state that culture is a system of values and norms those is shared among a group of human beings and form a pattern for living when brought together. Culture is gained knowledge that human beings use to explain experience and develop social behaviour and this knowledge forms values, generates attitudes, and affects behaviour (Luthans and Doh 2012). Moreover, culture influences the...
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...Definitions of culture Culture is a comprehensive concept as it embraces almost all factors that influence an individual’s reasoning process and shape behavior. It influences both our preferences, decisions and our general perspective about the world around us. Considering the fact, that most human behaviors are not innate but learned shows that culture is acquired over time. Many authors, philosophers, historians, sociologists, anthropologists and linguists have written and argued in different perspectives the actual meaning of culture, but one point remains that culture is an unavoidable part of human daily life. Hofstede (1998) argued that culture is a fuzzy concept that can be viewed from two perspectives that seems inter-related and confusing. He stated that culture could be seen from a narrow perspective to mean "civilization" and in the broad perspective as “anthropology” which involves thinking, feelings and acting. Furthermore, culture is a combination of material and spiritual wealth designed by man through process of social and historical development. Cultural Influence on Business in Africa Culture is the summary or sum total of people’s way of life which is transferable, in this case it must have great influence in business since business revolves within the circumference of people and their culture. Hofstede (1996) classified culture in four dimensions and explained its degree of influence in business at each dimension. Power Distance: This deal with the...
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...Nuances in Bulgarian business culture in comparison with the United Kingdom’s Course work in Cross-cultural issues in the European Human Resource Management Prepare by: Dimitar Arnaudov, Faculty number: 1523078 Course: European business and Finances Sofia, 2015 1. Differences between national cultures. Authors, studies, etc. 2.1. Culture (def.); Culture differences. 1.1.1 Culture – def.; 1.1.2 Culture differences. 1.1 Authors and studies related to business culture. 1.2.1 Geert Hofstede; 1.2.2 Famous studies around the World. 2. Similarities and differences between the business cultures of Bulgaria and the United Kingdom. 2.1. Bulgarian business culture; 2.2. British business culture in comparison to Bulgaria’s . 3. References. Differences between national cultures. Authors, studies, etc. Culture (definition) and culture differences Culture illustrates the accepted norms and values and traditional behaviour of a group. One definition of culture by Deal and Kennedy is “the way a we do things around here”. However, culture also evolves over time. The culture of each country has its own beliefs, values and activities. In other words culture can be defined as an evolving set of collective beliefs, values and attitudes. Culture is a key component in business and has an impact on the strategic direction of business. Culture influences management...
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...cultural analysis of the Mexican culture through the lens of the 5-D Model developed by Professor Geert Hofstede. The five dimensions of the model include: Power Distance (PDI), Individualism versus Collectivism (IDV), Masculinity versus Femininity (MAS), Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), and Long term versus short term orientation. In recent years a sixth dimension named Indulgence versus Restraint has been added. There are no rankings for this dimension as it has only been recently added and researched (Hofstede, 2012). This Model gives one an important tool for gaining insights into given cultures which can improve business opportunities and interactions (International business etiquette, manners and culture, 2012). Power Distance Index (PDI) is the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. The issue is how a society handles inequalities. Mexico, ranking 81on the PDI, is a hierarchical society. Regionally, Mexico ranks higher on PDI than the United States (rank 39) and Canada (rank 40), whose ranks indicate that their cultures strive to equalize the distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power. Globally, however, countries vary greatly in PDI, (average PDI rank of 60; Clearly Cultural, 2012). One must consider the PDI rank when doing business with a given country in a certain region. For example, Mexican businesses hoping to successfully compete in business within the United States or...
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...al The cultural, political and legal environment of international business Abstract A study of the elements of a domestic market and those of an international market may reveal many crucial differences, especially political, legal and cultural differences. For example, the "rules of the game” of business in the international market are diverse, changeable and often unclear. The international firm may have to content with different legal and ethical standards in different host countries. In this paper the parameters of the political, legal, and the cultural environment of international business will be considered, The paper also relates how political, legal, and cultural incidents or situations may become roadblocks to the smooth operation of business ventures in foreign countries. Misunderstandings and breakdown in communication often arise from differences in perception by executives who are not from the same cultural, legal and political background. International investors need to know what elements in a foreign culture have the greatest influence over consumption patterns in general and particularly the consumption behaviour to their specific product. By reflecting on the language, religion, demography, climate, values and beliefs, education, labour, roles of women, family, ethnic groups and other similar elements, the international business person will be able to, not only participate in the international economy with a better perception of the situation, but also be able...
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...Maureen Schneider International Business Communications Professor Rodger January 18, 2016 Geert Hofstede’s 6 Dimensions is a tool that is helpful in comparing different cultures. This tool can help businesses that are planning to do business outside of their own country by helping to show the similarities and differences in the cultures of the countries. To properly use this comparison one must first understand how Geert Hofstede’s 6 Dimensions can be interpreted and of course what each dimension stands for. The 6 Dimensions are: Power Distance, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long Term Orientation and Indulgence. According to the Geert Hofstede website each dimension is describe as follows: Power Distance – extent in which the culture accepts the fact that power, within the society, is not distributed equally. The higher the score in this dimension shows that the culture believes that an inequality in power distribution is acceptable. Individualism - extent in which a society maintains interdependence among its members. Self-Image is defined as either I or we. In an individualistic society the members take care of themselves and their direct family members. The higher the score in this dimension indicates that the society is based on individualism and not collectivism. In a collectivist society the members take care of one another, the in group, usually in exchange for loyalty. Some cultures can be a combination of the two...
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...is to compare and contrast two national cultures in terms of marketing practices. Particularly this work investigates Chinese and American national cultures as well as their impact on marketing mix. Along with general cultural information, this work provides current trends in national culture of these countries. Finally based upon findings the research gives some recommendations. Five cultural dimensions As companies around the globe started to expand their business beyond their domestic borders, the phenomenon as national culture became the stumbling block for them. They started to realize the importance of recognition of culture. Culture itself is defined as values, beliefs and assumptions learned through early childhood that distinguishes one group of people from another (Newman and Nollen 1996). Prominent writer in this field Geert Hofstede (1994) in his work referred culture as ‘the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another’ and also adds that ‘category of people can be a nation, region, or ethnic group, women versus men, old versus young, a social class, a profession or occupation, a type of business, a work organization or part of it, or even a family. In his research of national culture, he observed subsidiaries of a multinational corporation (IBM) in 64 countries and two groups of students in 10 and 23 countries, and identified five dimensions of national culture differences. They are: power distance, individualism...
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...Cultural Implications for doing Business in Emerging Markets International business is the act of investment and trade activities by firms across national borders. Small, Medium, and Multinational companies who have the resources tend to be attracted at doing business abroad. There are nine reasons why firms choose to internationalize which are (1) to gain market share, (2) earn higher profits and margins, (3) acquire new ideas about products, service, and business method, (4) to follow and better serve key customers that have relocated abroad, (5) to be closer to their supply chain, (6) have access to lower-cost or better value factors of production, (7) to develop economies of scale in production, sourcing, research and development, and marketing, (8) to challenge international competitors more effectively, (9) invest in a potentially rewarding relationship with a foreign partner. There are different ways companies can engage in international business. Companies can be involved in international trade, exporting, importing, international investment, international portfolio investment, and foreign direct investment. Depending on the type of risk the company decides to take, for example if the company wants the lowest risk possible for doing business abroad then exporting would be one of the safest ways to get their products or service abroad. Foreign Direct Investment is considered high risk due to the structure of each country’s culture, government, laws, rules, regulations...
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...Biznes Consulting report on the communication norms in Poland for a Canadian construction company contemplating entering the foreign industry. 2009 Biznes Consulting 12/1/2009 Introduction Communication styles and business norms vary from country to country. When a company tries to globalize their business and break into a foreign market, the firm must take many precautions in order to adhere to the country’s many social and cultural rules. In order to succeed in any foreign industry, extensive research is required, possibly in the form of an ethnographic study. Biznes (Business) Consulting will give a presentation to the board of a Canadian construction company who is considering expansion into the Polish market. The report is designed to give the Canadian construction company a detailed assessment of the differing communication styles and business norms in Poland compared to those in the Canadian market. To begin this assessment of the Polish communication styles and examination of working norms, Biznes Consulting group will analyze how to conduct a business meeting in Poland. This will include the basic “do’s and don’ts”, business etiquette, time frames and dress or attire. Next a complete external and internal analysis will be presented. A STEEP analysis will be studied and human resource management for Poland will be discussed in detail. Following the external and internal analyses, an interpretation...
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...made up of a series of islands with rich culture and historical background. The Japanese people, dating back to as early as 4,500 B.C. have deep traditions that have evolved and adapted over the centuries. With ideologies, religion and business strategy’s much different from that in the western world, specific customs and traditions must be understood. Although the Japanese carry a great deal of respect in the business world, they can often be perceived as picky and difficult to deal with. This stereotype tends to cause alienation from companies doing business in Japan, when in reality their “closed off” and distant behavior is due to misinterpretation through a western lens. Being aware of the religion and history of the Japanese can help to not only better understand their culture, but to also strengthen business relationships and allow for a positive interactions between companies. The following paper will include a cultural analysis observing different dimensions of Japanese culture through Hoftede and Hall’s scales relative to other world cultures. The underlying beliefs, attitudes and values of the Japanese culture relative to that of the Western American culture. As well as their evolved and highly functioning socio-economic and political environment. Communication and openness to change can be compared providing information as to why the Japanese conduct business the way they do. The paper will also discuss the work and business practices of the Japanese. Specifically...
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...Culture and its implication on the international business management. Introduction Today, problems associated with global business management have been identified as factors that negatively impact the performance and productivity of multinational corporations and in turn, adversely affect regional and national economic growth The goal of this paper is to analyze the influence of culture in international business. The globalization of the world economy has intensified international relationships, increasing the importance of cultural dimension. The world is being affected by the globalization of the economy. This phenomenon is bringing movement of companies, assets, services, capital and people. Analyzing globalization this process is taking the world to major changes in the economic, technologic and social areas, which are having consequences in all organizations and societies that participate in this globalized market. It is a process that does not bring equal benefits to all participants. The globalization concentrates more of its actions in some sectors of economic activity and some regions and countries, rather than acting everywhere. With the world getting flatter doing business anywhere in the world is easier today, because of major changes in technology, global politics and expanded educational opportunities. But it is not only businesses that are affected. Governments, NGOs and society itself is changing at a fast pace. Nevertheless going forward can only happen...
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...comparison with Jordan If we explore Jordan’s culture through the lens of the 6-D Model, we can get a good overview of the deep drivers of Jordanian culture relative to other world cultures. Power Distance This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. With a high score of 70, Jordan has a hierarchical society. This means that people accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organization is seen as reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular, subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a benevolent autocrat. Individualism The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “We”. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist society’s people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in exchange for loyalty. Jordan’s low score of 30 on this dimension means that it is considered a collectivistic society. This is evident in a close, long-term commitment...
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