Sociocultural Forces

Doing business across cultures requires that the managers have a vast knowledge of not just the
culture but a deeper understanding and acceptance of the attitudes, beliefs, customs, social
interactivity and a general feeling and trust of the public towards the country. Ball, Geringer,
Minor & McNett (2010:137-138) explains that when you are doing business across cultures six
rules should be implemented: be prepared; slow down; establish trust; understand the importance
of language; respect the culture and understand the components of the culture.

National Identity

The national identity is influenced by several factors. One of the most important integrating
forces is the use of the national lingua franca—Swahili, a language spoken and revered by nearly
all Tanzanians. Swahili is a compulsory subject in schools, and some 83 percent of the
population is literate. Equally important, of course, is Tanganyika's independence and subsequent
unification with Zanzibar to form the United Republic.[ CITATION Rob11 \l 1033 ]

Greetings

Lengthy greetings, preferably in Kiswahili, are very important and people will appreciate your
efforts. Elderly men and woman are customarily treated with great difference. The word for
greeting anyone older than you is shikamoo, best followed by an honorific title: Baba for a man
and Mama for a woman. The standard acknowledgement is Marahaba.[ CITATION Fin06 \l 1033 ]

Religion

Acknowledgement of religion can help business managers better understand the community in
which they place themselves, and to be successful in their relationships with the citizens in
Tanzania. (Ball et al., (2010: 141-147).

The greater part of mainland Tanzanians is Christians. Sunni Islam dominates the coast and
Zanzibar, and is in the rising throughout the country. Many towns have several mosques. Unless
given permission mosques should only be entered by Muslims. Hindu and Sikh temples are also
found in large towns, and there are adherents of Jainism and Bahai faith too. [ CITATION Fin06 \l
1033 ]
Sexuality

One in ten Tanzanians has HIV and four out of five deaths among 25- to 35-year-olds are AIDS-
related. Male homosexuality is an accepted undercurrent on the coast, although it’s officially
illegal. [ CITATION Fin06 \l 1033 ]

Etiquette

Tanzanians are proud of their disciplined nurture. The ability to keep control of one's temper and
emotions in public is highly valued. In many rural areas, women are not supposed to smoke, talk
in a raised voice, or cross their legs while sitting or standing. Traditionally, elders are honored
and respected by the rest of the community, although youth are increasingly challenging such
customs as arranged marriages. [ CITATION Rob11 \l 1033 ]

The role of government in Tanzania

The country does not discriminate against businesses conducted or owned by foreign investors.
There are no barriers to 100% ownership of businesses by foreign investors.[ CITATION Nic \l 1033
]

Human Resource requirements

Managers must adapt their policies and strategies when comparing South African employees
against the labor force in Tanzania. Mashuku (2006:38) reveals that new methods of production,
distribution and marketing should be analyzed when entering Tanzania’s business culture
because of the lack of skilled labor existing in Tanzania.

Manufacturing

Ngowi (2002) argues that Tanzania is not a good country to manufacture products in and is more
suited for natural resource based economic activities.

The role of woman in Tanzania

According to the International Labour Office (2001), socio-cultural habits support high fertility
rates in Tanzania. Women in Tanzania take on the traditional roll of motherhood, expected to
marry young and give birth to have many children. Teenage girls are socialized early in their
lives into key roles as housekeepers, mothers and informal farmers. Status among woman in
Tanzania is measured by their ability to reproduce and maintain children.

International Labor Office Gender Promotion Program (2001). National Report for Promoting
the Linkages between Women’s Employment and the Reduction of Child Labor. Dar es Salaam.
Carlson, R. G., & Pratt, M. (2011). Culture of Tanzania. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from
Countries and there cultures: http://www.everyculture.com

Klissas, N., Channell, W., Schwartz, C., & Friedberg, E. (2010). Commercial Legal and
Institutional Reform in Tanzania's agricultural sector. AgCLIR: Tanzania , 9. [Online] Available
from: http://marketing-bulletin.massey.ac.nz/article13/Farrell.asp [Accessed: 2011-03-22].

Ngowi, H.P. (2002). Foreign Direct Investment Entry Modes In Tanzania: Types, driving forces
and Implications. Tanzanet Journal , 3(Article 1):1-12. [Online] Available from:
http://www.tanzanet.org/int/journal/tznetjournal_12_2002_entry_modes.pdf [Downloaded:
2011-03-26].

Ball, D.A., Geringer, M.J., Minor, M.S., McNett, J.M. 2010. International Business. 12th ed.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

Finke, J. (2006). The rough guide to Tanzania. London: Rough Guides Ltd.

Mashuku, T. 2006. Modes of market entry and strategies for South African companies doing
business Tanzania. Thesis. University of Pretoria. [Online] Available from UPeTD:
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03312010-143313/unrestricted/dissertation.pdf.
[Accessed: 2011-03-18].