INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

CASESTUDY-02

The Java Lounge ---- Adjusting to Saudi Arabian Culture

1A) SUMMARY:
Saudi Arabia is a nation that adheres to its religious philosophy.
Many foreigners today find their laws strange in their own value system
because of how rigid they are.
At the time, three of the four young Saudi men aspired to open a restaurant
with a modern style, and they had all completed studies abroad. But they
would like to do some investigation to be certain about the business. male-
female interactions are limited Conducting market research is fairly
challenging. By obtaining consent to approach a Saudi family in a restaurant,
the researcher was able to conduct this case's interview. However, there are
also dress codes for both men and women.
Researchers focused mostly on observing people's attitudes, including their
behaviour and preferred self-conduct. The Java Lounge, a 250-seat restaurant,
was consequently opened in 2003 by the four partners. They decided to start
java lounge on Jeddah as their destination because it is a port and attracts less
traditional residents. In contrast to a world-class restaurant, there was not
much difference.But it's a very important point that operations in Java Lounge
are different from those in any other nation, for example, male and female are
segregated even if a certain percentage of women operate in various
industries in various ways. One fantastic aspect of Java Lounge is timing. Men
arrive here throughout the daytime without women and settle on the floor
opposite the ladies, but in the evening, both floors are available to
families.Although Saudi Arabia has a black market for alcohol, a person from
another culture may find it difficult to adapt to Java Lounge's culture because
of its prohibitions against serving alcohol and permitting live music, among
other things. Selling during the day without an evening meal is prohibited
during Ramadan. There is little doubt that not all business is connected
because of religious ideas, even though many businesses comply with Saudi
regulations to maintain good customer relations.

Saudi Arabia is a nation of contradictions and contrasts. Although it has

extremely advanced cities, the stringent Islamic religious beliefs and traditional
 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
CASESTUDY-02

The Java Lounge ---- Adjusting to Saudi Arabian Culture

social mores that form the basis of its laws and practises frequently run afoul
of contemporary political, social, and technological realities. Due to these
stringent cultural rules and customs, it is much harder to participate in
globalisation in this culture than it is in more open societies with laxer laws and
customs. The Java Lounge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is a fantastic illustration of
how this is still possible with the right planning and study. Before opening, the
Java Lounge's proprietors engaged consultants to ensure that there was a
sizable market for their product. They also outfitted the lounge with gender-
specific entrances for men, women, and families and selected a location that
wasn't as strict as Riyadh. Retailers have modified their practises in Saudi
Arabia in order to compete, including closing during prayer times.

Due to this, Saudi Arabia has been able to advance in terms of globalisation
while yet maintaining its old traditions. Companies come into contact with
fascinating and frequently difficult cultural situations when they source,
manufacture, or promote items in other nations. It ends with a discussion of
how businesses might be able to enhance their efficacy while carrying out their
operations in a world of intricate and dynamic cultural diversities.