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Group 7 presents:

Cross Cultural Studies : India & Russia

Presented by
• Misha Garg (PGP10094)
• Abhilash (PGP10064)
• Shivangi (PGP10112)
• Rishabh Gupta (PGP10103)
• Sumit Kumar (PGP10118)
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An Introducti on to
Russia
Location: Northern Asia, bordering Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North
Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Ukraine
Capital: Moscow
Climate: Ranges from steppes in the South through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in
Siberia to tundra climate in the Polar North
Population: 143+ million (2019 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Belarusian 0.8%,
Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, others
Government: Federation
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An Introducti on to
India

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Capital: New Delhi
Climate: Variable; tropical monsoon in south and temperate in north
Population: 1.3 billion (2019 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000 Census)
Religions: Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2%
Government: Federal Republic
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Business Practices in Russia

MOTIVATING PEOPLE Safe, supportive, comfortable work environment with promise for long-term security.
Often the presence of a strong leader is still preferred
PROBLEM SOLVING Do not accept individual responsibility and accountability. Problems are often raised with
no intention of finding immediate solutions
APPRAISAL Informal, subjective; personal relationship (loyalty) supersedes performance
NEGOTIATING Russians are known as great "sitters" during negotiations. This demonstrates their
tremendous patience. Patience and sincerity are essential in building trust. Negotiations
are seen as win-lose
DECISION MAKING Hesitant to make decisions and to accept responsibility and accountability; high avoidance
of admitting mistakes. Decisions come from above after opinions are heard at appropriate
time or in one-on-one meetings
SUPERIOR / SUBORDINATE Authoritarian management; upward dependence; hierarchy is important as age, rank, and
position are respected
CUSTOMER RELATIONS Russians are often slow to open up and may appear suspicious. Relationships are built
through referrals and mutual contacts.
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Business Practices in India

MOTIVATING PEOPLE Supportive leadership (generates loyalty to individual, not to organization), providing
training and perks

PROBLEM SOLVING Solutions usually filter from top downwards, but assertion of ideas is acceptable within a
certain parameter

APPRAISAL Direct discussion if good news, indirect mention of areas requiring improvement
NEGOTIATING Top management network thrives on small talk, but in negotiating, extreme solutions may
be presented, and bargaining continues all the way until a contract is signed

DECISION MAKING Strong managers but weaker staff; decisions are the sole responsibility of top echelon

SUPERIOR / SUBORDINATE Paternalistic relationships; boss may be stand in for family elders and show support for
business and personal problems; subordinates reciprocate with loyalty and respect

CUSTOMER RELATIONS Inside connections essential; people go out of their way to support friends and family,
otherwise indifferent
Hofstede Insights
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Communication Styles in Russia 7

Indirect 
Russians may seem to be very direct at times, making demands and
strongly expressing opinions in an emotional way. However, often
the true message is hidden in body language, tone of voice, or the
context of a situation. Politeness may be used to hide true
opinions.
High Context
Russians are open to direct communication, but still search for
messages beyond words
Formal
Formality of address; taking hierarchy into consideration
Emotionally Expressive 
Although most Russians expect outsiders to demonstrate a degree
of emotional constraint in public, overt display of emotions is
common in business negotiations and between members of the
“in-group.”
Fluid Time 
Foreigners are expected to be on time to show respect. However it
is common for Russians to re-prioritize depending on demands
from others with whom they have a higher level of commitments.
Communication Styles in India 8

Indirect 
Imply/suggest what is meant. You need to read between the lines
and develop a good relationship
High Context
The way people interact is determined by the relationship
Formal
Formality of address; taking hierarchy into consideration
Emotionally Expressive 
Trust and credibility established by displaying emotion in
communications.  Visible display of feelings through nonverbal
behavior
Circular 
Message may weave and wander

What to wear in Russia ?
• Business dress is formal and conservative
• Men should wear business suits
• Women should wear subdued colored business
suits
• Skirt should cover the skin
• Shoes should be highly polished
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What to wear in India?
• Conservative dress is most suitable for both men
and women
• Dark suits for men - in hotter regions it can be
acceptable to dress less formally
• For women, conservative dresses or business
suits
• Casual wear is not recommended for a first
meeting

Business Cards in Russia ?
• Business cards are exchanged after the initial
introductions without formal ritual
• Have one side of your business card translated
into Russian using Cyrillic text.
• Include advanced university degrees on your
business card
• Hand your business card so the Russian side is
readable
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Business Cards in India?
• Business cards may be given after the initial
handshakes and greetings
• Give and receive cards with your right hand
• Higher educational degrees are a symbol of status
• Give cards face up to be easily read
• As business is often conducted in English it is
unnecessary to translate one side of your card

Meetings in Russia ?
• Appointments are necessary and should be made as far
in advance as possible
• It often takes roughly 6 weeks to arrange a meeting
with a government official
• Confirm the meeting when you arrive in the country
and again a day or two in advance
• The first week of May has several public holidays so it
is best avoided
• You should arrive punctually for meetings
• Typical Russian schedules are constantly changing and
everything takes longer than expected, so be prepared
to be kept waiting
• Meetings can be cancelled on short notice
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Meetings in India?
• Plan and organize meetings well in advance of your trip
• Be punctual – this shows respect and integrity
• Business meetings often begin with small talk
• This may continue for an extended time as Indians
prefer doing business when they are familiar with
someone
• Ask your hosts personal questions; family, marriage,
education and sport are good starting points. Avoid
politics, religion and the caste system
• If unsure on any matter, defer to the senior person in
the room as they will generally control the final decision

Titles! in Russia
• First name, which is the person's given name
• Middle name, which is a patronymic or a version
of the father's first name formed by adding '- vich'
or '-ovich' for a male and '-avna' or '- ovna' for a
female
• Last name, which is the family or surname.
• In formal situations, people use all three names.
Friends and close acquaintances may refer to
each other by their first name and patronymic.
Close friends and family members call each other
by their first name only
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Titles! in India
• Address people by their professional title (Dr,
professor etc.) or, Mr or Mrs, followed by their
surname
• Wait until invited to address someone by their
first name, or preferred name
• If in doubt, use the suffix Mr or Mrs, especially
when addressing elders. Sir or Madam is also
appropriate
• Remember, status is dependent upon education,
caste, age and profession  - address people
accordingly if possible
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Non Verbal Communication in Non Verbal Communication in

Russia India
• It is rude to point by an index finger  • It is considered rude to snap your fingers
• Russians greet other people raising a hand • Pointing is done with the chin
• The typical greeting is a firm, almost bone- • Grabbing your ears is a sign of sincerity,  since
crushing handshake while maintaining direct eye ears are considered sacred
contact • Men and women do not touch when they are
• Personal distance is close – about 12 inches meeting
• Indians value their personal space and expect to
be at least an arm’s length away from others
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Thank You!