Culture Determinants:

 Influences of various areas

 Religious values and norms

 Behavior manners

 International interactions

 Location
Manifestations of These
Determinants :

 Language

 Time orientation

 Formality in relationships

 Hospitality

 Materialism

 Colour
THE FRENCH :

 People – oriented
 Smile a lot
 Making eye contact means equality
 Use the whole body to communicate
 Handshake is firm
 Leisure – loving people
 Academic arguments
 Intellectual conflicts
 Tact & diplomacy are considered better than frankness
THE GERMANS :
 Detail – oriented

 Precise (express accurately)

 Direct people
 Well ordered & planned
 Believe in hard facts
 Admire those who are well organised
 Hard working & highly disciplined
 Orderliness
 Creative & Formal people
 Often give the impression of being cold & reserved
 Extremely polite and well mannered
THE JAPANESE :
 Not very easy to understand
 Expressionless visages
 Conflict is best resolved through harmony & negotiation
 High technology and superior quality
 Communication is indirect, vague (uncertain) & leaves a wide margin for
personal interpretation by the receiver
 Japanese prefer third party introductions and involvement
 Punctuality
 Sober, conservative style, & look neat & orderly
 Small, classy gifts
 Colours, Black signifies joy and Red is considered lucky
THE CHINESE :

 Chinese prefer to deal through intermediaries

 Going against the national interest

 Focus on efficiency and effectiveness

 Significant use of nonverbal communication

(indirect statements and symbols)
 They always quote or introduce a famous quote or proverb
THE MIDDLE EASTERNER :
 Generosity, Hospitality, Courage & Patience

 Compatibility with modernity

 Business and trade are valued careers
 Business meetings are rarely private
 Is considered rude to show impatience at such interruptions
 Gifts are freely given
 Strong sense of fair play (just treatment) and pride (self respect)
 Honour and social prestige must always be maintained
 Equally, public confrontation & conflict must be avoided
 Being frank or blunt is considered disrespectful
Before Any Business Trip Abroad :

 Know & understand important historical facts

 Acquaint yourself with the basic geographical, social,
political and economic facts about the country concerned
 Find out who the major heroes are, past & present, in
various fields
 What is the major religion followed, & are there any
important taboos (BAN) you should know about?
 Who are the major decision – makers?
Before Any Business Trip Abroad :

What are the important social customs and cultural

expectations?
What is their concept of time?
 Is any significance attached to particular colours ?
 What gifts would be appropriate and which inappropriate?
 What is the correct greeting protocol?
 What are some of the key phrases in the country’s
language that must be mastered for smoother
communication?