Week 4-(AC)-Business Management-and BATA Juniors
Gender and Cultures
Answer
the questions - handwritten- in red.
In most cultures family members are assigned different roles to fulfill. Sometimes, these roles are assigned based upon gender. In some cultures only males or females are allowed to fill certain roles. In some societies females are the primary workers outside the household. In others, males are the primary workers away from home. In still other societies, both males and females are employed outside the home.
1. what role do you think a woman has in the American culture?
Viewpoints vary worldwide about the roles males and females may fill in business. Some business subcultures seem to favor males over females in the workplace. In the United States, women theoretically have equal workplace opportunities with men. In practice, however, women have sometimes had fewer opportunities foe advancement. Today, U.S. women increasingly participate in international business as equals with men.
2. what year did women get the right to vote?
In Japan, native women have traditionally had very inferior workplace opportunities when compared to men. Japanese women rarely participate in the international business activities of Japanese companies except as translators and interpreters. In Libya, women have almost no workplace opportunities. They do not participate in international business activities.[1]
3. How are Japanese women treated?
Family-Work Relationship
Family ties to business are weak in some cultures and strong in others. In Canada, the United States, and most northern European countries, links between family and business are weak. Fairly often, there is no connection at all. However in most of the remainder of North and South American, much of southern Europe, most of Asia, northern Africa, and the Middle East, family ties to business are strong. Most often, employees of businesses- especially smaller ones- ones in these area are family members. It is difficult to separate family from business.
4. Why are business ties weak in families in the United States?
Mobility
Some cultures, such as the dominant one in the United States, have relatively little geographic attachment. In other words, the family members are not usually tied to their current location. They are mobile, willing to relocate for better employment opportunities. In some other cultures the ties to birthplace or region are much stronger. Members of these cultures would almost never consider moving away.
People from cultures who would not consider leaving their region permanently are sometimes temporarily willing to move elsewhere for better work opportunities. For example, guest workers form The Philippines are common in many countries of the Middle East. Guest workers bring their native culture with them. Sometimes their culture conflicts with that of the host country. Some host cultures do not make adjustments for guest workers. Other host cultures try to ensure that guest workers are treated similarly to native workers.
5. What does it mean to have no or little geographic attachment?
6. Why would Philippines be a common worker in many countries?
Class System
Cultures also organize their members beyond the family unit. A class system is a means of dividing the members of a cultural group into various levels can be based upon such factors as educations, occupation, heritage, conferred or inherited status, or income. In some cultures you can move from one class to another. This is true to some extent, for example, in the United States, where the class system is weak. Sometimes, the levels are based upon your lineage. Then you are locked into your class. It is very difficult or impossible for you to change classes.
In the United Kingdom, for example, your bloodline still influences to a significant degree your class and occupational choices. If you are born into the British aristocracy, you might oversee your family’s property and fortune. However, you probably would not engage in trade. That would be considered beneath your privileged position. To the rest of British society, nobility is not a factor and people shift class levels to a lesser degree than in the United States.
7. What is a class system?
8. In this context what does "lineage"?
9. IN this context what does "bloodline" mean?
Communication Across Cultures
All cultures and subcultures use languages to cross cultures. Languages facilitate the transaction of international business. Without language there would be no way to conduct business.
Many languages are used for business purposes. Nevertheless, English is widely considered to be the language of international business. More people use English to transact international business. More people use English to transact international business than any other language. However, it is not the language spoken by the most people in the world. That distinction belongs to Mandarin.
As a language for conducting business, English has some advantages over other languages. It contains many words drawn from other tongues, and ideas can be expressed in many ways. It also has a large number of business-related words. Further, English can be concise and precise. Often, it takes fewer words to send the same message in English than to send it in other major languages. For example, the French version of a message may be 30 to 40 percent longer than the English. The Russian may be 35 percent to 50 percent longer than the English.
10. what language is spoken by most people of the world? Where does this language originate from?
Being a native speaker of English is both an advantage and a disadvantage. It is an advantage because you already know the major language of international business. It is a disadvantage because you may decide erroneously that there is little need to learn another language. Since people often prefer to transact business in their native language, you may wish to learn a second language.
11. In business should you learn two language?
You may be wondering which foreign language is most useful for business purposes. The answer is not easy; all languages have use in some business situation.
Note that Japanese is the most frequently recommended language for U. S. business persons to learn. It is the language of one dominant trading nation. On the other hand, French, German, and Spanish, as well as most of the other languages, are used by several important trading nations.
12.Why is Japanese an important language for American Business men and women?
Learning any language will help you to understand the culture of those who speak it. Some people say that a language represents the highest form of a group’s culture. As you learn the language, you learn how things are done where the language is spoken. You learn the beliefs, values, and assumptions of that society.
Over time you may learn to think and to communicate like a native. This helps you transact business much as a member of that society does. Being fluent in a second language for business purposes is a competitive advantage. It will help you succeed in the world of international business.
13. Which language besides English will you choose to learn in to order to get ahead in international business?
One important feature of communication is its ability to be direct or indirect. Contexting refers to how direct or indirect communication is. A low-context culture is one that communicates very directly. These cultures value words and interpret them literally. The general and business subcultures of both Germany and the United States are relatively low content. Members of these groups convey information fairly directly.
14. What is contexting?
A high- context culture is one that communicates very indirectly. These cultures attach little value to the literal meanings of words and interpret them figuratively. The general and business subcultures of both Japan and Iraq are relatively high content. Members of these groups convey information indirectly.
The concept of face-saving or minimizing personal embarrassment is directly related to contexting. In low- context cultures, people Account Representative not too concerned about being personally embarrassed. In high-context cultures, however, personal embarrassment must be avoided at all costs. If you cause a Japanese business partner to lose face, you have blundered badly. You have jeopardized your personal and business relationship with that person.
15. What does it mean by personal embarrassment?
Many international communication problems can be better understood if you understand contexting and face-saving. For example, you may have wondered why Saddam Hussein criticized the United States before, during, and after the Gulf War. Did he really mean what he said? Could he really deliver on all of his threats and promises? Probably not,. Since the Iraqi culture is high content, President Hussein’s words shouldn’t be taken too literally. They should be interpreted figuratively. In Iraqi culture, intention is much more important than what is actually done. He lashed out at the United States to save face. During the conflict in the Persian Gulf, President Hussein endured considerable personal embarrassment. He was humiliated publicly. Consequently, he struck back verbally at the United States since he could not do so militarily in any major way.
16. What does humiliated mean?
Not all communication takes place with language. Nonverbal communication is communication that does not involve the use of words. You have probably heard the saying that actions speak louder than words. Actions are an example of nonverbal communication.
Body Language. One type of nonverbal communication is called body language. Body language includes facial expressions, upper and lower body movements, and gestures. All cultures and subcultures use body language. However, they do not always attach the same meanings to body language. Put another way, the meaning of body language is not universal. When George Bush was president, he traveled to Australia to promote trade with U.S. businesses. He flashed a V- for Victory hand gesture with his palm toward himself to the enthusiastic Australian crowd. Unknowingly, he insulted the crowd. The hand gesture he used meant something entirely different in Australia than in the United States. He gave the Australians the equivalent of the U. S. rude single- finger gesture.
17. What happen to the President in Australia?
Appearance. In the international business world, your appearance counts. Your clothing has no voice, but it communicates, too. Although people dress much differently in various parts of the world, they dress similarly when conducting international business. For such purposes, you should dress in a conservative manner. You might, for instance, wear dark- colored suits and white shirts or blouses. A as a male, you would choose color- coordinated ties that are not too bright. As a female, you might choose simple jewelry to complement your outfit. Of course, your clothing should be clean and nicely pressed. Your body should be carefully groomed, too. Your business associated will be favorably impressed it you always dress and behave in a professional manner. If you care about your appearance, you are likely to care about business matters, too.
18. Why does your appearance count?
Eye Contact. Eye movements vary form culture to culture. They are another means of nonverbal communication. In the United States, you should have direct eye contact with the person to whom you are speaking. That is not the case, however, in South Korea. There you show respect for the person speaking by looking downward, away form the eyes of the speaker. This is also true in many other Asia cultures.
Touching. Touching behaviors are another part of nonverbal communication. What touches Account Representative acceptable varies worldwide. In Arab countries, business associates hug and kiss each other when they meet. They may also hold hands as they discuss business matters. Such behaviors are considered inappropriate for business in the United States.
Personal Space. Space is used differently for communication purposes by different cultural groups. Jordanians confer very close to each other only a few inches separate them. People in the United States require more distance. They often confer at arm’s length from each other. Japanese prefer even more distance between speakers than do people in the United States When businesspersons with different space requirements interact, they must remember respect the space needs of others. If they don’t, they may find themselves dancing around the room: as one moves forward, the other steps back.
Color. Other forms of nonverbal communication exist. Color is one. For example, the U. S. culture values dental products that produce white teeth. However, in Southeast Asia, teeth blackened by chewing betel nuts are valued. This value could pose a problem for an U. S. company trying to sell its toothpaste in that area of the world.
Numbers. Numbers also communicate. In the United Kingdom and continental Europe the first floor is the floor above the ground floor. The first floor in a building in the United States is customarily the ground floor. Numbers can confuse businesspersons since they sometimes carry different meanings in different cultures and subcultures.
Emblems. Emblems or other symbols communicate. A Canadian could wear a cross-shaped necklace in many countries. However, in a country that accepts only another religion, doing so would be culturally insensitive. In fact, it is illegal to display non-Islamic religious symbols in Saudi Arabia.
Smells. Smells are another means of nonverbal communication. Natural body odors are considered unacceptable in the United States. Selling such products as deodorants and colognes, therefore, is big business. In most African and Middle Eastern countries, body odors are acceptable as being natural and distinctive. People there do not try to hide them. Consequently, the market for deodorants and colognes in those regions is very small.
Individualism is the belief in the individual and her or his ability to function relatively independently. Self- reliance, independence, and freedom are closely related to individualism in the United States. However, many other cultures see individualism as undesirable. They do not approve of the negative aspects of self- centeredness and selfishness. Instead, they prefer collectivism, the belief that the group is more important than the individual.
The Japanese culture has a strong collective orientation. It has a saying that translates: “The nail that stands out is soon pounded down.” This saying means that individuals should not stand out from the group. If they do, the group will force these individuals to conform to the expectations of the group. Japanese businesspersons tend to function collectively. Consequently, they do not make decisions without getting consensus or group agreement. Group harmony is more important to them than individual gain. In contrast, U. S. businesspersons tend to function individually. They often make decisions without consulting fellow employees. Individual gain is more important to them than group harmony.
No culture is based entirely on individualism or collectivism. All cultures have both, but most cultures lean toward one or the other. Cultures that lean toward individualism are apt to value the entrepreneurial spirit. That means they are willing to accept some risk for possible personal gain.
Fundamental beliefs about technology also vary from culture to culture. Some cultures embrace technology as a means of providing more and better material objects. Most developed countries have business subcultures that resist improvements in technology. Often they view technology negatively for cultural or religious reasons. For example, attitudes toward technological change are generally positive in France. In India, they are mixed,. India tries to balance the use of technology so that it doesn’t intrude on important spiritual beliefs and displace people from menial tasks. Technological change is viewed at best as neutral and often as negative in Iran. Technology is sometimes seen there as a threat to fundamental Iranian ways.
Different cultures have different values relating to leadership, power, and authority. These three are shared among a number of different people and institutions in democratic societies. For example, in the United States the power to govern is divided among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government. That way no one individual or group has too much power. In authoritarian societies, leaderships, power, and authority are granted to a few. There, much of the power seems to be in the chosen person and not in the institution.
In the people’s Republic of China, for instance, the leadership, power, and authority are concentrated in the hands of a few older leaders, who govern without question. They make all of the major decisions, which are carries out by middle- aged bureaucrats. The younger generation has essentially no power. When they protested in Teimen Square in Beijing in 1989 for more freedom, hundreds were killed. The student- led democracy movement threatened the leadership, power, and authority of the ruling old guard. It also threatened the time- honored Chinese tradition of respect for the wisdom of age-a major cultural value.
Religious beliefs also regulate the behaviors of members of many cultural groups, including numerous businesspersons. Such beliefs influence how people view the world. Some cultural groups are dominated by one religion. This is the case in Iran, for example, which is strongly influenced by Islam. Businesspersons there must follow Islamic practices. Some countries, such as the United States, have several major religions. Businesspersons there must respect the value choices of various religious practices. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, religion is not a major social force. The relationship between religions and business is controversial. Good arguments can be raised that various religious both encourage and discourage business activity.
Time is another factor to which different cultural group attach different meanings. In most developed countries time is often viewed in the clock or mechanical sense. There, time is seen as a scarce resource that must be carefully spent. It is viewed this way in both Canada and the United States. In most less-developed countries time is often viewed in a natural or fluid sense. Time related to the unending cycles of day and night and the seasons. Time is viewed this way in Mexico and Spain.
Individuals and businesses must make cultural adjustments. In other words, they must adapt to different when cultural values. To show respect for other cultural groups, you may need to make adjustments when dealing with them. These changes will help to minimize the differences that separate the cultural groups. Businesses that operate in other countries also make cultural adjustments.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s culture is better than other cultures. Ethnocentrism is a major obstacle to conducting international business. Worldwide cultures and subcultures are different. However, different does not mean that one is better than the other. Different simply means that the cultures are not alike.
When you engage in international business, you will frequently have to deal with other cultures. Interacting with a person from another culture is called a cross- cultural experience. As an international businessperson, you will have many cross- cultural experiences. With patience and practice, you can learn how to adapt to other cultures.
The following terms should become part of your business vocabulary.
For each numbered item find the term that has the same meaning.
· Body language
· Class system
· Collectivism
· Culture
· Ethnocentrism
· Extended family
· Individualism
· Nonverbal communication
· Nuclear family
· Subculture
1. A system of learned, shared, unifying, and interrelated beliefs, values, and assumptions.
2. Nonverbal communication involving facial expressions, upper and lower body movements, and gestures.
3. Consists of parent(s), children, and other relatives.
4. Communication that does not involve the use of words.
5. The belief that the group is more important than the individual.
6. Consists of parent(s) and unmarried children living at home.
7. The belief in the individual and her or his ability to function relatively independently.
8. The belief that one’s culture is better than other cultures.
9. A subset or part of a larger culture.
10. A means dividing the members of a cultural group into various levels.
Answer these questions to reinforce your knowledge of the main ideas of this chapter.
1. What is culture?
2. How is a subculture different from a culture?
3. How is the U.S. business subculture different from the general U.S. culture? The business subcultures of other countries?
4. How do cultures and subcultures influence the transaction of business?
5. Why should you study the cultures and subcultures of other countries?
6. How does social organization influence general cultures?
7. What language, if any, is most useful for international business purposes? Why?
8. How is nonverbal communication different form other forms of communications?
9. What are five important value categories that differ from culture to culture?
10. Why do people and businesses need to make adjustments for cultural differences?
You will not find the complete answers to the following questions in this reading. You will need to use your critical-thinking skills. Think about these questions, gather information from other sources, analyze possible responses, and discuss them with others. Then, develop your own oral or written response as instructed by your teacher.
1. How is culture like the programming in a microcomputer?
2. What evidence suggests that geographic attachment is weak in the general U.S. culture and in its subcultures?
3. Swahili is the Bantu language of the Swahili people in Africa. It is languages in Tanzania, Kenya, and parts of Zaire. Do you think that this language had significant potential for international business purposes? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the cultural relationship between the amount of space between business communicators and touching behaviors.
5. What are some other countries besides the People’s Republic of China where leadership, power, and authority are concentrated in the hands of a few people?
6. A good friend recently said that she wouldn’t even think of living temporarily in another country. Is her statement ethnocentric?
How do you know?