Culture Shock
Module Two, Critical Thinking
Russell Clay, 25 March, 2012
Culture Shock—Power Distance & Individualism/Collectivism
Working in a multinational company can be challenging if you’re requested to transfer to another country. With cultural differences from one country to another, someone can experience culture shock at any point while detailed to another country. In the video taken from the movie “Outsourced” we get a quick glimpse of two different cultures (Wing & Jeffcoat, 2007). The Indians, not understanding the products they will be representing, and the American not understanding their questions. For the American, it was simple logic why those things would be popular to American consumers. But not being able to explain the interest to Indian employees proved to be an example of culture shock. And the American’s disregard for the cow showed a lack of understanding of Indian culture.
Relationships—Uncertainty Avoidance
In the Chinese Business Etiquette video we learn relationships are a necessity in Chinese business (Unknown, 2007). They are the primary force in company negotiations when entering business dealings. This may be due to China’s relatively low uncertainty avoidance score, as found in our text. Uncertainty avoidance is the feeling of a threat from an unknown or uncertain experience (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2010). This unwillingness to enter into business dealings with someone you’re not in a relation with could be formed around an uncertainty avoidance reaction.
Etiquette-- Power distance & Individualism/Collectivism
Etiquette is very important in the Chinese business culture as we learned from the instructional video of Chinese culture (Unknown, 2007). We learned what should be served during meetings, how people should dress, and even who should be in charge of running a business. Two examples from the video are explained in our text (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2010): * Dress—Men were to dress in simple suits and women were not
Russell Clay, 25 March, 2012
Culture Shock—Power Distance & Individualism/Collectivism
Working in a multinational company can be challenging if you’re requested to transfer to another country. With cultural differences from one country to another, someone can experience culture shock at any point while detailed to another country. In the video taken from the movie “Outsourced” we get a quick glimpse of two different cultures (Wing & Jeffcoat, 2007). The Indians, not understanding the products they will be representing, and the American not understanding their questions. For the American, it was simple logic why those things would be popular to American consumers. But not being able to explain the interest to Indian employees proved to be an example of culture shock. And the American’s disregard for the cow showed a lack of understanding of Indian culture.
Relationships—Uncertainty Avoidance
In the Chinese Business Etiquette video we learn relationships are a necessity in Chinese business (Unknown, 2007). They are the primary force in company negotiations when entering business dealings. This may be due to China’s relatively low uncertainty avoidance score, as found in our text. Uncertainty avoidance is the feeling of a threat from an unknown or uncertain experience (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2010). This unwillingness to enter into business dealings with someone you’re not in a relation with could be formed around an uncertainty avoidance reaction.
Etiquette-- Power distance & Individualism/Collectivism
Etiquette is very important in the Chinese business culture as we learned from the instructional video of Chinese culture (Unknown, 2007). We learned what should be served during meetings, how people should dress, and even who should be in charge of running a business. Two examples from the video are explained in our text (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2010): * Dress—Men were to dress in simple suits and women were not
References: Ahlstrom, D., & Bruton, G. (2010). International management: Strategy and culture in the emerging world. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Unknown. (2007, November 23). Chinese business etiquette instructional video. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XHioryoMes Unknown. (2007, December 16). Resolving culture conflicts in corporate acquisitions. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4VpcO2ERU&feature=related Unknown. (2009, May 18). Global adjustments cross cultural training. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ1XLwgKDjQ Wing, G. (Writer), & Jeffcoat, J. (Writer, Producer) (2007). Outsourced [Theater]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXo1mQIEXmY