Week 2 Discussion Responses - Acct / Int - Biz

· Cite per APA

· Support and Disagree respectfully

· Share Opinion Backed by sources

· 1 page minimum

Discussion Response 1

BY: S,M

Cultural awareness in global business is necessary in order to develop opportunities (Lavergne, 2013).  Although largely forgiving, other societies outside of the United States seem to notice and respect efforts that are made giving priority to their culture. If our demeanor consists of Western Society ethnocentrism businessmen from other parts of the world will be reluctant to partake in deals we present resultant in failed business transactions. 

Without a diverse knowledge of cultural insight language usage and skills, communication styles, and even clothing can be misconstrued. These factors can be thought of as signs of disregard or disrespect to organizations in which you will potentially try to make a deal. And like it or not, some cultures will not appreciate negotiating with partners of the female gender, or certain body language that Western Cultures find respectable, like making eye contact or firm hand shakes.

In many regions of the world religion will be part of the business transaction. The relationship can be subtle, but complex (Hill &Hult, 2016). Some scholars theorize that religion can often shape attitudes about work and free enterprise (Hill &Hult, 2016). Whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, or tribal ethical systems, all should be a respected consideration with international business deal making (Hill& Hult, 2016).

Reference:

Hill, C. & Hult, G. (2016). Global Business Today. McGraw-Hill Education.

Lavergne, L. (2013). The Diverse U.S. Workforce: Global Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions. International Law News, 42(2), 1-25.

Discussion Response 2

By: B,R

      Expanding a business into the international realm can be extremely difficult and risky for companies. The difficulty and risk level increase exponentially when the culture is drastically different from the one that the business is currently operating. For a business to be truly successful it must have a very high level of cross-cultural literacy. This refers to “an understanding of how cultural differences across and within nations can affect the way business is practiced” (Hill & Hult, 2016 pg91). A company needs to take the time to understand the nuances of the culture in the country it is intending to expand to before making the leap. If the customers are not satisfied with the way the company is implementing expansion they are not very likely to shop for products or services from the company. In many instances a foreign company will need to be prepared to adapt its normal business operations to the culture of the host company. Once established in a country the company must be able to evolve as the local culture does. This is the same thing companies must do in the United States if they want to stay relevant and successful. Culture is not static and is constantly evolving, if electronic brands such as Apple or Samsung did not constantly adapt new products they would likely be left in the dust. This is the same in foreign countries. The company should employ local experts to ensure that the company is evolving with the local culture so that it can continue to be successful.

            When considering business in a foreign country all aspects of culture need to be considered. It is easy to offend those in foreign countries if there is not a solid understanding. For instance while Americans prize time and get easily irritated when a business meeting runs late, other cultures such as those of Latin Americans or Saudi Arabian might not understand why an American is unhappy seeing as their dealings with time are more fluid and it is not considered rude to be late. Another example is knowing that it is a punishable offense to consume alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Without studying the tendencies of the country it is impossible to ensure that one is not going to offend a large amount of people. The language of the country must also be considered. Many people throughout the world speak English especially in business dealings. However, if it is not their first language the person may miss some of the subtle nuances that are common to those that grew up speaking English. This can lead to a person being offended over a perceived wrong that never actually occurred.

            Lastly, religion has the potential to affect global expansion the most severely. “Some scholars theorize that the most important business implications of religion center on the extent to which different religions shape attitudes toward work and entrepreneurship and the degree to which the religious ethics affects the costs of doing business in a country” (Hill & Hult, 2016 pg101). Understanding the local religions and how it affects business and morals is integral to a company succeeding. Religion is a major influencing factor, the four largest religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism all have varying views that will change the way in which business is conducted.

References

Hill, Charles, Hult, Tomas. (2016). Global Business Today (9th ed). McGraw-Hill New York, New York.