THE INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT IS WHAT I NEED
dalas2
discussion_board_5.docxClara wrote: Well I hope this is some part of the project these are the five things I found that might be a cultural problems.
Gender & Sex
Gender can refer to various of ways in which cultures socialize males and females that construct them on a particular role that society deems them to play and in some countries kinship is passed to the men and the women is to be seen and not heard. (www.coursesmart.com)
Religion
Some believes that their religion is better than the next take September, 2011 that showed that these people thought that there was the most important when they destroyed the world trade center. Intolerance is a problem through oppression of other groups but it also leads to outright violence (www.coursesmart.com).
Food
there are different kinds of food for everybody’s culture take rice and fish that is more common in tropical places like Indonesia and Thailand but New Orleans is famous for spicy shellfish but they both reflects the geographic limitations because of their locations as well of the history of the people. (www.coursesmart.com).
The importance of understanding cultural differences.
In some countries in the world it is culturally acceptable to use child labor. In other countries bribing government officials is seen as part of the normal course of a tendering process. While refusing to deal with these people will lose you the deal, your stance on human rights and corruption will enhance your reputation with other countries and benefit you more in the long run. (www.insidebusiness360.com)
www.sgiquarterly.org this site talks about different examples of cultural differences through people eyes that were dealing with different cultures.
Michael Saunders wrote: WOW! Coca cola has had so many controversies and issues concerning culture, segregation, health, money etc... Just briefly looking it’s hard to believe they are still in business. I did see one key factor to why they are still going so strong though. They have DRIVE. Coca cola represents what a business can do if it bans together in times of crisis and doesn't give up, a willingness to see the problem analyze it from all angles and keep moving forward while correcting the problem keeps that company going. They definitely however need to be more knowledgeable of what is happening in their other worldly manufacturing facilities.
Aleathia Bowens wrote:
Our corporation, Coca-Cola is expanding its manufacturing business globally to Asia and Europe; therefore, I have been task with the assignment of researching cultural barriers that contribute to failures of new companies in Foreign Markets. As well, I will develop a plan to avoid these intercultural errors.
Cultural Barriers
Some cultural barriers in business success are as follows: Government sanctions, due to conflicts about government like human right conflicts and foreign business practices that occurred while the Pepsi cola company was in Myanmar (Htun, 2013). in Language is a cultural barrier in success of global business, because communication is the primary tool that is use to give instructions. Effective communication determines rather or not there are misunderstandings in business; another issue is symbolism (Editorial Board, 2012). Because symbols in different cultures can mean different things like the color of white symbolizes mourning in China, and red symbolizes happiness diversity in symbolism can cause conflict. Tools used for agreements of contract may be different in many cultures, causing uncertainty in expectation of business agreements. Be it verbal contracts, or deliberation over decisions of agreement and disagreements of contracts; Certain rules of cultural procedures in business, such as to include elders and other family members in financial investments, may seem silly to U.S. Business Personnel; however, they are ritual customs that other culture live by to avoid mistakes that will cause them to be ostracize from their family members (Coca-Cola, 2014). Attitudes about business and time schedule as it relates to U.S. and Foreign business ethics may be different, because some foreign cultures are less hurried about immediate decision making and sometimes persons of authority may run a little behind schedule; Many foreign cultures like to build relationships of trust in business partners, and they perceive trust between business associate similar to a covenant with God and man kind; therefore, once those bonds are broken it is hard for a firm to redeem themselves. Lastly, trying to impose U.S. values, customs, beliefs, advertisement approach, language, ethics and structure of working rules on foreign cultures will only cause more confusion and conflicts to a foreign work force (Coca-Cola, 2014).
Disregard of other Cultures Ideas
Reasons why people may not appreciate other ideas of view of others are as follows: ethnocentrism can affect an individual’s attitude towards other cultures; this can be caused by the patriotic individual feeling that they must remain loyal to their country, by avoiding the indulgence of learning or practicing foreign cultural history, values, religion, customs, pride, beliefs and societal laws. As well, people from highly developed countries may misjudge the intelligence, values, conservatism and unique strengths that individuals in less develop or ancient cultures possess. (Editorial Board, 2012)
Plan to Avoid Intercultural Errors
Plans to avoid intercultural errors include the following researching Asia and Europe’s’ culture, there business practices, their subculture, history, advertisement strengths, government, financial stratification, social structure, values, beliefs, cuisine, monumental sites and religion. As well, I would like to hire staff and management in that are native and expertise in positions of management, advertisement, on the board of committee, in position of legal management as it relate to foreign investments and affairs; reasons for this action is to educate our U.S. foreign personnel within the new country of how procedures, rules, business ethics, and how to communicate properly with employees, consumers and Investors effectively. As well, it will establish trust, employ most of the citizens, and help to future charity programs that can benefit the citizens, community and reflect Coca-Cola’s commitment to honesty, trust and the well-being of our communities. Many foreign societies are relationship focus, oppose to preoccupation with only personal gain such as rule base societies like the U.S., which means that they look at benefits of business deals as a whole to members in their country. So, it is necessary for a Firm to be considerate in fairness, safety and transparency when it comes to protecting the well-being of their citizens (Coca-Cola, 2014).
Appreciating Cultural Diversity and Communication
By understanding cultural history of foreign societies, its way of life, there unique strengths and language, as a multinational corporation we can eliminate barriers, such as: communication, conflicts, achieve success in business, empower one another, improve international relationships, eliminate hunger, increase sustainability throughout the world, and breakdown walls of fear of global unity and eliminate terrorism (Editorial Board, 2012).
My Experience of Foreign Culture
My experience of foreign culture begins with my year tour as a U.S. soldier in South Korea. When I arrive at the airport; initially, I was shock, because I found that their culture seem more advance when it came to computer technology; the airport seem like something from a future model compared to the U. S. airports that I was used to. As well, there culture consists of both urban and city markets, like New York and a farmers Market. Many merchants don’t stand behind the quality of their products, but they do negotiate bargains. Some of their cuisine is different like goge I think it’s called for dog meat, chicken on a stick, kimchee, and sol juice, and many signs are written in Korean off post, but ultimately the people are polite, all about family and very creative. One of my favorite quotes is as follows: “When in Rome, Do as the Do Romans (ST. Ambrose, 387 A.D.)” and “Imitation is sincerest form of Flattery (Charles Caleb Colton, N.D.)”
References
Coca-Cola. (2014, 07 10). 2011/2012 Sustainability Report. Retrieved from Coca-Cola: coca-cola.company.com
Editorial Board. (2012). Chapter 10 Research Applications. In E. Board, Introduction to Sociology, Edition 1 (pp. 150-163). Schaumburg, IL: Words of Wisdom LLC.
Editorial Board. (2012). Chapter 2 Class and Group Identification. In E. Board, Introduction to Sociology, Edition 1 (pp. 16-34). Schaumburg, IL.: Words of Wisdom, LLC.
Editorial Board. (2012). Chapter 3 Culture. In E. Board, Introduction to Sociology (pp. 36-48). Schaumburg, I.L.: Words of Wisdom, LLC.
Htun, Y. (2013, 06 o4). Coca-Cola Opens Myamar Bottling Plant. Retrieved from The Big Story: bigstory.ap.org
Europe and Asia are regions of diversified cultures. The US is one huge bloc of a cultural unity. Mostly, the ways of life of all Americans are very similar. This helps to explain how difficult it would be to penetrate a market that is naturally segmented.
The first and most obvious factor that is an automatic barrier is language (Peterson, & Wunder 1999). The US is mainly an English speaking nation; actually, it is the first language. Europe has England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as the only countries that use English as a first language. The rest of Europe has diversifications with almost each country having its own language. This not only creates barriers in production and distribution but also increases marketing and advertising costs. This is due to the fact that each country requires its own tailor made marketing with adverts designed in the particular local languages of the target market.
To just mention, Italy has Italian, France uses French, Spain Spanish, Portugal Portuguese, Germany German etc. A portion of Belgium however uses French. This is evidence of the language constraint that Coca Cola would face (Foster, 2008).
The traditional beverages of the particular places would as well be hard to beat in the market. Each cultural segment has its own traditional drink. The Germans for instance are known to traditionally prefer bear to any other drink. For example, the famous Oktoberfest, a national celebration devoted to beer taking place every year in Munich, is one of the most important events of the year in the country. On a light note, USA doesn’t have a soda drinking festival per se.
Beating the bear drinking culture by Coca Cola in Germany would be a tough task.
Asia has even a bigger problem. Although mostly legal and governmental structures in Asia stand out as blocking factors, social aspects as well stand to affect business. Religion is one of them. Various religions in China and India advocate for existence supported by what is provided by nature. Jainism for instance is one religion that advocates for natural food and survival means. Noting that Coca Cola is not made from the so called ‘natural ingredients’, it would automatically be shunned by them (Thomas, A. P. 2004, June 23).
Asceticism embroiled in some of these religions (an example is Mahavira’s asceticism) advocates for abstinence from worldly pleasures. Taking of beverage, which to many is viewed as a luxury, would be contravening of the religious believes.
Language barrier is not left behind in this. Different Asian countries as well have different languages that present the same problem as in Europe. China alone for instance has different variations of Chinese such as Mandarin. Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and the Middle East all have different languages. Actually, most are not used to the English alphabet (Consider Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Japanese etc. writing. To an American these would seem to be a pre-school kid’s attempts to write –no pun intended- so for any American trying to learn the language especially in writing to be able to work there would be an automatic nightmare.
There are some parts that are too remote and aren’t reachable by most forms of media. This creates a huge barrier in terms of awareness. Unfortunately, since the American imagination of almost every place in the US being reached by information is very stagnant in most American companies marketing brains, such a problem might be hard to even imagine that it might exist.
Plan to avoid the errors
Various steps are significant if the problems brought about by the mentioned issues are to be avoided. The biggest mistake that most corporations get into is that of direct administration. Production from the US and then exporting would be a poor strategy since it would mean that the products are almost purely American and would resemble those meant for the American market.
Outsourcing would be very essential. The products should thus be tailor made to match the requirements and expectations of the market (Harvey, & Allard 2009).
Malt for instance could be added to drinks mean for German market.
Secondly, producing from the very specific localities would be advisable. Although most firms have taken this step, some have had their own American employees being taken there to take up administrative roles. Since such a management wouldn’t understand the cultural and language trends of the locals like they would do themselves, it would be very advisable to give up the management to the locals as well. If need be, American, management would only set in at a minimal managerial aspect of supervision (once again where it deems most right).
Vigorous marketing would be a very instrumental way to create awareness in places such as those that are stuck with adamant tradition or just do not know much about the products. Introducing Coca cola drinks in social set ups (through religious means) would help integrate the drink among the staunch supporters of some beliefs.
References
Coca-Cola bottler beats fourth-quarter expectations but struggles in Europe.. (2006, February 10). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. 36.
Foster, R. J. (2008). Coca-globalization following soft drinks from New York to New Guinea. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Global Powers Of The Consumer Products Industry 2010.(Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council Europe). (2010, March 23). Mondaq Business Briefing, p. 32.
Harvey, C. P., & Allard, M. J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity: readings, cases, and exercises (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Peterson, R. D., & Wunder, D. F. (1999). Social problems: globalization in the twenty-first century. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Thomas, A. P. (2004, June 23). Coca-Cola May Have to Close India Plant. AP Online, p. 16.
