332 PowerPoint

After researching these topics, you will develop a PowerPoint that will provide details about protocol and business practices in your assigned countries.

American-based businesses are becoming more global every day. With changes in national and international demographics, we are seeing many American businesses participate in the “global workforce.” It is important that employees have a good understanding and awareness of cultural diversity in the workplace. American businesses are learning the value of training workers to communicate effectively with international customers and clients. Employees must be willing to develop and improve interpersonal and professional skills in the national and international labor markets.

Today’s globalization has led to a wide blending of cultural customs and practices which makes it difficult to have a set “list of rules” for conducting appropriate international business. However, it is vital that we have a basic understanding of acceptable protocol and practices in different international settings to successfully interact with customers, clients, or guests from other countries, either in America or abroad. Maneuvering successfully in cross-cultural events can save you money, prevent embarrassing situations, and give you confidence and poise.

What is included in the PowerPoint?

The instructor will give each student 3 countries for the PowerPoint assignment. Using resources such as books, journals, and websites (at least 8 references) you will research professional protocol and business practices that are conducted in your assigned countries. Remember that you must use your own words in writing the text for the PowerPoint. Do not copy directly from others.

For each country, you will provide information in your slides about professional dress and at least 5 additional topics that are taken from the list below. Thus, you must discuss professional dress plus 5 more topics. This will give you a total of at least 6 topics discussed in the PPt about each country. You do not have to use the same 6 topics for each country, except for professional dress.

Major Interest Topics - for each country, include professional dress and 5 other topics from this list: Professional Dress (required)

Dining (styles & times of eating), toasting, and using alcoholic beverages

Communication in the Workplace - Business Meetings (Length of meetings)

Gestures, Physical Space, Eye Contact

Stance and Personal Space

Names, Titles, and Forms of Address (greetings)

Business Cards

Gifts and Flowers

Once you have researched these topics, prepare a PowerPoint summarizing your search. You need at least 8 references for the entire project, covering protocol practices in all three countries. Your final PowerPoint should serve as a guide for those who are working with professionals from your 3 countries, whether the meetings occur in the U.S. or abroad. Mistakes relating to cultural customs and practices can result in lost jobs, lost sales, and poor working relationships.

It would be best to discuss one country at one time in the PowerPoint. Thus, provide slides about one country (using 6 topics), then develop slides to discuss the second country (using 6 topics), and lastly, prepare slides about the third country (using 6 topics). This should give you at least 18 slides covering professional protocol and business practices for the 3 assigned countries. The PowerPoint should have a minimum of 21 slides. In addition to the 18 slides about the countries, please include three additional slides: a title slide at the beginning, an introduction slide after the title page (listing your 3 countries), and a reference slide at the end. Your references can be listed in the writing style as used in your major area of study. It may take more than one slide to write your references in a formal writing style.

The instructors for FAM 332 have developed two PowerPoint documents to help you prepare your PowerPoint project. These two PowerPoints have helpful hints in developing the slides. Visit the “Course Materials” folder in Week 7 to view the two PowerPoint files:

1. “Guidelines for Developing a PowerPoint”

2. “Example of a PowerPoint”

The two PowerPoints listed above do not have voice, but they provide the students with important information about the design and content which are important when developing PowerPoints. Review the evaluation sheet on the last page of this document to see more details about the project requirements and required points.

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