Organizations around the world are reaching out beyond their domestic markets to become international players. This development is a challenge for all of us who will be working in different countries all over the globe. Altough the word has become a global village, cultural differences prevail and their influence on business has to be taken into account. We have to be able to understand different customs, values and attitudes and try to overcome cross-cultural barriers.

Understanding and heeding cultural variables is one of the most significant aspects of being successful in any international business endeavor. A lack of familiarity with the business practices, social customs, and etiquette of a country can weaken a company's position in the market, prevent it from accomplishing its objectives, and ultimately lead to failure.

Although each culture is unique and very complex, it is possible to distinguish three main cultural types:

u Seek individuality and independence

u Dependence on others is seen as weakness

u Conformity is expected to a certain degree

u E.g. U.S.A., Canada, Australia, most parts of Wes

A slogan for Frank Perdue chicken, "it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken," was translated into Spanish as the equivalent of "it takes a sexually stimulated man to make a chicken affectionate."

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.

Business can only be successful if we learn to adapt to these cultural differences. This process involves identifying certain cultural patterns and trying to respect them:

In a Japanese hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

When Coca-Cola first came to China, it was given a similar sounding name... but the characters used for the name meant "Bite the Wax tadpole."

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Approximate Word count = 1298
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)