Cross-cultureUnderstandingonBusinessWeliveinaglobalvillage,buthowwelldoweknowandunderstandthecross-cultureonbusiness?MaybeweassumethatthewidespreadunderstandingofEnglishlanguagemeansacorrespondingunderstandingofEnglishcustoms.However,itmightnotbenecessarilythecase.Ifwewanttohavegoodbusiness,wemusthavethecross-cultureunderstandingonbusiness.Herearesometipsforyoutopayattentionto:1.EyeContactInmanyWesterncountries,includingtheUnitedStates,apersonwhodoesnotmaintain“goodeyecontact”isregardedasbeingslightlysuspicious.Americansunconsciouslyassociatepeoplewhoavoideyecontactasunfriendly,insecure,untrustworthy,inattentiveandimpersonal.However,incontrast,Japaneseadultslowertheireyeswhenspeakingtoasuperior,agestureofrespect.InThailandyoushouldclaspyourhandstogetherandloweryourheadandyoureyeswhenyougreetsomeone.LatinAmericanculture,aswellassomeAfricancultures,suchasNigeria,havelongerlookingtime,butprolongedeyecontactfromanindividualoflowerstatusisconsidereddisrespectful.IntheUS,itisconsideredrudetostare–regardlessofwhoislookingatwhom.Incontrast,thepoliteEnglishmanistaughttopaystrictattentiontoaspeaker,tolistencarefully,andblinkhiseyestoletspeakerknowheorshehasbeenunderstoodaswellasheard,whileinPakistanyoumustn’twinkforit’soffensive.2.TimeofArrivalImagineyouhavemadeanappointmentatthreeo’clock.Whattimeshouldyouexpectyourforeignbusinesscolleaguestoarrive?Ifthey’reGerman,they’llberightontime.Ifthey’reAmerican,they’llprobablybe15minutesearly.Ifthey’llbeBritish,they’llbe15minuteslateandyoushouldallowuptoanhourfortheItalians.3.AtMealandDrinkingTimeTheBritisharehappytohavebusinesslunchanddiscussbusinessmatterswithadrinkduringthemeal;theJapaneseprefernottoworkwhileeating.Lunchisatimetorelaxandgettoknowoneanother,andtheyrarelydrinkatlunchtime.TheGermansliketotalkbusinessbeforedinner.However,incontrast,theFrenchliketoeatfirstandtalkafterwards.Theyhavetobewellfedandwateredbeforetheydiscussanything.Andyoushouldn’tsitdowninacaféuntilyou’veshakenhandswitheveryoneyouknowinFrance.InRussiayoumustmatchyourhostsdrinkfordrink,ortheywillthinkyouareunfriendly;inAmericayoushouldeatyourhamburgerwithbothhandsandasquicklyasyoucan.Youshouldn’ttrytohaveaconversationuntilitiseaten;intheMiddleEastyoumustneverusethelefthandforeating,drinking,smokingorgreeting.Also,youshouldtakecarenottoadmireanythinginyourhost’shome.Theywillfeelthattheyhavetogiveittoyou.Thereareothersuggestionsoncross-cultureunderstandingonbusinessthatmighthelpyouwithyourbusiness.Onlyafewhavebeenmentionedhere.Beforeyougotoacountryonbusiness,youshouldhavetolearnsomethingmoreaboutherculture.WheninRome,doastheRomansdo.Choosethebestanswerforthefollowingquestions.1)WhichofthefollowingisnottrueaboutAmericanaccordingtothetext?
A
Americans maintain good eye contact when speaking
B
Americans never use the left hands for greeting, eating, drinking and smoking.
C
Americans usually eat hamburger with both hands quickly.
D
Americans will probably be 15 minutes early for an appointment or a meeting.
