Business Tips

Business relationships and negotiation—Spain

Business relationships & negotiation—Spain Spain scored fairly low in the Masculinity dimension according to Hofstede. This means that the gap between gender roles is small. It also means that family and relationships are important to a Spaniard. Business takes time, because it requires a real relationship. Negotiations are thus long and tedious. Do not be alarmed if during meetings more than two people are speaking at once, as this is a normal part of the process. Doors are usually kept …
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Building successful business relationships—Italy

Building successful business relationships—Italy Italy is an extremely diverse country that is divided into twenty distinct regions, each with its own customs, dialects, and traditions. It is important to understand this fact in order to be successful in Italy. On the Hofstede scale, Italy scored high in Individualism; however, this does not imply that the wellbeing of the individual is placed above that of the group. It is instead a type of individualism that is centered on families. A highly …
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Building business relationships and gift giving—Japan

Building business relationships and gift giving—Japan In Japan, it is common for colleagues to exchange presents. This is a tradition of reciprocation. According to Geert Hofstede, the Japanese are very high in Power Distance and place a great deal of important on rank. Gift giving is a sign of appreciation and can be used to display your acknowledgement of an individual’s hospitality or rank. Gifts can be presented at meetings, dinners, lunches, and even negotiations. As this is an important …
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Building successful business relationships—China

Building successful business relationships—China China had one of the most interesting scores on the Hofstede scale. It was found to be low in Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance but high in Collectivism and Masculinity. This means the culture is very open to innovation and new ideas, and is tolerant of ambiguity and change. The low Power Distance signals that there are few or no gaps in social class while placing a great emphasis on goal-oriented, Masculine values such as assertiveness, …
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Building business relationships, meeting & greeting—the Middle East

Building business relationships, meeting & greeting—the Middle East Large Power Distance is a dominant characteristic of the region according to Geert Hofstede. This means that there is a large amount of inequality in the distribution of wealth and power. Rank is extremely important, and there is not much mobility in socioeconomic status. The most important decision maker is usually in one of the highest positions, but he makes the decisions only in consensus with the group. When negotiating, you should …
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Business relationships and gift giving—India

Business relationships and gift giving—India In India, interpersonal relationships are basic building blocks of a successful business. To create a long-lasting connection, you should try to partake in dinners, festivals, and other social functions. There are countless festivals and celebrations that provide an opportunity to give and receive a small token of appreciation. These include the festivals of Holi (the celebration of colors), Diwali (the festival of lights), Rakhi (the summer holiday, when brothers give gifts to sisters), Ganesh Chaturthi, …
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Building successful business relationships—Russia 

Building successful business relationships—Russia Traditionally, Russia has been a country in which status and rank are of great importance. This has not changed and was only strengthened during the Soviet period. Today, the country is transitioning to a free-market economy and democracy; however, there is some prejudice about common Western business tactics. Russians tend to be suspicious of public praise, open displays of achievement, and compromise. Although business is no longer controlled by the state, there is a deep hierarchy …
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Business relationships and dining—Latin America

Business relationships & dining—Latin America Latin Americans scored high in Uncertainty Avoidance on the Hofstede scale. Cultures high in this dimension shy away from ambiguity and ambivalence. This means that there are more social rules and regulations in place to reduce the amount of anxiety associated with risky or unknown situations. Nevertheless, Latin Americans are rather relaxed in their communication style and do not have rigid behavioral rules for networking. They are very extroverted and prefer warm, personal relationships with …
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