Homework

Business etiquette

Business etiquette is not just knowing what to discuss during a business dinner or how to address
colleagues; it is a way of presenting yourself in such a way that you will be taken seriously. This
involves demonstrating that you have the self-control necessary to be good at your job,
expressing a knowledge of business situations and having the ability to make other comfortable
around you. Poor business etiquette can cost you the trust of your workers and your customers,
and the loss of valuable business opportunities.

Importance of business etiquette

Etiquette is a set of unwritten rules that apply to social situations, professional workplaces and
relationships. In the business world, good business etiquette means that you act professionally
and exercise proper manners when engaging with others in your profession. Good business
etiquette is a valuable skill-set that will make you stand out from others, enhance your chances at
success and help you land that dream job.

The basis of business etiquette is about building strong relationships in your field by fostering
better communication. This can only happen when those you work with feel secure and
comfortable. Although basic business etiquette may vary from country to country, some
principles stand the test of time and geography. 10 basics business etiquette:

 Arrive on Time
 Dress Appropriately
 Speak Kindly
 Avoid Gossip or Eavesdropping
 Show Interest
 Watch Your Body Language
 Introduce Yourself and Others
 Don’t Interrupt
 Mind Your Mouth
 Consume Correctly
Taking care to treat everyone as the valuable people they are says a lot about who you are as a
person. This is the kind of care people notice and want to be around.

Culture shock

A feeling of confusion felt by someone visiting a country or place that they do not know.

Culture shock is the feeling of uncertainty, confusion or anxiety that people experience when
visiting, doing business in or living in a society that is different from their own. Culture shock
can arise from a person's unfamiliarity with local customs, language and acceptable behavior,
since norms can vary significantly across cultures.

The feeling of culture shock can dissipate over time. Visitors to a new country, for example, will
at first be unfamiliar with the nuances of local culture, but they will learn how to adapt as
interactions with people continue. Culture shock can be daunting for those who do business
abroad due to the added pressure of maintaining or developing a profitable business relationship.
Many international companies provide cultural training to help reduce cultural gaffes by
employees, which can affect business.

Culture awareness

Cultural Awareness is the foundation of communication and it involves the ability of standing
back from ourselves and becoming aware of our cultural values, beliefs and perceptions. Why do
we do things in that way? How do we see the world? Why do we react in that way? Cultural
awareness becomes central when we have to interact with people from other cultures. People see,
interpret and evaluate things in a different way. What is considered an appropriate behavior in one
culture is frequently inappropriate in another one. Cultural awareness is a skill that can be
developed at both professional and social levels, and can make an overseas assignment, an
international business meeting or cross-cultural negotiation a successful one. On the other hand,
a lack of cultural awareness can lead to major miscommunication, and, ultimately, rejection by
host-culture colleagues, clients, acquaintances and neighbors.
Example: Walmart

This famous shopping center is as American as apple pie and that

just may be its biggest problem abroad. Walmart has made forays
into a number of foreign markets but been unable to replicate its
original success in some, a problem that can be attributed to the
corporation not fine-tuning the shopping experience to the local
culture.

For example, in South Korea, the company did not heed local preferences for buying small
packages at a variety of local stores, the presence of native discount chains, and aesthetic
preferences among shoppers, according to The New York Times. Similar problems contributed
to its closures in Germany, where customers could find groceries for lower prices at local stores.

In Japan, Walmart bought a share in the Seiyu company, and attempted to implement its
successful strategies in Seiyu stores, such as the “Every Day Low Prices” campaign. However,
Businessweek pointed out that this doesn’t have the same draw in Japan as it does in the United
States because customers associate low prices with cheap quality, making them wary about
shopping there.