A Tale of Two Cultures

1. If your international firm were doing business in Asia, would you feel partly responsible for these
social trends? Is there anything that your company could do to ease the tensions these cultures are
experiencing? Be specific.

Despite having no intention of changing Asian practices and beliefs, as an international firm doing
business in Asia, it is still partly responsible for these social trends. The main reason for this is an
International firm cannot fully adopt the local traditions to better suit the culture of these Asian
countries. There might be changes to communicate and work better in a foreign environment, origins of
culture from where these international firms created prevails. We cannot deny the fact that these
International firms are deeply rooted in their traditions and they stick to almost all of these values.
Nonetheless, it is not entirely the fault of the international firm, additionally, it depends on the workers
who will work in the company. It is up to them whether they get influenced and adapt to these
changing social trends.

To ease the tensions, first, it is important to correct any cultural illiteracy. Having a lack of knowledge on
the differences in cultures will only lead to failure in dealing business with other nations. Hence, it is
essential to study and hire local people to maintain their practices and values despite working for an
international company. It would be a win-win situation because International companies can save time
and money to study other cultures to carry on business strategies. It would also be helpful to send
employees to cultural awareness training. It is for them to understand and know what are the do’s and
don'ts in Asia. Since cultures are fundamentally different from one another, awareness about their
beliefs will help to avoid any conflicts in the future.

2. In your opinion, is globalization among the causes of the increasing incidence of divorce, crime, and
drug abuse in Asia? Why or Why not?

As for Asia, a developing nation, the effects of globalization may have negative consequences such as an
increase in divorce, crime, and drug abuse. I agree that globalization is to credit for this occurrence
because it allows for new ways of thinking and behavior. When international companies and people
from other countries arrive, cultural changes arise. Due to the high divorce rate in countries such as the
United States, when people migrate to Asian countries, they bring with them the belief that things like
divorce are permissible. On the incidence of crime, due to globalization there has been an increase in
the interactions of trade regulations, which has increased the trade and investments by people around
the world. These are some of the very reasons that have fueled the crime. Criminal and terrorist groups
have exploited the border controls, law enforcements and freedom for an expansion for their activities
in other regions. When criminal activities spread to other areas, drug abuse is likely to follow. There has
been an increase in migration and a growing market for human smugglers and traffickers as a result of
the mass movement of people. The drug trade has flourished as a result of the liberalization of foreign
markets and the suppression of borders.

3. Broadly defined, Asia comprises more than 60 percent or the world’s populations-a population that
practises Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and numerous other religions. Thus, do you think it
is possible to carry on a valid discussions of “Asian” values? Why or Why not?
(According to research) After the fall of the Soviet Union and The Cold War, the Western politicians and
intellectuals were on the move into making the world become a better and more prosperous place.
America, especially, felt a renewed ambition to push more countries to adopt a more Western approach
towards democracy and human rights. However, some people from Asia, particularly, opposed this idea,
hence introducing the so-called Asian values (e.g., discipline, hard work, frugal, etc.).

Suppose we were to consider today's circumstances due to globalization. In that case, the validity of
discussions concerning these so-called "Asian values" depends on the parties involved, whether or not
their ideologies concede or if they would be open with the diversity of Asian practices and the likes.

However, we do not think that it is possible to carry on valid discussions concerning the topic, "Asian
Values." The reason is that most of the time, the majority of the people are still so bound to their
respective culture, religion, and values. These factors that shaped who they are today have already
influenced their beliefs, ideologies, and practices to the extent that they are willing to defend or protect
these values that influenced them. Arguments in the virtual world even arise because each party
involved uses their own culture to support, like biases, against those who misunderstood their values. A
significantly diverse society occupies the world. Each of these societies or communities carries its values:
having beliefs and practices that are distinct and separate from another set of values from another
community. And if people were to argue and pursue these 'Asian values' discussions, some, if not most
societies, may claim that their culture or their value should be dominant across nations like China.

For example, most Asians do value the significance of relationships among peers or groups. Hence,
Asians believe that an individual's interest, though significant, should not override the collective's
interest, which is their family, friends, community, etc. On the other side, Western people believe that
the individual's interest must be regarded as equally as important, if not, more important, than the
interest of the collective. Furthermore, the religion that these societies follow can affect their culture,
most significantly, their values. Like, Roman Catholics do respect the sacredness of marriage, a one man
and one woman tied with one another in front of the altar. However, in Muslims' case, one man can be
and is allowed to be married to several women whenever he sees fit or depends on their own beliefs.
With this, a Roman Catholic individual cannot push through with questioning and asking for validations
about the Muslim people's values and practices because their different and respective religions
influence them. Discussions in this regard may be biased.

Most people, if not all, even ask for respect when their values are misappropriated or seen as weird
from another person's viewpoint. They believe that cultural differences should not be taken as a joke
from another person's perspective and should instead appreciate the richness and variety of human
societies. Comprehending other values, aside from Asian values, helps you better understand and relate
to them. But, we need not go to the extreme of adapting to their values. Western values should not be
pushed as a universal benchmark for non-western societies to aspire.

4. Consider the following statement: “Economic development and capitalism require a certain style of
doing business in the twenty-first century. The sooner Asian cultures adapt the better. “Do you agree or
disagree? Explain.
In order to be globally competitive, a business must be able to master the art of adaptability and
flexibility in terms of the culture of a certain market they are trying to penetrate. Thus, we agree to the
statement above. It is undeniable that Western culture and even lifestyle has paved its way in being a
sort of societal “standard” in different countries as well. These countries hold a significant influence
internationally and as Asians, we, too, must not be indifferent for us to be competitive. The market is
commonly about trends, and being too culturally closed will not do good in the business. However,
Asians should also know the limits of being culturally adaptive.

To attain success in the 21st Century where cross-culture adaptation is rampant, we should always
remember to only select to adapt what is necessary that contributes to our betterment. There is also a
fair share of goodness in the Asian culture that must be retained such as fostering strong relationships
with other businesses where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group, which is
exhibited in Asian countries such as in Thailand. In contrast, Americans prefer individualism that fuels
them to be too ambitious that results in more business feuds. Indeed, economic development and
capitalism require a certain style of doing business in this era, and the sooner Asian cultures adapt, the
better-- but, only up to a certain extent since excessiveness is no longer good. Remember that we are
still a group of countries with high regard in culture. Therefore, we must only adapt to better practices,
but maintain reasonable beliefs to retain our identity.