Indian business culture

India is a culturally rich and diverse country where one can see varied array of language, religion, caste and regionalism. While doing business in India, every organization has to consider all these factors before formulating their business plans and take necessary actions accordingly. The India Business Culture is an extension of the common culture of the society. It is unique in its own way. However, in Indian business culture, the behavior, etiquette and approach of organizations and its professionals change according to the addressee and the context of address.

Language : India is a multilingual country with each of its states having different official languages.
However, Hindi is the only officially recognized language in the country. While talking on India business culture, English is the most preferred language, which is followed religiously in every industry.

Meetings, Greetings and Courtesies : In India, people greet each other by saying 'Namaste', while
conjoining the palms together below the chin (position of fingers would point up) and nodding the head. One can also do this while saying good-bye. Use of the namaste will show that you have understandings of Indian culture. While greeting superiors or showing respect to someone, a slight bow is added.

In Indian business culture, people also greet each other by a handshake. In a one-to-one meeting with a male counterpart, a woman usually initiates a handshake. If the woman doesn t, the man will smile and nod slightly.

While greeting an individual, people use appropriate formal title. One can also add ji after the title to show respect for the person he/she is greeting.

While meeting a person or client for business purpose, always exchange business cards at the first meeting. You must exchange the cards with your right hand only. Cards must be put away with due respect.

Relationship Building
In India business culture, business development largely depends upon relationship building. Indians tend to give favorable deal to those whom they know and trust. Hence, a good way to earn business is to earn the trust of the customers first. You can earn the trust of people by demonstrating strong business insight, showing honesty and respect.

Meetings
Any business meeting has to be arranged well in advance. These have to be fixed in writing and confirmed by phone. It is better to avoid fixing meetings on or near national holidays like Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Birthday or either of the two Eids. People often club their leaves to enjoy extended holidays during this time.

Time
Indians value punctuality in others, but they often lag behind the schedule themselves. A 10-minute late is acceptable in most of the cases. It can also be seen that family responsibilities getting preferences over business, which leads to last minute cancellation of meetings, though not quite often.

Inside the Meeting Room

After entering into the meeting room, one must approach and greet the senior-most figure first. Every meeting usually has some 'getting to know you' process, where the meeting starts with some initial conversation. The favorite topics are business news, how stock market is doing, or the game of cricket. It is good to avoid discussing personal matters. If you are new to India, it is always better to refrain from commenting on volatile issues like poverty or beggars.

Process
If your business meeting involves negotiation, be prepared for a slow process. In India business culture, decision is taken at the highest level and may take more time than one would have expected. You can t get a favorable decision unless you can establish the trust of the client. Until the trust is not established, you should concentrate on building a rapport with the client. As the decision is taken at the highest level, absence of the any higher-position holder like Director or owner indicates that it is only the early stage of negotiation.

Decision
Statistics, empirical data or commendable PowerPoint presentation cannot solely influence the business decision. Indians tend to reckon the intuitions, feelings and faiths before they reach at any decision. You must show your patience and good character before any final verdict comes out. You cannot afford to show frustration or anger.

Negotiation
One should refrain from putting high pressure tactics while negotiation with the clients. Do not confront or be forceful. If you are to disagree or criticize, you need to do it in the most diplomatic language. Indians do not say "no" directly, as it is often considered rude. If during the negotiation process, you come to the terms like "We'll see", "possibly" or "We'll try", there is every possibility that they are indicating a 'no'.

Business Attire
Business culture in India demands formal attire. Men usually wear formal shirts and pants. Suits or Blazers are also quite worn, often during the winter. Women wear saris or suits. On the last working day of the week, people often wear casuals. However, that has to be a decent one.

Japanese Business Culture

Much has been written about Japanese business culture; most of it irrelevant, much of it just plain wrong, and wrapped up in pop-sociology. In this section, we will cut through all that fog and describe clearly how the modern Japanese corporation differs from the western company, with a particular emphasis on how that impacts doing business in Japan. We won't get lost in sociology. Instead, we will focus on real issues for the foreign business person in Japan.

Japan is a group-oriented society. This came from an agrarian, rice-farming culture. Villages had to work together to build irrigation, share water, harvest crops. Marriages and funerals were affairs for the whole village. Decisions were taken by the village as a whole, which in turn requiring building consensus. Working together, maintaining harmony, building trust, making the group succeed rather than the individual succeed are all characteristics of Japanese society.

In addition, feudal Japanese society had a rigid hierarchy, with the Imperial Family at the top, followed by the Shogun, lords, then samurai, farmers, and various other occupations, with merchants at the bottom. Confucianism reinforced a hierarchy with its respect for elders. So overlaid on the group ethos, there is also an acute consciousness of hierarchy and position in society.

All these characteristics trust, reliability, group action, consensus building, and hierarchy can be seen in the way that business is done in Japan. A company has traditionally functioned like a village, providing housing, income, and a job for life for the employee. In return, the employee subsumes some of his personal ambitions for the sake of the company. As Japanese society has changed in recent decades, the strength of ties to the company has weakened, but these ties remain strong much stronger than in other countries.

American Business Culture

American Business Culture has its origins with the 16th and 17th century pioneers. These were immigrants from different lands who came to America to find a new life in an unfamiliar environment. As a result, the origins of American culture and American business culture generated characteristics of self-reliance, independence, freedom, competition, and individuality.

Direct Communications
A straight forward, direct form of communication is highly valued in American Business. Americans take pride in saying what they mean, and meaning want they say. No means no in the boardroom. Having this belief system, American business people expect the same of their foreign counterparts.

Time is Money
How often have we heard this clich of "Time is Money"? This concept has been interwoven into American Business Culture. Time is a commodity. American businesses try to improve efficiencies in their operations by saving time on completing tasks. American business people want to be punctual in getting projects completed on time or ahead of schedule. Unlike other business cultures which put less value on time, Americans want to start and finish their meetings on time.

American Optimism
Although the level of optimism various according to the state of the economy, Americans typically are very optimistic about their businesses and future. It is no wonder. The American economy is driven by small businesses created by those with the American dream. If you work hard and follow the rules, you will succeed. You control your own destiny. Many of these small business entrepreneurs have started several businesses and watched them fail. Their tenaciousness and not accepting failure kept them going. This is the core of the American Optimism in American Business Culture.

Cultural Stereotypes of Americans

Foreigners have stereotypes of Americans and American culture. Such stereotyping transcends into the American business world. Here are some of the major stereotyping of Americans:

Americans Only Care About Money

As the most prosperous nation in the world, and the ultimate example of capitalism, it is no wonder that Americans are perceived as money hungry go getters. However, America is also one of most generous countries in the world. Yes, it is true that they earn a lot of money but they also donate a lot of it to charities too. Although Americans and American culture are despised of in certain parts of the world, it is the Americans that the world expects to be the first to lead and volunteer in almost any crisis around the world.

Americans are Just Loud and Aggressive

Compared to Europeans and the Latin American community, Americans may seem reserved. Relative to Canadians, Asians or British, Americans do seem loud and pushy especially in a business environment. However, this aggressive and pushy characteristic is often considered a positive for American businesses. It is a sign that the American worker can get things done for the organization.

Americans Have a Nave View of How the World Works

America is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and political stability. These characteristics provided many Americans the opportunity to capture the American Dream. You can accomplish whatever your heart desires. You can be whatever and whoever you want to be. This philosophy is perceived as Nave and childlike by countries around the world when they are constantly being invaded or trying to survive the latest natural disaster.

Americans tend to be Self Absorbed

Life outside the U.S. doesn't get much attention within the U.S. unless Americans are involved or American interests are at stake. Then the issue gets focused by the U.S. media and it becomes a spectacular event. To the average American, the outside world's constant bickering and strange cultures do seem foreign and far away.

Americans Love Guns

When thinking about Americans, many have images of the Wild West where gun slinging cowboys ride horses into the sunset. Unlike many countries in the world, the right to bear arms is in the U.S.'s constitution. It makes it difficult to have any kind of gun control or gun reform. The fundamental right has been a debate for every generation since the birth of the constitution. So it is no wonder that foreigner think that Americans all own guns

Americans Stick their Noses in Other People's Business

It appears that Americans are always involved with other countries' affairs especially wars. Some aspects of this point of view are true as Americans see themselves as the defender of freedom within its borders and outside of its borders. Consequently, Americans are drawn into other countries' civil wars when freedom is at stake. Often times Americans see themselves at the 3rd party trying to resolve conflict. "When you see two people killing themselves on the street, you just need to get involved".

Americans are Phony When it comes to Friendships

Americans appear friendly but it is difficult to establish real friendships. This phenomenon can be traced to the country's migration from East to West. Unlike other nationalities, Americans are very mobile. It is not uncommon for them to move from one city to another for their careers every three to five years. This willingness to relocate does make it difficult for the Americans to establish long term relationships.

Americans Appear to Take Pride in their Lack of Sophistication

Americans just don't stack up when you compare them to the sophistication of the French or Italians in the area of arts. Appreciation for fine arts just isn't a national pastime in America as in other nations. Although the United States has the highest standard of living in the world, illiteracy is still quite high relative to the rest of the world.

If you are an American dealing with foreigners in the international trade of importing from China, you need to be ware of these American stereotypes. If you are a foreigner doing business with the U.S., try to understand what aspects of the stereotype are true and which ones are not true. It will make your business dealings much easier.