International Management and National Culture Self-Awareness - Coursework Example

International Management: Reflective Essay Name Course Institution Date International Management: Reflective Essay Introduction In 21st century, globalization has turned around the interaction of people all over the world. It is now very easy for people to move to overseas to acquire advanced education. At the same time, borders are opening up more than ever to allow international trade. On daily basis, bilateral business agreements are being brokered all over the world in order to facilitate business interests of the participating countries. Countries are making every effort to seek for market for their products. In trying to attain all that has been mentioned, the issue of cultural influence is very important. The culture of an individual affects the manner in which that individual perceives life and related issues. This means that an understanding of the various cultural practices when dealing with people from diverse cultural background is very important in ensuring better understanding. Most companies that take part in multinational business have discovered the secret behind successful dealership. In this document, an analysis has been undertaken to expose issues related with cultural influences. Such influences stem from overall life to influences at the place of work. In addition, this document has considered how cross cultural negotiations can be undertaken. National Culture and Self Awareness Having grown up in Shanghai, China, there are many cultural practices that I have observed ever since I was young. Surprisingly, there are many cultural practices that I never knew that were only synonymous to Chinese. Such practices are exposed mainly when I interact with people from different places in the world. The difference that is manifested between their practices and mine helps me to realize that actually there are some practices that are only identical to our people. Such reflections become real especially when in the setting of an organization. In the setting of an organization, there are so many people with distinct values and beliefs. I guess this is at a place where there is a greater need to bear with one another. More important, often I have been challenged to know how to carry myself in such organizations. China has been known for diverse cultural practices. The one that sounds a bit obvious is conservatism. This is a country that does not just allow its citizens to embrace any cultural practice (WEI & LI 2013, p. 63). While trends keep changing with time, the Chinese people are keen not just to embrace any foreign culture. This stems from basic practices like dressing and makeup. While the European dressing trends have been adopted all over the world, China seems to be the least receptive. These dressing trends, especially for ladies tend to be more revealing. This is the current trend that many people all over the world have embraced. Such clothing designs are common in soap operas and that has been used as a strategy to market them. Even with modernization, China has not embraced such trends as many consumers have done all over the world. In addition, the conservatism has not just been limited to dressing, but also in relation to international trade. It is only in the recent decades that China has begun liberalizing its trade policies (Pun 2001, p. 339). Before that, it was very difficult for other countries to sell their products in China. One of the common influences on the Chinese values and culture is the Confucian Philosophy. Seemingly, the Confucian Philosophy is the core of Chinese identity. The philosophy places high regard for the family unit in the society (WEI & LI 2013, p. 65). At the same time, morality is an issue of the society. No individual chooses to selfishly engage in immoral activities. The Chinese believe in hard work as a recipe for success. The 24-hour-economy is indeed an exhibit that Chinese people are hard working. The country has undergone industrialization because of the values that are considered core and the political leadership has embraced it. At the end of it, the emphasis on the importance of the family unit remains paramount. The basic practices are meant to encourage obedience amongst family members, respect for the older people and many other unifying practices are highly regarded. At personal level, I seem to have been highly influenced by various cultural practices. The things that my parents used to remind the entire household have remained in me throughout. I work very hard and diligently in every assignment I undertake. This was even pointed out by my supervisor when I was on volunteer work in a certain organization during my holiday some years back. I tend to think that I am too reserved to try out new ideas and innovations. I struggle to embrace such ideas especially when I realize that it is against my faith in some ways. I respect people regardless of their background and age. These are just some of the indications that I feel have been very clear that indeed I have been influenced by my culture in several aspects. Common Stereotypes against Chinese Culture There are many stereotypes that have been advanced against the Chinese especially by the Westerners. They have notion that the many products that are produced in China are mainly of average or low quality (Mobo 2007, p. 8). The reality may be far away from that. In production of goods, the first consideration ought to be the market. Once producers realize that a large proportion of their goods are going to be sold in developing countries, the appropriate products must be designed to meet that need. This is what happens to many industrialized countries, but China has been unfairly highlighted. Another stereotype relates to hatred between Chinese and Westerners. There is a myth that the Chinese hate Westerners. This indeed is very untrue in all aspects. In fact the kind of treatment that Westerners working in China receive is an indication that they are not hated at all. Another stereotype is that the Chinese are stingy people. The origin of this stereotype is not yet known. Probably, it is based on the Chinese bargaining goals when striking business deals with other countries. Nevertheless, the assumption of zero sum game is not true at all. Ethnocentrism & Parochialism I have analyzed my culture in various ways, but I cannot specifically point out cultural trend denoting ethnocentrism or parochialism. This can be viewed and assessed in diverse ways. In contrary to the Chinese culture being viewed as ethnocentric, I guess the Chinese have viewed some Western cultures as such. For instance, the American culture is seen as ethnocentric by many Chinese. The cultural practice of the Americans is embraced by many people in the world. This is a bit contrasted to the Chinese which is only notable in some Asian countries. What has been seen as excessive conservatism exhibited in our culture is considered old-school and archaic by the Westerners. At the end of it, few indeed consider the Chinese culture as ethnocentric in any way. Norms Challenging the Dominant Culture While there is little to say in relation to internal forces trying to challenge the dominant culture, the Western culture has had a huge influence on the Chinese culture. The pressure for modernization has become very much. In few months ago, the Culture Minister of China decried the threat on China’s culture by modernization trends. The Western culture has invaded the Chinese culture in the recent. The Westerners consider themselves as the modern culture and it has had a huge impact on the Chinese culture. Currently, it is the concern of almost all the leaders in high places (Pun 2001, p. 340). They are concerned about the rate at which the modernization trend is killing the country’s culture with time. In addition, the changing trends have dictated some modifications on the country’s policy framework with the aim of keeping in touch. For instance, the need to establish and maintain economic ties with different countries, the country has been forced to adjust some of its policies. Currently, China is opening up its economic boundaries more than ever. The liberalization of trading policies has given room for foreign cultures that are literally killing the country’s culture (Pun 2001, p. 343). Allowing trading relations with another country has proved to have severe consequences on the domestic culture. This is because the business partners come with their culture and influences as they undertake their businesses. This is manifested through language, food, religious practices and many other practices. Such have been robing China of the culture that its citizens have held onto for over 2000 years. It is very true that my culture has influenced me to a large extent. There is a contribution of culture to the way I live and work. Nevertheless, it may be very difficult to point out the extent to which culture has influenced me. The emphasis on respecting others in the family and in the society has formed the basis for integrity in all that I do. Apparently, I do not struggle respecting people in the organization. It is something that has become part of me and therefore I love respecting others especially in organizational setting. In addition, there was also emphasis on the need to work hard in all that one does. This has been carried forth from our forefathers to the current generation. This has played a key role in the growth of the economy to be able to sustain the over one billion population. I have also learned to work very hard over time. Seemingly, I have been made to understand that there is no other way for success, except hard work. For this very reason, I do not find myself in trouble due to unfinished assignments. Another thing that probably has been influenced by culture in relation to work could be the issue of preferences. Working in teams seems to be quite interesting to me. From what I have come to learn with time, I am motivated much by just appreciation. Cross-Cultural Negotiations Negotiation is a very important skill. It starts from a family setup to business environments. When negotiating, the ultimate goal is to broker the best deal for the side one is representing. This becomes more complicated when dealing with different cultures. The varied culture is complex because of the different backgrounds of the parties involved (Ready & Tessema 2009, p. 495). I have been in attendance of a number of cross cultural negotiations. While I may not have actively taken part, I have had a chance to witness some of the business deals for companies. Such have been mainly business deals being brokered on behalf of a business entity. From what I have witnessed on several occasions, it is clear that not every individual can successfully negotiate on behalf of the company. I have come to realize that some negotiators are specifically trained on how to execute such negotiations (Hofstede, Jonker & Verwaart 2012, p. 81). This is the role of the company to ensure that it gets the best deals from such negotiations. Moreover, the company is keen to safeguard the image and the overall brand name. This is why they ensure that the best employees are selected and equipped to undertake such negotiations. From the many negotiations that I have attended, I will discuss more about one of them. This was also a business deal being negotiated amongst people from different cultural origins. To start with, the venue is arranged at a serene place few days before the negotiation. A quite place is chosen in order to reduce interruptions and interferences from the neighboring environment. In most cases, conference rooms are used for such negotiations. In such meetings, communication skill is very important. There is need to express and convey the message effectively in order to win in a negotiation (Lee, Adair & Seo 2013, p. 400). As a matter of fact, the image of the organization being represented is perceived through communication skills of the person representing it. In the case where the negotiation is with potential investors, this is indeed paramount. Effective communication in such a setting entails proper choice of words to be used. This helps to create such an atmosphere that will make discussion flow effectively. In order to achieve effective communication in business negotiation, the understanding of the culture of the other members on the negotiation table is very critical. One notable point is that every individual is affected to some extent by the national and the grass-root cultural practices (Stewart 2012, p. 309). For instance, in as much as I am a businessman, I am directly influenced by my national culture and grass-root culture. An understanding of this background will ensure that mistakes are minimized as much as possible. The people’s value systems and beliefs matter so much in international business negotiations. Some of the things are often ignored yet they have an effect on the success of the business. Issues like approaches to business may sound obvious, but in real sense they are actually not. People from different nationalities have unique approaches to businesses. How people in the Middle East approach is different from the approach used by the Americans. For instance, an eye contact matters so much to American business people while to Japanese continued eye contact is considered unethical. An understanding of such issues differentiates between a successful negotiator and a failed one. This is just one of the cultural factors that are often ignored by negotiators in international business deals (Hofstede, Jonker & Verwaart 2012, p. 95). Participants ought to understand that each nation has its own unique values and beliefs that often affect the reception of the rest of the world. Having attended a number of cross cultural negotiations, there is quite a lot that I have seen and learned. In one of the negotiations with an international company engaged in offering internet services, there is much to be remembered. In that negotiation, when the business partners that we had been waiting for entered, they did not bother to greet us. Theybegan business talks immediately they entered. I was carried away thinking maybe they were upset by some issues especially on our side. At the end of the negotiation, I realized I was wrong. They were very happy in fact. I realized that those partners were mainly from Western countries and to thema hand shake has no value at all. Another issue I have noted deals with management of time. While I have seen business partners who are time conscious, there are also those whom being late is not a big deal at all. I realized that these people were influenced by their originality in relation to country’s national culture. For those who are sensitive with time, failure to meet the agreed timeframe may imply unwillingness or lack of seriousness. Indeed every culture has its own practices and beliefs. In such meetings, players ought to be very careful because one may offend the other without knowing if care is not undertaken. During the progress of the meeting, it is clear that they do not reduce the costs anyhow. Contract prices are adjusted progressively and almost systematically and not just once. The price is reduced from the time negotiations begin to the time they are officially closed. From what I later gathered, it is considered poor negotiation skills if one reduces the price of the deal just once. In addition, there are investors that are far much complicated than others. For instance, there are those who may demand supporting evidence of all the information that was quoted on the proposal (Lee, Adair & Seo 2013, p. 403). Such information may include statistical data that could have been referred to in the main proposal. Such requirement is not universal as such, but is dependent on the nature of the contract or business deal being brokered. The important thing is to ensure that the client or potential business partner is well understood and specific approaches designed to achieve the targets. From the information that has been given in this particular report, it is clear that indeed cross cultural negotiation is very important. It is the responsibility of the company to ensure that its staff is fully equipped to undertake successful negotiations. To achieve this, special training sessions may be very important. Such players ought to be well equipped to ensure that not only do they win the negotiations, but also the brand of the company does not carelessly become tainted. Training will enable the participant to understand the various cultural issues that are very important when dealing with particular business partners. Furthermore, training enables one to understand a lot of issues about etiquette and general communication. The funny thing is the fact that there are practices that are 100% acceptable among one’s cultural practice and the same act is completely unacceptable among others. This is what such trainings are meant to address to ensure that cross cultural negotiations are successful. For instance, it is true that players from certain regions are considered quite radical in making decisions. Therefore, when dealing with such business partners it is significant to be trained on how to make the best out of the situation. Such training will touch on the common cultural practices associated with people from certain regions of the world. Conclusion In this document, a lot of information has been passed across. Indeed culture has a role in influencing the life of an individual. Businesses ought to understand the cultural influence of individuals even as they hire them or engage term for business purpose. It has been discovered that the very issues that many organizations have been ignoring end up ruining business deals. Companies ought to learn from this and know how to motivate various employees. This is because cultural background has a bearing on the kind of things that different employees are motivated by. This will therefore ensure that businesses are fully in control of everything that regards either the employees or business partners. Such include successful negotiation of business deals. From what has been found out in this study, understanding negotiation skills is very important. It has been discovered that it is not enough to write a good business proposal. Good businesses proposals ought to be well negotiated with the investors in order to get the required funding. This explain why there has been a recommendation to train those taking part in such negotiations in order to avoid stupid mistakes that are likely to cost the company a deal. This has been well illustrated in this document. References Hofstede, G; Jonker, C. & Verwaart, T 2012, Cultural Differentiation of Negotiating Agents, Group Decision & Negotiation, Vol. 21 Issue 1, p79-98. Lee, S; Adair, W. & Seo, S 2013, Cultural Perspective Taking in Cross-Cultural Negotiation Group Decision & Negotiation, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p389-405. Mobo, G 2007, The Dilemma of Chinese Cultural Nationalism,PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, Vol. 4 Issue 1, p1-9. Pun, K 2001, Cultural influences on total quality management adoption in Chinese enterprises: An empirical study,Total Quality Management, Vol. 12 Issue 3, p323-342. Ready, K.J. & Tessema, M.T 2009, Perceptions and Strategies in the Negotiation Process: A Cross Cultural Examination of U.S. and Malaysia, International Negotiation, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p493-517. Stewart, M 2012, A cross-cultural approach to the negotiation of individual and group identities: parliamentary debates and editorial meetings, Language & Intercultural Communication, Vol. 12 Issue 4, p302-320. WEI, X. & LI, Q 2013, The Confucian Value of Harmony and its Influence on Chinese Social Interaction, Cross-Cultural Communication, Vol. 9 Issue 1, p60-66. Willis, M 2006, Chinese Cultural Values and Their Applicability of Successful Sino-Foreign Educational Alliances,Journal of Teaching in International Business, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p5-45. Read More