1、Chapter 9Business and Social Customs*Topics Verbal expressions Male and female relationships Humor in business Superstitions and taboos Dress and appearance Customs associated with holidays and holy days Office customs and practices Customary demeanor/behavior Bribery Special foods and consumption t
2、aboosCopyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Customs Customs are behaviors generally expected in specific situations;they are established,socially acceptable ways of behaving in given circumstances.Examples of U.S.customs include eating turkey on Thanksgiving,starting presentations with a joke,and gre
3、eting people with“Hi!”Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal ExpressionsLearn phrases in the countrys language:Hello Goodbye Please Im sorry I am having a great time Thank you so much No,thank you This is such a delightful countryCopyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Commonly Used ExpressionsE
4、nglish French German SpanishGood day Bonjour Guten Tag Buenos dias (bawn-JHOOR)(GOO-tun TAHK)(BWAY-nos DEE ahs)Goodbye Au revoir Auf Wiedersehen Adios (o reh-VWAHR)(owf VEE-der-zeyn)(ah-DYOS)Please Sil vous plait Bitte Por favor (seel-voo-PLEH)(BIT-the)(POR fah-vor)Thank you Merci Danke Gracias (meh
5、r-SEE)(DUNK-uh)(GRAH-see-ahs)Good Bonsoir Guten Abend Buenas nochesEvening (bawn-SWAHR)(GOO-tun AH-bent)(BWAY-nahs No-chase)Excuse me Excusez-moi Verzeihung Perdoneme (ex-kyou-zay (far-TSY-oong)(per-DOH-nay-mey)MWAH)Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal Expressions In the U.S.people often res
6、pond to someone with a one-word reply:“sure,”“okay,”and“nope.”Such brevity seems blunt by foreign standards;it is simply an indication of the informality typical of U.S.persons.People in the Southern U.S.will often say“Yall come to see us”when bidding someone goodbye.The expected reply is“Thanks!Yal
7、l come to see us,too.”This verbal exchange is only a friendly ritual.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal Expressions“Dont mention it”and“Think nothing“Dont mention it”and“Think nothing of it,”in response to a courtesy or of it,”in response to a courtesy or favor,are viewed by persons of oth
8、er favor,are viewed by persons of other cultures as rude.When being thanked cultures as rude.When being thanked for a courtesy,a response of“You are for a courtesy,a response of“You are welcome”is preferable.welcome”is preferable.“Whats up?”and“Hows it going?”“Whats up?”and“Hows it going?”make no se
9、nse to persons for whom make no sense to persons for whom English is a second language.English is a second language.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal ExpressionsA newcomer to the U.S.did not A newcomer to the U.S.did not accept a job on the“graveyard accept a job on the“graveyard shift”si
10、nce he thought he would shift”since he thought he would be working in a cemetery.be working in a cemetery.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal Expressions Chitchat(small talk or light conversation)is important in getting to know someone.Chitchat often includes comments about the weather,the
11、physical surroundings,the days news or almost anything of a nonsubstantive nature.People of the U.S.excel at small talk;so do Canadians,Australians,the British,and the French.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Verbal Expressions Small talk seems to pose problems for people of some cultures.German
12、s,for example,simply do not believe in it.Swedes,usually fluent in English,have little to say in addition to talking about their jobs.The Japanese are frightened by the idea of small talk as are people of Finland,who actually buy books on the art of small talk.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*V
13、erbal Expressions When engaging in chitchat with someone of another culture,the best advice is probably to follow the other persons lead.If they talk about their family,then you would talk about yours.If they initiate political discussions,you would join in the discourse.Copyright 2014 Pearson Educa
14、tion,Inc.*Male and Female Relationships In high-context societies,such as the Arab culture,people have definite ideas on what constitutes proper behavior between males and females.In low-context cultures,such as the U.S.,little agreement exists.Thus,both people of the U.S.and visitors from other cul
15、tures have difficulty knowing how to proceed in male-female relationships in the U.S.since a wide range of behaviors may be observed.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Male and Female Relationships Acceptable male/female relationships in any culture involve stereotypes.A stereotype of U.S.women i
16、s that they are domineering and“loose”(have no inhibitions regarding sexual relationships with a variety of men).Correspondingly,American men are viewed as weak who permit women to dominate them.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Male and Female Relationships Stereotypes of women in other culture
17、s include that Asian women are nonassertive and submissive.A stereotype of Latin American males is that they are predatory and constantly pursue women for sexual relationships.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Male and Female Relationships Some U.S.men feel threatened by the more assertive roles
18、 many women are assuming.However,most people accept the fact that men and women can work side by side in the workplace and that they can have a friendship which does not have a sexual component.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Male and Female Relationships In Mexico,treatment of men and women i
19、n the workplace differs substantially from that of the U.S.Male supervisors customarily kiss their female secretaries on the cheek each morning or embrace them.Despite this custom,seen as undue familiarity by U.S.managers,problems with sexual harassment and gender discrimination are uncommon accordi
20、ng to Mexican managers.(However,U.S.managers interviewed reported the opposite.)Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Humor in Business Using humorous anecdotes is a way of breaking the ice and establishing a relaxed atmosphere prior to getting down to business in international meetings.In the U.S.,
21、presentations are often started with a joke or cartoon related to the topic.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Humor in Business Most European countries also use humor during business meetings.Asian humor finds little merit in jokes about sex,religion,or minorities;they take what is said quite li
22、terally and do not understand American humor.Germans,too,find humor out of place during business meetings.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Humor in Business Perhaps jokes should be avoided around persons of diverse cultures;American humor is hard to export and appreciate.Even though the intenti
23、on of humor was to put international colleagues at ease and create a more relaxed environment,the risk of offending someone of another culture,or of telling a story that no one understands,is great.In short,we do not all laugh at the same thing.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*A New York busine
24、ssman,who frequently traveled to Japan on A New York businessman,who frequently traveled to Japan on business,often used a translator for his speeches.After one such business,often used a translator for his speeches.After one such speech,he learned that the Japanese interpreters version of his speec
25、h,he learned that the Japanese interpreters version of his opening remarks went like this:opening remarks went like this:“American businessman is beginning speech with thing called joke.I“American businessman is beginning speech with thing called joke.I am not sure why,but all American businessmen b
26、elieve it necessary to am not sure why,but all American businessmen believe it necessary to start speech with joke.(Pause)He is telling joke now but frankly you start speech with joke.(Pause)He is telling joke now but frankly you would not understand joke so I will not translate it.He thinks I am wo
27、uld not understand joke so I will not translate it.He thinks I am telling you joke now.Polite thing to do when he finishes is to laugh.telling you joke now.Polite thing to do when he finishes is to laugh.(Pause)He is getting close.(Pause)Now!”(Pause)He is getting close.(Pause)Now!”The audience not o
28、nly laughed appreciatively but stood and applauded The audience not only laughed appreciatively but stood and applauded as well.Later he commented to the translator:“Ive been giving as well.Later he commented to the translator:“Ive been giving speeches in this country for several years,and you are t
29、he first speeches in this country for several years,and you are the first translator who knows how to tell a good joke”(translator who knows how to tell a good joke”(Axtell,1990).Axtell,1990).Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Superstitions and Taboos Superstitions are beliefs that are inconsiste
30、nt with the known laws of science or what a society considers true and rational.Examples of superstitions include a belief that special charms,omens,or rituals have supernatural powers.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Superstitions Superstitions,which are treated rather casually in Europe and N
31、orth America,are taken quite seriously in other cultures.In parts of Asia,fortune telling and palmistry are considered influential in the lives and business dealings of the people.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Superstitions In many cultures,bad luck and even death are associated with certain
32、 numbers.People of the U.S.think that 13 is an unlucky number.Most American hotels do not have a thirteenth floor,and even a hotel number ending in 13 may be refused.Friday the thirteenth is perceived as an unlucky day.Many U.S.persons will not schedule important events,such as weddings or major sur
33、gery,on this day.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Superstitions Conversely,according to Chinese beliefs,some numbers have positive meanings.For example,the number six represents happiness and nine represents long life.The numbers of people in a photograph will also have significance.Many Chines
34、e people believe that having three people in a photograph will result in dire con-sequences,that the middle person will die.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Superstitions Superstitions held by persons in some cultures include:What happens on New Years Day foretells what will happen for the enti
35、re year.Attaching old shoes to the car of newlyweds assures fertility.Walking under a ladder will bring bad luck as will breaking a mirror.Giving too much attention to a newborn would place the child in jeopardy;the evil spirits will harm the baby if it receives too much attention.Putting your purse
36、 on the floor will result in your money running away.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Taboos Taboos are practices or verbal expressions considered by a society or culture as improper or unacceptable.Taboos are rooted in the beliefs of the people of a specific region or culture and are passed do
37、wn from generation to generation.A U.S.English teacher made comments and constructive criticisms in red ink on her students papers.While U.S.students were accustomed to this practice,her Korean students were not.These red-inked notes sent shock waves through the families of Korean students,who assoc
38、iated red ink with death.When the families told the principal of this taboo,he asked all teachers to refrain from using red ink on any students paper.They changed to other colors(Dresser,2005).Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*The general rule everywhere is
39、that for business you should be“Buttoned up”:conservative suit and tie for men,dress or skirted suit for women.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*U.S.Business Dress Quiz:True or False?A double-breasted jacket is worn buttoned when standing or walking.The design of a mans tie and coat pocket handk
40、erchief should not be identical but should share some colors.Wearing numerous rings is distracting and unbusinesslike.Men should always wear an undershirt.Pantsuits are equally effective as skirted suits in dealing with men or women.Men should wear V-neck undershirts with an open-collar shirt so tha
41、t the undershirt does not show.The color of hosiery should match the shoe.Braces(suspenders)may be clipped onto trousers.Braces may be accompanied by a belt,particularly if the trousers are loose at the waist.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Cuffed and uncuffed trousers are appropriate for men,
42、but shorter,heavier men should avoid cuffs.Mens business casual shirts should have a collar.Sleeveless dresses/blouses are appropriate office attire in the Sun Belt.Short-sleeve dress shirts for men are acceptable in the Sun Belt.Shoes should be the same color as the hem of a garment or darker.Women
43、 should not carry a purse and an attach case.Mens shirt sleeves should be long enough so that about a half inch extends below the jacket sleeve.When overseas,“do as the Romans do”;wear what executives in the host country wear,not the“uniform”of your U.S.office.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*C
44、ultural Differences in Dress and Appearance In Canada,people dress more conservatively and formally than people in the U.S.In Europe,business dress is very formal;coats and ties are required,and jackets stay on at all times.In Japan,dress is also formal.Women dress very conservatively and wear muted
45、 colors to the office.Casual attire is usually inappropriate.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*In the Philippines,men wear the barong,a loose,white or cream-colored shirt with tails out,no jacket or tie.In Saudi Arabia,the traditional Arabic white,flowing robe and headcloth may be worn.However,U
46、.S.persons should not attempt to dress in a like manner.Color of clothing is an important consideration.Do not wear black,purple,or solid white in Thailand.Avoid wearing all white in the Peoples Republic of China as white is the symbol of mourning.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Shoes are cons
47、idered inappropriate in certain situations in various cultures.They should not be worn within Muslim mosques and Buddhist temples.Shoes should be removed when in a Japanese home.In the Arab culture,the soles of your feet should not be shown.Women should be especially careful to conform to local cust
48、oms.In Arab countries,women should avoid wearing pants and should wear clothes that give good coverage.In Europe,women do not wear pants to the office or to nice restaurants.As a general rule for business,dress conservatively.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Business Casual Dress Business dress
49、 in U.S.firms has become increasingly casual in the past decade.Over half of European firms have a casual dress policy.Sweden has the greatest percentage of companies with casual dress policies while England has the smallest percent.Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*At a Washington firm,a group
50、of Japanese businessmen who came for a meeting on a Friday found a room full of casually dressed people.They made a hasty retreat,believing they had the wrong office(Alvarez-Correa,1996).Copyright 2014 Pearson Education,Inc.*Holidays and Holy Days That May Affect BusinessU.S.U.S.Christmas DayChristm
