Identify the Significant Cultural Issues Involved When Evaluating the Attractiveness of a Particular Location as a Place for Doing Business
International Business
January 23, 2013
Question of the Day
Identify the significant cultural issues involved when evaluating the attractiveness of a particular location as a place for doing business
Making business abroad can be risky, but it can also be profitable for a company as well; thus the necessity to study in deep the country where the company will bring the business to. International companies are faced with many cultural challenges, when doing business across and inside of different borders. Identifying the significant cultural issues involved when evaluating the attractiveness of a particular location as a place for doing business can be crucial for a business. Aspects to consider when studying culture in a new place are: aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs, social structure, religion, personal communication, and education. “An assessment of any nation’s overall business climate is typically the first step in analyzing its potential as a host for international commercial activity” (Wild). Aesthetics is known as the “good taste” in arts, imaginary evoked by certain expressions, and the symbolism of certain colors (Wild). As the book suggests this aspect is important for a company when doing business in another country; the knowledge of aesthetic will give to the organization the advantage of color use in advertising, product packaging and uniforms colors as well. Colors have different meaning in every country and using a negative color in an ad might be failure in a product’s advertising campaign. Imaginary logos also is something to careful about; a logo that might be well accepted in home market, it might be an insult to other countries views. Values are “ideas, beliefs, and customs to which people are emotionally attached. Values include concepts such as honesty, marital faithfulness, freedom, and responsibility” (Wild). Values are something personal that varies per individuals; but the community provides the foundation
January 23, 2013
Question of the Day
Identify the significant cultural issues involved when evaluating the attractiveness of a particular location as a place for doing business
Making business abroad can be risky, but it can also be profitable for a company as well; thus the necessity to study in deep the country where the company will bring the business to. International companies are faced with many cultural challenges, when doing business across and inside of different borders. Identifying the significant cultural issues involved when evaluating the attractiveness of a particular location as a place for doing business can be crucial for a business. Aspects to consider when studying culture in a new place are: aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs, social structure, religion, personal communication, and education. “An assessment of any nation’s overall business climate is typically the first step in analyzing its potential as a host for international commercial activity” (Wild). Aesthetics is known as the “good taste” in arts, imaginary evoked by certain expressions, and the symbolism of certain colors (Wild). As the book suggests this aspect is important for a company when doing business in another country; the knowledge of aesthetic will give to the organization the advantage of color use in advertising, product packaging and uniforms colors as well. Colors have different meaning in every country and using a negative color in an ad might be failure in a product’s advertising campaign. Imaginary logos also is something to careful about; a logo that might be well accepted in home market, it might be an insult to other countries views. Values are “ideas, beliefs, and customs to which people are emotionally attached. Values include concepts such as honesty, marital faithfulness, freedom, and responsibility” (Wild). Values are something personal that varies per individuals; but the community provides the foundation
References: Wild, J. J., and K. L. Wild. International business, the challenges of globalization. 6th. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print. [pic]