One of the main obstacles faced by businesses growing internationally is the difference in cultures. For a business to survive in a foreign culture, it should be able to handle to understand and operate within that culture. Disrespect of a foreign culture can lead to the collapse of a business’s operations.
For many international businesses, the main challenge is the barrier to communication (Deari, Viktoria and Paola 1). It is believed that different cultures influence the manner in which people talk and think. Overcoming these barriers to communication can be a step of success for the business. For example, it is believed that people from the United States like to speak loudly and are more assertive when sharing ideas while people from countries like Japan make their conversations softly in a neutral tone (Brown). The American culture considers the satisfaction of work with the amount of payment, but in Japan, satisfaction with one’s work is not related to the amount of payment.
For businesses operating in areas with such cultural differences, carrying out business operations smoothly may be a challenge. For example, some people may be offended by individuals who speak in a loud voice when sharing ideas. That occurs because some individuals may be embarrassed when their inabilities are exposed in public, for example, lack of negotiation skills. The differences in how people relate the work done and payment can also affect a business. For example, in a culture where people compare satisfaction with work with the amount of payment, it is assumed that the quality of work should always be high, but that might not always be the case. In conclusion, for a business to succeed in a foreign culture, it is advisable that it should first understand, respect and appreciate that culture (McDonald, Frank and Fred 155).
Works Cited
Deari, Hasim, Viktoria Kimmel, and Paola Lopez. "Effects Of Cultural Differences In
International Business And Price Negotiations". Masters level. Vaxjo University, 2008. Print.
McDonald, Frank, and Fred Burton. International Business. London [u.a.: Thomson Learning,
2002. Print.
Brown, J. Mariah. "How Can Cultural Differences Affect Business Communication?".
Smallbusiness.chron.com. Web. March 3, 2016.
