Question

“Cultural Influences.” Please respond to the following:

You are meeting with an international client in the Middle East and want to make sure you have addressed any cultural issues that might impact the success of your meeting.

Numerous theorists discuss cultural concepts. Using this information as a basis, discuss the concepts you would want to analyze and evaluate in order to prepare you and other company executives for the upcoming meeting.

Determine which of the concepts you discussed would be the hardest to analyze. Explain your reasoning.

Describe a worst case scenario involving the muddling of culture concepts. Determine the steps you (or your company) can take to ensure something similar never happens to you.

Answer 1

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You are meeting with an international client in the Middle East and want to make sure you have addressed any cultural issues that might impact the success of your meeting.

Numerous theorists discuss cultural concepts. Using this information as a basis, discuss the concepts you would want to analyze and evaluate in order to prepare you and other company executives for the upcoming meeting.

For getting ready for the upcoming meeting with the clients who are from the Middle East, it is important to have some pre-research about the culture, religion, business tactics and language of Middle East in detail. In fact, it is also important to understand the type of non-verbal communication takes place in the Middle East as any wrong gesture or non-verbal communication can lead to a bad impression. One should always avoid discussing political and religion-related issues as it can lead to a conflict. In fact, the main focus should remain on understanding the requirements of the clients and what are the various ways which can be used to fulfil these requirements.

Which of the concepts you discussed would be the hardest to analyze? Why?

. As we know that the religion of Middle East is quite secrete and as there will be a difference in the religion and cultural values of my background and the background of the client from the Middle East, handling this situation will be quite difficult. One has to be very cautious about his talks, actions and dress as it is important that one should not do anything which can offend the client during a business meeting. In order to have a successful meeting research and studying the background of the client will be the best idea.

Describe a worst-case scenario involving the muddling of culture concepts. What steps could you (or your company) take to ensure something similar never happens to you?

            The main steps which can be taken by the companies are to provide proper training to the employees, managers and partners. The company should provide proper and adequate knowledge about the culture, social, religious practices and beliefs of Middle East to all the employees of the organization which are going to be the part of meeting with the client. This kind of training is termed as Cross-Culture Training. Such kind of training is based on the practice-oriented research tradition and it is a concept more than half century old. In case of cross culture training, if these are designed and delivered in a proper manner, the focus does not remain on the transmission of facts about unfamiliar cultures but it mainly focuses on behaviour modification.