Synopses & Reviews
The successful managers of the twenty-first century will be the culturally sensitive ones. You gain a competitive advantage from having strategies to deal with the cultural differences you will encounter.
-- Germans believe that the truth, even if unpalatable, will achieve a successful outcome. The English give priority to not rocking the boat. But to the Chinese, there is no absolute truth.
-- The Americans call the Japanese unethical if they break the contract. The Japanese say it is unethical for the Americans to apply the terms of the contract if things have changed.
-- In countries such as the US, Peru and Kuwait, conversation is a two-way process, where one partner takes up where the other leaves off. In Finland and Japan, silence is an integral part of social interaction, and lulls in conversation are regarded as restful, friendly and appropriate.
By focusing on the cultural roots of national behavior, both in society and business, we can foresee and calculate with a surprising degree of accuracy how others will react and respond to us.
There are penetrating insights into how different business cultures accord status, structure their organizations and view the role of leader, alongside invaluable advice on global negotiation, sales and marketing. The book ranges from differences in etiquette and body language to new thinking in the areas of international management and team-building in Europe and the USA, as well as coveting challenging new geographical ground in Russia, China and the Far East.
He adds the often overlooked dimension of language -- for example, how Japanese often react in a certain way because they are thinking in Japanese. A greater understandingof what makes other people tick will enable managers to ensure that their policies and activities exploit cultural synergies and make the right appeal to their chosen market.
"This well-written guide book is highly recommended not only for executives, consultants, and government officials but also for business and international studies students and academicians". -- Choice
"Nobody knows better than Richard Lewis, chairman of a company with offices in more than 30 countries, that people have different cultural characteristics that affect the way they do business... An authoritative roadmap to navigating the world economy". -- Wall Street Journal
"Teaching students to manage and transact in cross-cultural settings is becoming increasingly central to undergraduate and graduate programs in business... It is simply the finest book on the market to date". -- Dr. John I. Keifer, Director, Centre for the International Business Education & Development, Ohio University
Synopsis
Richard Lewis provides a truly global and practical guide to working and communicating across cultures, with penetrating insights into how different business cultures accord status, structure their organizations, and view their role of leaders.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [317]-319) and index.