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The United Kingdom (UK) is the largest country in the British Isles. The UK has a long and rich history which is combined with a modern, liberal and forward thinking mentality. Waves of immigration have made the UK culturally diverse and wealthy and it is now one the world’s leading financial and services centres, with an economy which continues to go from strength to strength. Doing business in the United Kingdom offers access to the following key benefits.

Access to a Modern, Liberalised Economy
The UK’s economy is among the most vibrant and exciting in the world. With free and liberalised policies and protocols protecting its growth, the United Kingdom remains an attractive place for doing business.

A Leader in the Financial Sector
The UK’s largest exports today are financial services as a result of the credibility the UK has gained in this sector. The financial services sector leads the world in its innovation and forward thinking. The City, located in the heart of London, is home to some of the world’s most important banking and insurance institutions, and is considered by some to be the epicentre of the global financial industry.

A Large, Culturally Mixed Population
The UK has a large and expanding population. This means there is a constantly growing marketplace with a demand for goods and services. The population of the UK is made up of a wide variety of communities from across the globe, each with their own traditions, customs and requirements, creating a need for diverse markets. Anyone doing business in the UK will be able to benefit from this multiculturalism, either through hiring diverse employees and harnessing their unique perspectives and experience or through offering products to communities with ever changing and increasing needs. Effectively working with this culturally mixed population requires a comprehensive understanding of British culture which Intercultural Training UK programmes can provide you with.

An Entry Point for the Rest of Europe and for the Commonwealth
The United Kingdom is a major gateway to the rest of Europe. As a key trading partner within the European Union (EU), and with links to the member-states of the Commonwealth, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are perfect locations from which to launch business operations on a global scale.

Any organisation doing business in the United Kingdom would be wise to gain an understanding of the country’s rich cultural identity and the customs and habits of its people which impact on the UK’s business culture. A Cultural Awareness Training UK course such as Communicaid’s Doing Business in the United Kingdom or Living and Working in the UK programme will provide your business with the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful when working with counterparts in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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A kingdom built upon and unified by Islam, Saudi Arabia, with its vast plains and endless deserts has fascinated travellers for centuries. Occupying nearly 80% of the Arabian Peninsula and the largest exporter of petroleum in the world, Saudi Arabia hosts a series of buzzing and successful cities. A monarchy with a rich Arab and Muslim heritage, Saudi Arabia is also characterised for its high degree of cultural homogeneity.

Cross-cultural training courses such as Living and Working in Saudi Arabia increase an organisation’s awareness and understanding of some of the potential cultural differences which may act as stumbling blocks for companies working in Saudi Arabia. Intercultural Training Middle East programmes ensure that all concerned create strategies for drawing benefits from these differences.

The following are five of the key cultural concepts international organisations face when setting up or doing business in Saudi Arabia.

Communication Style – Differences in communication styles can often be a cultural challenge and as a result, international organisations doing business in Saudi Arabia without adequate briefing may often find themselves feeling confused and frustrated. The communication style in Saudi Arabia tends to be quite indirect and high context. In other words, this means that communication styles in Saudi Arabia tend to rely more heavily on body language and other non-verbal cues such as tone of voice and the use of silence. When doing business in Saudi Arabia, it is wise to remember that information is rarely explicitly stated, silence is often used for contemplation and a direct “no” is almost never used.

Islam – Islam touches many aspects of society within Saudi Arabia. The country is governed on the basis of Sharia (Islamic Law) and a great majority of the population are Arabs who adhere to the Wahhabi sect of Islam. Islam shapes the values and rules concerning the appropriate way to behave and relate to family, community and business. As a result there are customs and social duties that affect the Saudi Arabian business world and affect the way business is dealt with. In the world’s current climate, several stereotypes are prevalent concerning Islamic faith and therefore when doing business in Saudi Arabia it is important to reserve time to research Islam yourself. Ignorance as to how Islam influences business and every day life could damage relations.

Relationships – Personal relationships are a fundamental aspect of Middle Eastern culture. People take a sincere interest in each other and invest a lot of time in getting to know others. There isn’t a clear line of distinction between business and personal relationships which means that one is quite often used to further the interests of the other. People tend to prefer getting to know a person before trusting them in business. When doing business in Saudi Arabia, remember that a huge emphasis is placed on networks and refusing requests made by friends is often considered rude. Great pride is placed in hospitality with which a person’s character is measured, take advantage of this opportunity to develop personal and professional relationships.

Attitude to time – Although punctuality is expected of foreigners, business in Saudi Arabia has a more flexible attitude towards time and business meetings tend to be less structured in nature. However, it is rare for meetings to intrude on daily prayers and equally, when doing business in Saudi Arabia, considerations must be made to schedule business meetings in a way that does not interfere with prayer times. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the working week begins on a Saturday and ends on Wednesday with Thursday and Friday being the official days of rest.

Hierarchy – Saudi Arabian culture places great emphasis on dignity and respect. Younger people are expected to display this respect to their elders by using the appropriate titles and levels of deference. Within business, leaders distribute power from the top and only those in senior positions have decision making capacity. When entering a room or greeting your Saudi counterparts for the first time you should approach the most senior person first.

In many ways, Saudi Arabia remains a sensitive region in terms of economy, religion and culture. Although an important first step, it is not enough to simply recognise the intercultural differences that exist when doing business in Saudi Arabia. International organisations must also strive to comprehend the reasons behind cultural challenges in order to be able to exploit differences to create benefits. A Cross Cultural Training Middle East course such as Doing Business in Saudi Arabia will help organisations develop strategies to maximise the potential of doing business in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, intercultural training will contribute towards the development of an interculturally competent workforce, a definite advantage in today’s fiercely competitive global business environment.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Spain is a large country with a diverse landscape and climate. The division of the country into 19 Autonomous Regions which are further divided into 50 provinces forms a range of cultural varieties. The regions differ from one another and at the same time create a united nation. Spanish culture is deeply rooted in tradition and may be challenging for foreign investors doing business there who are not familiar with it.

Any organisation considering doing business in Spain could benefit from Communicaid’s cross cultural training programmes such as Doing Business in Spain to better deal with the challenges of doing business in Spain. Below are some of the key challenges of doing business in Spain which Communicaid’s cross cultural training programmes could help you understand.

Cultural Diversity
The location of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula exposed the country to numerous invasions throughout history. Spanish civilisation was affected by the successive arrival of people of various nationalities bringing their culture and languages to Spain. This resulted in the division of Spanish society into minority groups who retain their native cultural influences. The additional division of the country into 50 provinces keeps the Spanish people culturally separated and independent. Such cultural diversity within one country can be challenging for foreigners who do not understand how culture impacts business throughout the country.

Individualism
Spain’s cultural diversity has created a strong sense of individualism which is seen through strong bonds and a sense of identity within the various cultural groups. Although individual on many levels, family values and a sense of identity and belonging to a group are all integral parts of society in Spain. Contemporary Spanish culture values personal qualities such as appearance, image and personal relationships. In a business context, personal attributes and character are frequently valued as much as technical ability, experience or professional competence. When doing business in Spain, individualism is particularly predominant in management, where Spanish managers are less inclined to favour group decision making and team orientation.

Face
Spanish culture values the concept of face as a very important matter in personal pride and respect. Face is crucial for Spaniards who strive to avoid the risk of losing face. Therefore, any forms of public criticism or causing embarrassment may result in misunderstanding and unnecessary conflicts in Spain. Saving face is important especially in a business context when your Spanish counterparts have to focus on relationship-building to protect their business investments.

Relationship-building
Spaniards value interpersonal relationships on a business level. They tend to take time to get to know their counterparts and will sometimes go out for a drink or dinner to build the relationship. The trust and relationship building process may be time consuming but will benefit in gaining a long-term and reliable business partner. When doing business in Spain, foreigners need to make an effort to gain the trust of their Spanish counterparts and show them that they value their relationship as much as the business opportunities.

Uncertainty Avoidance
Spaniards are cautious not only with business relationships but also with their approach to new ideas. They prefer to feel truly familiar with new situations before taking any steps or making decisions. Patience is necessary when doing business in Spain as Spaniards try to avoid ambiguity and need as much detail as possible.

Having an understanding of Spanish social and business culture is very important when doing business in Spain. Any organisation doing business in Spain should consider attending Communicaid’s cross cultural training programme Doing Business in Spain to increase their knowledge of the cultural diversity and cultural values and attitudes which can result in misunderstandings and conflicts if not correctly interpreted or understood.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Post tags: Courses - Cultural Training, Cross cultural training Spain, Cross-cultural training for business, Doing Business in Spain, Employing Spanish staff, Intercultural training Spain, Managing business in Spain, Spanish business culture

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Today’s world is characterised by global organisations with operations and employees across the world in constant contact via traditional and modern communication methods. The coming together of different nationalities offers organisations access to an unrivalled talent pool. However, it also creates new obstacles that internationally focused companies and institutions have to deal with in order to be successful.

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Intercultural training can help employers and employees navigate the challenges of international working rooted in cultural differences by helping them develop their intercultural competence which is essential for global success.

International organisations working across the globe should provide intercultural training options for its employees to ensure they:

• Understand the implications of cultural difference on business
• Understand how they are perceived by their international counterparts
• Communicate effectively across cultures
• Build successful cross cultural relationships
• Help the organisation have a competitive edge in the international market

A high level of competence in the areas above, developed through intercultural training, will result in more successful financial cross cultural business endeavours, an improved corporate image and long-term relationships with international counterparts.

Understand the impact of cultural difference on business

Intercultural training programmes like Working Effectively across Cultures provides employees with a foundation for understanding the impact of culture on business. Through the analysis of several key dimensions of culture, employees are able to understand how their own cultural values compare to those of their international counterparts. Being aware of different attitudes to things such as time, hierarchy and risk raises awareness of potential differences and helps to develop strategies for successfully working across cultures.

Perception and Image

One of the most important things intercultural training develops is self-awareness. By understanding both their own culture and that of their international counterparts, employees are able to better identify differences which they will need to adapt to. Through an increased awareness of how they might be perceived in other cultures, both individually as representatives of the company, they will avoid any potential miscommunication and improve global business.

Effective Intercultural Communication

Another important area that intercultural training helps develop is intercultural communication. Different verbal and non-verbal communication styles can cause misunderstandings and frustrations that can potentially affect international business relationships and cause a decrease in productivity and efficiency due to the lack of knowledge or appreciation of cultural differences.

Problems in communication may arise from the obvious linguistic differences, but also from the often less apparent differences in cultural values which are often unconsciously embedded in people’s behaviour. The awareness gained from intercultural training about employees’ own cultural values and the impact they have on how they behave and are perceived is essential for anyone working in international organisations.

Build successful cross-cultural relationships

When working across cultures, it’s extremely important to consider the importance employees place on relationships. In some cultures, doing business means getting straight down to the tasks at hand while in others doing business is all about developing a solid relationship first. Stories abound about companies who were not able to build effective relationships with their international counterparts resulting in lost deals. Knowing how much time needs to be spent developing the relationship before starting negotiations or planning a project will ensure success. Intercultural training programmes can provide employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to build effective global relationships.

Increase competitive edge

Communicating and working across cultures often presents huge risks for international businesses. Communicaid’s intercultural training can help prevent wasted time, lost revenue and damaging misunderstandings which occur as a result of a lack of knowledge and understanding of the target culture. Understanding how people think and why they behave the way they do will help employees work more effectively, which in turn, will give the organisation a competitive edge over other organisations who lack this intercultural competence.

 
In an article about measuring the benefits of intercultural training John Schieman wrote, “Quantifying the business improvement from cross-cultural interventions is challenging, however it is clear that cross-cultural competence has the potential to make a significant contribution to top and bottom line results as well as individual performance.”

Intercultural training ensures international organisations maximise positive outcomes of intercultural interactions and reduce potential cultural faux-pas which could result in huge direct and indirect costs as well as lasting damage to the company’s performance and reputation abroad.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Post tags: Courses - Cultural Training, Cross Cultural Training, Cross cultural training for management, Cross-cultural training for business, Developing intercultural Competence, doing business in, Global success, intercultural communication, intercultural training, Training for international assignees, Working effectively across cultures

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India is well endowed with mineral and agricultural resources and it has seen a significant increase in offshore outsourcing and manufacturing over the last couple of decades, which have helped India’s economy grow at a tremendous rate.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs reports that its higher disposable incomes, rising middle class, investment friendly policies and forward-thinking reforms all make India an extremely attractive place for foreign investors. There are several key benefits for doing business in India:

Engaged and career focused – On a social level, India is predominantly a collective society which places a huge emphasis on the group. However, in business culture individualism is becoming more common as employees are increasingly recognised, paid and promoted on an individual basis. Many Indians, especially those working in westernised offices or companies, are now turning their focus to their own career advancement and performance. Through training initiatives or certificate programmes Indians are constantly taking steps towards obtaining more knowledge and qualifications, which in turn helps international organisations doing business in India by providing a constant flow of highly engaged and career focused individuals.

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High levels of English – The historical relationship between the UK and India means that Indians have a high level of English. Although the accent and vocabulary of Indian English is slightly different from that of British or American English, international organisations will benefit immensely from graduates’ ability to speak English fluently, as well as their command of the many local Indian languages. It is in fact estimated that there are 14 major and over 1000 minor languages and dialects spoken in India. The relatively few language barriers make doing business in India quite attractive for international organisations.

Large amount of experienced specialists – India has an extensive pool of experienced people from which they can recruit employees. There is a high value placed on education in Indian culture. Combined with India’s drive to become a successfully modernised and competitive country, this is helping to produce a population of candidates with good qualifications and specialised experience and knowledge.

Openness to new ideas and opportunities – Indians have a relatively high tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty and can therefore be quite open to new ideas and opportunities. This entrepreneurial and creative spirit is evident in the recent influx of new businesses in India. International organisations doing business with Indians in urban centres such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad will particularly benefit as many younger Indians are taking on more western habits and working preferences. As they increasingly adapt to keep pace with the demands and expectations of new dynamic industries, international organisations doing business in India will face fewer cultural challenges when pushing new business ideas and endeavours.

Dedicated employees – Indians have a strong work ethic and take pride in their jobs. They tend to work long hours in the hopes of showing their dedication and increasing their status in the company. Most Indians will work eight hour shifts six days a week. When working for organisations which require communication on a regular basis with people in countries such as the US or the UK, employees will willingly work shifts around the clock to compensate for the time difference. This group of highly dedicated employees, willing to work long shifts over unusual hours, is a huge benefit for international organisations doing business in India.

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All the above benefits are good reasons for global organisations to do business in India. Harnessing these benefits comes with the need to navigate the geographic, linguistic, religious and cultural diversity of Indian society. This requires a comprehensive understanding of Indian business and social culture on all levels.

International organisations employing people in India or working with Indians on a regular basis should therefore have a series of cross-cultural training programmes on Doing Business in India to ensure they develop the skills to successfully deal with the many cultural differences.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Post tags: Courses - Cultural Training, Cross-cultural training for business, doing business in India, Employing Indian nationals, Indian business communication styles, Inter-cultural training for business and management, intercultural training, international business, Managing business in India, Negotiating with Indians

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