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Jul 12

Cross Cultural Perceptions: Is Kissing in Public Indecent or Accepted Behaviour?

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture training for Business & Management No Comments »

A recent article published by the BBC recounts the misadventures of a London citizen sent to Dubai by his firm as an international assignee. The man, Ayman Najafi, was charged for indecency after kissing a woman on the cheek in a restaurant. He was found guilty and spent a month in jail before being deported by the Dubai administration.

Mr Najafi protested and claimed that a mere kiss on the cheek was not indecent and that this kind of behaviour was commonplace among expatriates in the country. He also insisted that Dubai was “deceptive” as “the laws have not developed as quickly as the country”.

Business meeting Middle East Catherine Yeulet i Cross Cultural Perceptions: Is Kissing in Public Indecent or Accepted Behaviour?

© istockphoto.com/ Catherine Yeulet

 

While this critical incident led to some extreme and uncommon consequences, it remains a perfect example of the need for cross cultural awareness training courses for international assignees. Cultural misunderstandings and incidents occur more than most international assignees can imagine, mainly because while their behaviour appears to be perfectly acceptable for them it may be perceived as rude by the inhabitants of their host country.

To adapt, international assignees need to bear in mind the main cultural and religious values and try to act in accordance with them when living and working in another country. If we come back to the case of Mr Najafi, countries like the United Arab Emirates which are strongly influenced by Islam, forbid physical contact between men and women. This cultural fact remains true even in a globalised and modern looking city like Dubai.

To help international assignees have a smooth adaptation to their professional and personal environment and ensure they do not make any cultural faux-pas, it is crucial to provide them with key cultural information and knowledge about the target country before they relocate. Providing them with an understanding of the main cultural values, helping them to decipher the cultural background of the country and making them aware of the key do’s and don’ts in the culture will minimise the risks of cultural misunderstandings and critical incidents which can have hugely negative consequences for both the individual and the organisation.

Cross cultural awareness training courses such as Communicaid’s Living and Working in the UAE or Living and Working in India can help international assignees to understand and avoid any inappropriate behaviour. With the knowledge and insights gained from intercultural training, they can ensure a successful international assignment, not only in the workplace but also in their daily life.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Jun 17

Living in the UK – Is this the end of the ‘Home Sweet Home?’

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture 1 Comment »

The latest Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking was published recently and it contains a major surprise: the only United Kingdom city in the top 50 is London, far behind other European countries like Germany which had seven cities in the top 50 and Austria which has the number one rated city Vienna. Even France did better with two cities (Paris and Lyon) being ranked 34th and 38th respectively. With such a disappointing result, some may wonder if it is indeed the end of the “Home Sweet Home” concept cherished by many British.

IMG 1469002 1024x636 Living in the UK Is this the end of the Home Sweet Home?

© Cora Malinak

Living in the United Kingdom is often challenging for newcomers who may find some of the cultural aspects of British culture confusing or difficult to understand. One of the best examples of this is the concept of the British ’stiff upper lip’ which is a term often used to describe the lack of emotions displayed by many British and their preference to maintain a level of formality and detachment in certain situations. This straight face and reserve can often be negatively perceived as cold and uninterested. In fact, it’s one thing that helped the British population get through many historical ordeals like the blitz during the Second World War.

Other cultural factors can get in your way when you are trying to settle in the UK such as the sense of humour. The use of self deprecating irony is common and something you will definitely need to get used to when living in the UK and making new contacts. The same applies for the fairly indirect British communication style which requires a higher level of attention to not only what is being said but also to the tone of voice and facial expression in order to effectively decipher their message.

The British Isles are also renowned for the diversity and vast array of people, landscapes and regional differences. Scotland’s landscapes are dramatically different from those in Southern England while there is a significant difference in the English accents of Birmingham and Belfast. This wonderful patchwork makes the British Isles an amazing place to live, full of diversity and new discoveries.

While having only one city in the Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking can seem disappointing to some, the United Kingdom can still be proud of having four cities ranked between the 53rd and 63rd positions, showing that living in the UK can be a great experience thanks to the many wonderful cultural and historical assets added to the overall quality of life in the country.

Regardless of the potential cultural challenges awaiting you, living in the United Kingdom can be a truly enjoyable experience. To fully appreciate British culture and to ensure you have a positive experience, however, it is vitally important that you understand the challenges awaiting you in the UK. Communicaid’s Cultural Awareness Training United Kingdom courses like Living and Working in the UK can help you to identify and overcome the main cultural differences in the UK and develop appropriate strategies that will ensure you get the most out of your expatriation in the UK.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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May 04

Living in France – A Mix of Cultural Pleasures and Challenges

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »

A recent article published by CNN presented France as the best place to live worldwide. Its ‘joie de vivre’ and amazing cultural heritage seem to be acknowledged by everyone. But if this sounds like a good reason to try out the French way of life, it can however bring its own set of challenges. Like every country, France has its cultural particularities that need to be understood to ensure the best possible experience of living and working in France.

France is among the most diverse countries in the world in terms of landscape and environment. From high mountains to sea shores, preserved forests and cultivated farm lands combined with an extensive cultural heritage, you will have a lot to discover when living in France.

 

French Cheese Andreas Arnold i Living in France – A Mix of Cultural Pleasures and Challenges

© istockphoto.com/ Andreas Arnold

 

Living in France can bring many unique and different experiences depending on where you are based in the country. There are huge differences between the north and the south of France, not only in the climate and geography but also in the cultural values and attitudes you will find people have who live in each part. For example, in the north of France, people tend to be more task oriented, have a fairly neutral communication style and can be quite monochronic. Conversely in the south, French will tend to have a more affective communication style and a more flexible approach to time than their fellow citizens in the north.

In addition to the north and south divide, there are also many key differences between the cities. France is a heavily centralised country and Paris is the place where key political, economic and cultural events take place. The pace, population, lifestyle and even the wages differ from the other French major cities. Living in Marseille, Lille or Nantes, for example, you will have an entirely different experience.

Wherever you are living in France, you will probably find a set of key cultural values, traditions and customs that influence most aspects of French culture. One of these key values cherished by the French population is the concept that the French are the best. To put it simply, French often give the impression that if it is not French, it is considered of lesser quality or even completely irrelevant. This attitude can be difficult for foreigners who just arrived in France to understand or accept and can often be interpreted negatively as excessive arrogance or cockiness.

That being said, this attitude of national pride is what drove the French to create some of the most famous brands and products in the world. This constant search of having the best living standards is probably one the most enjoyable parts of being an expatriate living in France. Fine brews and of course the famous French cuisine are the best examples of this.

No matter where you live in France, it’s important to understand what communication styles, cultural values and attitudes to expect. Cultural Awareness Training France programmes like Communicaid’s Living and Working in France can help you anticipate any major cross cultural challenges and increase your understanding of life in France to ensure you have a smooth expatriation.

 © Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Apr 28

Living and Working in India – Second Most Challenging Destination for International Assignments

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »

The recently published 2010 Global Trends Survey reports a 46% decrease in corporate international assignments, a fall directly linked to the global financial crisis. On a positive note, 44% of multinationals surveyed expect the number of employees sent on international assignments to rise in the future. Surveying 120 multinationals, the report also provides an overview of what countries are the most popular destinations for employees on international assignments, offering considerable insight into the cross cultural challenges faced when doing business on an international scale.

According to the report, India is now the second most challenging destination for expatriates, and tops the list of countries for failure rate of international assignments, falling to fourth place in the list of emerging assignment locations. Despite its roaring economy and membership of the emerging BRIC bloc, establishing and doing business in India still poses a considerable challenge to multinational organisations.

 

Taj Majal x drew i Living and Working in India – Second Most Challenging Destination for International Assignments

© istockphoto.com/x-drew

 

Why is India such a problematic destination for international employees? After all, as a former British colony it is not new to Western culture and business practices. English is the official language – used throughout India’s civil service and legal system – which should theoretically facilitate cross cultural business interactions, particularly for US and UK companies. Furthermore, unlike China, India does not have a system of government many international companies could perceive as a cultural risk and a hindrance to trade.

When you look at the core values of Indian business culture, the greatest differences with the world average are in power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Indian indexes for the first are well above the world average, suggesting a widespread acceptance of uneven distributions of power within the workplace as well as a certain adversity to embracing Western management styles that encourage empowering staff and delegating decisions. As a result, despite the strong work ethic Indians are renowned for, managers on international assignment in India may find Indian employees reluctant to take on responsibilities, preferring to be told exactly what to do, when to do it and how. Furthermore, nepotism is strongly present within Indian companies, which contrasts with Western values of ascendancy by merit.

Indians have a fairly high tolerance for uncertainty, in other words, Indian business people generally accept unstructured situations and are able to successfully adapt to different business scenarios. Although this may seem in line with other Western business values, Indians seem to take it a step further. This is where potential cross cultural misunderstandings and risk begin. Such a high acceptance of uncertain situations can push adaptability to new boundaries, where honesty becomes relative and experimentation dominant. Coupled with the influence of the concept of karma and fatality, decision-making processes can appear highly volatile in the eyes of foreign business people who are unaware of Indian business culture.

There are, however, risks to approaching cross cultural business interactions from such a broad stance as offered by some of Hofstede’s research highlighted above. Often, a much more bespoke solution is both necessary and more effective in order to take into account a business’s unique corporate culture and the cross cultural skills that its managers and employees may well already possess.

This is even more the case when doing business in India, a country both as vast and diverse in territory as in population, resources and business opportunities. If you or your organisation are managing an Indian team or negotiating a merger with an Indian business, the dynamics of the business interactions will most likely be determined by the specific context in which all parties are operating, as well as the wider context of Indian business culture. A lack of tailored cross cultural awareness training solutions could well be one of the reasons for such a high rate of failure in international assignments there.

Recognising the need and the benefits of combining a general overview of culture with an organisation’s specific business needs and context, Communicaid has developed a tailored approach to intercultural training for international business. Communicaid’s Intercultural Training India programmes include Doing Business in India and Living and Working in India, providing business people and their families with concrete intercultural skills to ensure international assignments in India do not pose such a cross cultural challenge.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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