CROSS- CULTURAL ETIQUETTES

Presented by Miss Richa

JAPAN
Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean, with the world's tenth-largest population, over 127 million people. GREETINGS/INTRODUCTION Business cannot begin until business card is exchanged. Customary greeting is a BOW. If you are greeted with a bow return the bow as low as you received. Avoid direct communication about the money. Business card should be given after the bow only. DECISION MAKING Expect slow decision making characterized by frequent breaks

 BUSINESS CARDS Japanese give & receive business cards with both hands. Print the card in English as well as Japanese language & present the card with the Japanese language side up. Do not write on the card. Do not put card in your pocket. COMMUNICATION Avoid using large hand gestures & unusual facial expressions . Avoid the OK sign, in Japan it means Money. Pointing is not accepted. Personal space is valued. Smiling is not preferred as for Japanese it can have double meaning.

BRITAIN
Britain, is an island situated to the north-west of Continental Europe, with a population of about 63.1 million. It is the third most populous island in the world.

GREETINGS/INTRODUCTION Always be punctual, arriving a few minutes early for safety is acceptable. A simple Handshake with both men & women for business occasion & for visiting a home is preferred.

 DECISION MAKING Decision making is slower in comparison to USA. BUSINESS CARDS Cards are exchanged initially during the introductions; the card may be put away in the pocket after an initial glance. DINNER/ENTERTAINING When socializing after work hours, do not bring the subject of work. Loud & disturbing behaviour should be avoided. If a person is knighted he is to be addressed as SIR followed by his first name.

COMMUNICATION Maintaining Eye contact is essential. Personal space is important. It is considered inappropriate to touch others in public. Victory sign, done with the palm facing the person is considered to be offensive by the British people.

RUSSIA
Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the world's ninth most populous nation with 143 million people approx.

GREETINGS/INTRODUCTION Handshakes may be of the typical bone crushing variety. When shaking hands with someone, be sure to take off your gloves, as it is considered rude not to.

DECISION MAKING Patience is an extremely virtue required, punctuality is not. Russians are known as great sitters during negotiations & have tremendous patience. Technical expertise, rank & position are valuable in Russian culture. BUSINESS CARDS Be sure to have plenty of business cards that are double sided. One side should be printed in Russian; & other should be in English.

COMMUNICATION Social events are more relaxed. Difficult to do business in Russia without the help from a local. Gifts, Money & other items are appreciated. Russia has a literacy rate almost 100%, therefore good conversation topics are required. Speaking or laughing loudly in public is considered rude.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 BUSINESS CARDS Business cards are generally exchanged during introductions. However, they may also be exchanged when one party is leaving. It is quite common for the recipient to put your card in their wallet, which may then go in the back pocket of their trousers. This is not an insult. DRESSING People in the East dress more formally, while people in the West are known for being a bit more casual. Casual Friday is common in many companies. High technology companies often wear casual clothes every day.

COMMUNICATION
Maintain good eye contact If meeting several people, maintain eye contact with whom you are shaking hands. People tend not wait to be introduced, will begin to speak with strangers as they stand in a queue, sit next to each other at an event, etc. Time is a very important commodity. People 'save' time and 'spend' time as if it were money in the bank. Ask Permission to smoke before lightning a cigar or cigarette.

 GIFTS/ENTERTAINING In general, Americans give gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and major holidays, such as Christmas. A gift can be as simple as a card and personal note to something more elaborate for a person with whom you are close. Gift giving is not an elaborate event, except at Christmas. When invited to someone's home for dinner, it is polite to bring a small box of good chocolates, a bottle of wine, a potted plant or flowers for the hostess. Gifts are normally opened when received.

MIDDLE EAST
Many matters of etiquette in the Middle East are connected to Islam as it is written in the Qur'an and how it has been traditionally understood and practiced throughout the centuries. Since religion is so much a part of daily life in most Muslim countries, you can expect certain differences. Usually work week in most Muslims countries runs from Saturday to Wednesday or Thursday morning, and prayers are said five times a day, during which time business stops.

GREETINGS/HANDSHAKES
Use full names and all appropriate titles upon meeting. When doing business in the Middle East, handshakes are always used and can last a long time. Islamic etiquette recommends that one waits for the other to withdraw their hand first before doing the same. Always use the right hand. Do not be surprised if your hand is held while you are led somewhere. Holding hands among men is common and is a gesture of friendship.

 BUSINESS CARDS Expect to exchange business cards with everyone. In Arab countries, it's polite and expected that your business card will be in English in one side and Arabic on the other and Arabic on the other. Present your card Arabic up. MEETINGS/DECISION MAKING No decision is made on the spot. Meetings can be long, chaotic. DINING AND ENTERTAINING Across the Middle East, hospitality is a means of demonstrating generosity, wealth, and power. It's rude to refuse dinner invitations or any of the sumptuous items proffered to you at a dinner.

GERMANY
Germany has a population of 81.8 million Germans value order, privacy and punctuality. They are cautious, hard working and thorough. Germans respect perfectionism in all areas of business and private life. In Germany, there is a sense of community and social conscience and strong desire for belonging. To admit inadequacy -- even in tease -- is unintelligible. Germans respect perfectionism in all areas of business and private life.

 MEETING ETIQUETTE Greetings are formal. A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group. When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children

 Gift/ Dining
If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine. Gifts are usually opened when received. Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early. Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

 BUSINESS Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business. They will be interested in your academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in business. Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it is imperative that they understand your level relative to their own. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering. German communication is formal.

 DECISION MAKING Extremely forward thinking. Slow decision making Emphasis on documentation/written communication. ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN Traditionally, there has been little acceptance of women in high positions of responsibility and power in business. Women, especially foreign women, must establish their position and ability immediately in order to conduct business successfully in Germany.

FRANCE
France is the largest country in Western Europe and the third-largest in Europe with the population 0f 60.23 Million. Food is one of the great passions of the French people. French cooking is highly refined and involves careful preparation, attention to detail, and the use of fresh ingredients. It varies by region and is heavily influenced by what is grown locally.

 COMMUNICATION The handshake is a common form of greeting. First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait until invited before using someone's first name. It's highly recommended that you learn some basic French phrases. People tend to stand close when talking to each other. Touching and patting is also commonplace in the French business etiquette. Slapping an open palm over a closed fist is considered rude. Lunch may last for more than two hours. Long hours are common. Wear only conservative clothing of the finest quality.

 Business Cards Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions. Do not call a French businessperson at home unless it is an emergency. GIFT Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is considered unlucky. If you give wine, make sure it is of the highest quality you can afford. The French appreciate their wines. Do not give gifts with your company logo stamped on them. A gift should be of high quality and wrapped beautifully.

 BUSINESS French business behaviour emphasizes courtesy and a degree of formality. If you do not speak French, an apology for not knowing their language may aid in developing a relationship. In business, the French often appear extremely direct because they are not afraid of asking probing questions. Meetings are to discuss issues, not to make decisions. Avoid exaggerated claims, as the French do not appreciate overstatement. Business is conducted slowly. You will have to be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol.

CHINA
China officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country located in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of over 1.3 billion. Greeting: When you first meet a Chinese person, they might seem unfriendly, but that is because they are taught to not show emotions in public, because it is thought to be unacceptable. Chinese like being formally introduced to a person by another person. Chinese never refuse or say no to anything, but that doesnt mean they will say yes