Track cultural progress over time and highlight areas in need of improvement with
Trade Review
Kirkus *starred review*
This outstanding guidebook plies the cultural waters of Asia and offers insider tips for developing successful business relationships.
Intercultural consultant Schweitzer and consultant/author Alexander (# Thought Leadership Tweet, 2012, etc.) have crafted an invaluable reference guide that is comprehensive and fascinating. Using a consistent approach, the authors offer details about 10 countries, including a historical overview, the names of heroes and sports figures, foods, business protocols, etiquette for socializing, and more. Each chapter also has an ingenious “self-awareness profile,” a simple one-to-six scale so the reader can gauge the nuances of certain cultural aspects. The authors map the scale to“the prevailing cultural preference”; in the case of doing business in Japan, for example, the cultural tendency is to be “highly formal” (six on the scale) rather than “very informal” (one on the scale). The ranking provides key intelligence to a businessperson in light of his or her own cultural bias. Interestingly, the authors begin with an overview of the United States of America, both to demonstrate the book’s framework as it relates to the subsequent countries and to offer guidance to readers who might wish to do business in the USA. The remainder of the book covers China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The insights offered could only be the result of a deep understanding of each country’s cultural attributes, so to validate the content, the authors wisely called upon numerous country experts, who are acknowledged in the back of the book. Details both broad and specific paint a rich, unique picture of each country. Readers learn, for instance, that in China, “decisions are made as a group rather than individually.” In Japan, “gifts (omiyage, or honorable presents) are a crucial element and expected on almost all business occasions.” In the Philippines, personal hygiene is vital because “Filipinos shower several times a day.”
Beautifully constructed and expertly written in straightforward language; will make it far easier for anyone to navigate the cultural differences of doing business in Asia.
Table of Contents
Foreword xiii
About the Authors xv
Acknowledgments xvii
Introduction xix
A Journey of Passion xx
From Etiquette to Intercultural Exchange xx
A Questioning Framework xxi
Why These Asian Countries? xxi
How This Book Is Structured xxii
Self-Awareness Profiles xxii
Business Is Relationships xxiii
From Theory to Practice xxiii
Chapter 1 A Question of Culture 1
Why This? Why Now? 6
Who Are “Americans”? 7
Chapter 2 Exploring Country Cultures 9
Thinking Is Not Universal 11
Relationships Are Dynamic 12
Chapter 3 United States of America 27
Introduction 28
Quiz 28
Country Basics 29
Etiquette, and Customs 34
Eight-Question Framework 43
Cultural Summary 52
Self-Awareness Profile 52
The Journey Continues . . . 53
Chapter 4 Overview of Concepts and Terms 55
Chapter 5 China 67
Introduction 68
Quiz 69
Country Basics 69
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 75
Eight-Question Framework 84
Cultural Summary 93
Self-Awareness Profile 93
Chapter 6 Hong Kong 97
Introduction 98
Quiz 99
Country Basics 99
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 104
Eight-Question Framework 113
Cultural Summary 120
Self-Awareness Profile 121
Chapter 7 India 123
Introduction 124
Quiz 125
Country Basics 125
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 131
Eight-Question Framework 139
Cultural Summary 147
Self-Awareness Profile 147
Chapter 8 Japan 151
Introduction 152
Quiz 153
Country Basics 153
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 159
Eight-Question Framework 167
Cultural Summary 177
Self-Awareness Profile 177
Chapter 9 Malaysia 181
Introduction 182
Quiz 182
Country Basics 183
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 188
Eight-Question Framework 198
Cultural Summary 205
Self-Awareness Profile 206
Chapter 10 Myanmar 209
Introduction 210
Quiz 211
Country Basics 211
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 217
Eight-Question Framework 225
Cultural Summary 233
Self-Awareness Profile 233
Chapter 11 The Philippines 237
Introduction 238
Quiz 239
Country Basics 239
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 245
Eight-Question Framework 252
Cultural Summary 258
Self-Awareness Profile 259
Chapter 12 Singapore 261
Introduction 262
Quiz 262
Country Basics 263
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 269
Eight-Question Framework 276
Cultural Summary 282
Self-Awareness Profile 283
Chapter 13 South Korea 285
Introduction 286
Quiz 287
Country Basics 287
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 293
Eight-Question Framework 303
Cultural Summary 309
Self-Awareness Profile 310
Chapter 14 Taiwan 313
Introduction 314
Quiz 315
Country Basics 315
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 321
Eight-Question Framework 329
Cultural Summary 336
Self-Awareness Profile 336
Chapter 15 Summary 339
Bibliography 343
Books 343
Online Resources 348
Contributors 351
Index 359
