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Asian Business Customs & Manners—A Country-by-Country Guide
Asia can ignore New York, Paris and London and still create MNCs worth billions. Asia has been a mystery for many, especially for the US, as Harold Issac wrote in his 1956 book Scratches on our Minds: American Views of China and India, that the "vagueness about Asia has been until now the natural condition even of the educated American". This guide to understanding how to do business with Asia, by Mary Murray Bosrock, a writer, lecturer and expert on cross-cultural communication, is timely and handy support anyone would seek to conduct business in this continent. Everyone agrees that the world’s future is irrefutably tied to that of Asia. That is why every country, especially the US, is keen to cash every business opportunity Asia offers. While fundamentals of management like motivation, leadership and decision-making etc. are almost universally applicable, their success depends to a large extent on the ability of managers to adapt to a particular culture. So much so that nations keen to do business in Asia are engaging cultural integrators and are using the cultural assimilator technique of programmed learning designed to expose their employees to some of the basic concepts like attitudes, role perceptions, customs and values of Asian culture. Of course, all this, not because they have fallen in love with Asian culture but to benefit from the huge marketing potential Asia offers. Obviously, any help to understand China, Japan, India, Malaysia Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong is received with immense interest by the world. These nations are not only competing in the global economy but are thriving by getting their rightful share in the world markets. The book is divided in two parts. The first part gives general information about Asia, what one should know about Asian countries and how outsiders should behave in these countries. The second part has information about 16 Asian countries. In the first chapter, How to Go International, the author talks about the need of Americans wanting to do business in Asia to change their perception and attitude towards Asian people. The author has given a detailed checklist under different heads, i.e., meetings, greetings, language, dining/drinking/toasting, etiquette, dressing sense, giving gifts, manners, punctuality and so on as these are practiced in different cultures. It is a known fact that a respectful bow, firm and confident handshake, appropriate dress for the occasion, use of correct salutation and greetings, etc., can create the right mood while clinching a deal in one’s favour. The book is a ready reckoner for anyone having business interest in Asian countries. However, the author could have avoided repetitions by suitably clubbing the generic and specific information about the particular country under one head rather than splitting it in two different parts. Although author’s authority on the subject is obvious, no one can expect her to be the master of every minute detail of culture, manners and etiquette of all the 16 countries, and hence certain minor factual misconceptions/misinterpretations may be ignored. For example, her observations, "Indians consider public display of affection improper behavior" or "men don’t touch women in public as a sign of respect" are no more valid. Nevertheless, it is a useful guide for those seeking business opportunities in Asia.
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THE
US and European countries started taking more and more interest in Asia
since it began to outperform them economically in 1980s. Today, no
country can afford to ignore the rising power of the giant called Asia,
for powerful uncertainties are shaping the future business mosaic and
dismantling international trade barriers. Its more than half the global
population, almost half of it the middle-income group, is too big a
temptation for anyone outside Asia to ignore. Also, for the first time,
the world has started realising that