《国际商务文化》教案

International Business Culture

Chapter 1 Introduction

1. About this course

It has become commonplace knowledge that globalization is one of the major forces shaping our

world. If we look at the spread of information, ideas, capital, media, cultural artifacts — or for that

matter, people — we can see the boundaries and borders that have historically separated one country

or one group from another are becoming more and more permeable. For proof of this close to home,

you need only to look at the transnational corporations in our country. Most students study hard in

order to get a chance to work in the transnational corporations. Even if you have a company of your

own, it’s still necessary for you to deal with business with people from different countries.

Introduction

“International Business Culture” is designed to help you meet the challenges of living in a world in

which, increasingly, you will be asked to interact with people who may not be like you in fundamental

ways. Its overarching goals are to help you become sensitive to intercultural communication

differences, and to provide you with the knowledge and skills that will help you interact successfully

with people from cultures other than your own. We hope the course will accomplish those goals by

exposing you to Charles Mitchell’s book on this subject, and by giving you a variety of opportunities

to practice intercultural communication yourself.

Introduction

2. Course aim: to improve culture awareness mainly through reading activities, together with some

presentation exercises.

Course duration: 1st — 16th week (2(3) periods weekly)

Course requirements: 4Ps

Presence: to show up for class

Punctuality: to attend on time

Preparation: to preview the text

Presentation: to be active in team work

What is culture?

What are the core elements of culture?

Why is learning culture important?

To what extent can culture have a significant impact on international business?

Can you give some examples of cultural difference or culture clash?

Concepts of “culture”

以文教化，人文教化。

指运用文字的能力及具有的书本知识。

人类所创造的财富的总和,特指精神财富,如文学、艺术、教育、科学 .

是一定社会的政治和经济的反映，又给予伟大影响和作用于一定社会的政治和经济。

一种社会现象，是人们长期创造形成的产物。同时又是一种历史现象，是社会历史的积淀物。

指一个国家或民族的历史、地理、风土人情、传统习俗、生活方式、文学艺术、行为规范、思维方式、价值观念等。

人类创造出来的所有物质和精神财富的总和。其中既包括世界观、人生观、价值观等具有意识形态性质的部分，也包括自然科学和技术、语言和文字等非意识形态的部分。

What can you see in this picture

Old woman, lined face, grey hair

Young lady, long eyelash, smooth skin

Chapter 1 Understanding Cultural Differences

Global Background

Multicultural business environment

Winning acceptance from foreign colleagues

People from different cultures process information in different ways.

Culture affects the most basic forms of personal and business interaction.

National culture determines corporate culture.

Case of Disneyland

Discussion

why the company of Disneyland whose headquarters is in U.S.A had successfully opened a Disney

park in Japan but failed to copy the success in France?

What advice would you give to resolve the dispute over the sprinkle system?

What details should EuroDisney have noticed in its daily operation?

How do you understand the comment of the securities analyst “… the devil is often in the cultural

details. They can make or break you.”?

Detailed reasons:

Underestimation of French attachment to the land.

Lawyers, rather than executives, are employed to negotiate.

Defiance of French law.

Ignorance of French working norms of dress code.

 Misunderstanding of European dining habits.

Ignorance of European consumer patterns

Definition of Culture

“it is everything”

“it is opera, art, and ballet”

sociologists, anthologists, psychologists, physiologists, linguists, etc.

Dictionary definition:

the customs, beliefs, art, music, and all the other products of human thought made by a particular

group of people at a particular time; artistic and other activity of the mind and the works produced by

this.

What is Culture?

Software of the mind

Culture is a set of learned core values, beliefs, standards, knowledge, morals, laws, and behaviors

shared by individuals and societies that determines how an individual acts, feels, and views oneself

and others

Characteristics of Culture

1.Culture Is Learned (software of the mind)

socialization (primary socialization)

(=enculturation) (informal)

Socialization education (secondary socialization) (formal)

Interaction, observation, imitation

Internalized, habitual

A. We learn our culture through proverbs.

Strike while the iron is hot.