Bric: Culture, Values, and Business Ethics

It is no longer feasible that a corporation can successfully move through the global marketplace without learning to recognize the cultural norms of each country. It falls to the executives and managers to implement these changes and to ensure that their companies are working to move towards a more inclusive, and ultimately, more profitable way of doing business that appreciates and respects all cultures and work

The first article I would like to elaborate on would be one about business ethics in Singapore. This country has the reputation of being very strict in nature and sometimes unforgiving in the consequences that they often give to people. Over time they have loosened their grip on social matters but still seem to be strict in their manners of business. They follow through with business transactions and promote all around good ethics in business as a normal practice. This article explained the results of a survey that was completed in January 2010, by companies that were members of the Singapore

If a man and a woman are meeting in a formal situation, they will using shake hands. If they are good friends/family they may give a single kiss on the cheek.

Brazil is a very diverse country with an assortment of different cultures. There are many influences that make the culture what it is today, such as the European settlers bringing new ideas, beliefs and variations. As a result of African slaves being shipped to Brazil, their primeval customs and knowledge greatly impacted the culture. Out of a population of about 190 people 80% of Brazilian people are of Roman Catholic faith. Half of Brazil's population consists of whites, 40% mixed with black and white, and less than 10% are blacks. (Brazil.org, n.d.) “Many original Portuguese settlers married native women, which created a new race, called 'mestizos' ( Kwintessential, 2014).”

In Russia, the typical greeting is a firm, almost bone-crushing handshake. It is also important to maintain direct eye contact. When a man shakes hands with a woman, the handshake is less firm. When greeting each other, it is normal for women to kiss each other three times, while alternating cheeks. This form of greeting is influenced by social histories.

Brazil lives in a society were the color of your skin matters. Brazil claims they have a racial democracy meaning that all races live together in harmony or color blind. Brazilians and their government worship the “white” skin complexion. Dark complexions have to work harder because of the society stereotypes that they put on Brazilians. Employers even say that light skin is good appearance, so they won’t hire blacks because they do not have “good appearance.”

Brazil vs North America business habits can be quite different. North Americans are far less expressive when communication nonverbally, for example greeting people, Brazilians will use handshakes but more commonly a kiss on the cheek or some sort of touching, whereas in North America business etiquette greeting is most common with a firm handshake. Personal space is also much different in Brazil versus North America, Brazilians are close talkers and a small distance between each other is considered appropriate, if a step is taken back they could feel offended, while in North America it's all about personal space, if too close it could be construed as rude or threatening. Silence and time is also not an issue either, Brazilians will interrupt

Although the racial demographic of Brazil is varied, and all individuals appear to be legal under the law, the societal racial hierarchy places white Brazilians at the top, while the ranking of those below them is based on the whiteness of their skin. At the very bottom, are those who are black, but would rather identify as brown, due to the racial social controls that allow whites to control, as the official spokespersons and state representatives of Brazil. It should be recognized that although economic class is another defining element of Brazil society and culture, it could also be linked to the racial prejudices of the country, as majority of those below the poverty line are often coloured. Gender roles are also an important element in society that define the conduct, social acceptance and culture of Brazil. Men are viewed as noble, strong and with the freedom to pursue the satisfaction of their sexual desires, while women are viewed as weak, delicate, beautiful and as objects of satisfaction. The double and unequal standards in race, class and gender impact the positions of power in society, as well as societal

With a score of 38, Brazilians are much more family oriented than Americans who scored a 91. What this means is that Brazilians, once they know you well enough, will treat you like their own and like to work in tight and close groups. They value working in teams and the term “You’re in my personal space” would be perceived as normal and not insulting. Americans on the other hand generally love working by themselves and don’t like to ask for help. Some ideas suggest this is due to American history when settlers came in hundreds of years ago and survived on their own. This mentality has been passed down generations and we still work this way. A tip to any American going to Brazil- Don’t expect to immediately jump into negotiations or working on projects. Meetings will be much longer due to the fact that Brazilians want to get to know someone on a personal level before doing

International business has been a part of society for centuries. With the introduction of modern technological advances, countries have moved from participating in business ventures primarily by land or boat and advanced to virtual environments and acquiring passports that enable flights all over the world. This impact has challenged businesses to improve their cultural relations as they venture into unknown markets that are on the opposite end of their cultural spectrum and perspective. The world is a vast melting pot of all walks of life. The business world is no different and requires even sharper skills, especially when entering environments that may be tense or chaotic. This paper examines the country of Italy and how its culture impacts business domestically and internationally. It discusses the various strengths and weaknesses of its economic environment and the potential gains or losses a foreign investor may consider when deciding whether or not enter the Italian market.

It is important to point out that Brazilian culture is changing at a rapid pace and there have not been many recent studies done to identify the current Brazilian lifestyle and culture. Much of the information available is from studies done in the late 1900’s but the most current information was used wherever possible.

Brazilians take immense pride in their families, which are normally quite large. Extended families normally live with each other or as close to one another as possible. Family and national pride come in their love of the national sport, Fútbol, which is known in America as soccer. Brazil’s national pride was very apparent during their hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The Brazilians tend to be very particular in who they invite into their close circles of family, friends and business dealings. The personal interaction between individuals is key in making decisions. Men shake hands in both a professional and personal meeting, whereas women tend to kiss both cheeks. Proper etiquette is also found in almost every aspect of daily life as well. Brazilians tend to over-dress for meetings, events, and dinners. Bringing a gift or flowers for the host is very much encouraged and expected.

The business is to be structure by use of cross-cultural teams that can provide a source of experience and innovative thinking to enhance the competitive position of the organization. The manager is to avoid at all cost cross-cultural misunderstandings and understand that Brazilians prefer collectivism to individualism. The manager is to implement the right price for the right product the culture needs in order for the business to have a chance at success. A work description with work shifts, mutual respect, benefit packets, respect for all religion, and a dress code. Formal apparel is acceptable for business Overall, the appearance would not be a huge deal as the Brazilian people are extremely concerned about their appearances and they practice their religion but it does not affect the workplace. Business meeting are to take place once a week to discuss progress of the business and handshakes are appropriate for both men and women however, once the women get to know you and/or a friendship is develop and kiss on the cheek is not unusual. Time is important but allow at least 20 mins for the latecomers as Brazilians idea of time is flexible than it is in the United States. If any questions and problems the manager does not understand, then the headquarter office in the United States should be contacted for

I'm sure we are all excited about the new joint venture partnership in Brazil. It is imperative at this point that we take some time to learn a few things about Brazilians and their business culture. If we can learn about their business culture, we can avoid any cultural misunderstanding that could put this project in jeopardy. This memo will cover some of the basics of Brazilian culture for the benefit of the entire company; those who will be working closely with the partners will receive more advanced training.

Culture will play a major part in the dynamics of the way we operated in international business circles. Managers today will need special skills in order to meet these challenges. Language differences, culture awareness, and management skills are necessary for success. These challenges often lead to a debate in which is better for a company, expatriate or foreign national workers. There are pros and cons to the use of each, but it will depend on several factors to which managers will be better suited for the challenge of