Business Culture in Italy

International marketing or business is uniquely different from the local market because the product price, place and promotion is vastly different from what is been offered to local customers (Johansson, 2000) With the emergence of the information technology, cross border marketing has never been a distant dream. However, it has never been easier even for giant multinational companies to face challenges that come in international business. The biggest challenge comes from the culture which varies from country to country.

Washington, Okoro and Thomas (2012) have written an analysis of the benefits and challenges of improving intercultural communication in international business. Their article functions as an overview of some key issues, and is fairly well-researched, but ultimately treads no new ground. The article first outlines the case for improved intercultural communication, noting that business is becoming increasingly globalized. As nations come together, there is the risk that ventures and deals could fail as the result of errors in intercultural communication. The authors note, however, that "as businesses begin to appreciate and respect cultural differences, they develop a better understanding of why people act in certain ways, and give them a better understanding on how they should be act while conducting business."

Appearing impatient or rushing your colleagues in business negotiations looks like a sign of weakness.

If you think about life's different occasions, food is most likely at the center of each one. We use food to mark special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, graduations and weddings. Food is used to offer comfort to people who are mourning the loss of a loved one. It is prepared for the special family members and friends in our lives who need extra help while recovering from an illness or after having a baby. Food also plays a significant role in our daily lives: having breakfast with the kids before school, a lunch meeting with co-workers, or dinner with our spouse.No matter what our cultural background is, the preparation and eating of food is something we all have in common with one another. But food is much more than nourishment; it is the vehicle through which we communicate sentiments, express our creativity and create memories. And it is in the sharing of food with others that keeps us connected.

The United States, a nation founded on a fundamental belief in equality, is today a multicultural mosaic of over 315 million people of varying race and cultural heritage.

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.

Making business abroad can be risky, but it can also be profitable for a company as well; thus the necessity to study in deep the country where the company will bring the business to. International companies are faced with many cultural challenges, when doing business across and inside of different borders. Identifying the significant cultural issues involved when evaluating the attractiveness of a particular location as a place for doing business can be crucial for a business. Aspects to consider when studying culture in a new place

Chao, or hello in Italy. The culture of Italy is of particular interest to me because my father’s side of the family had Italian ancestry. My grandpa was born in in a little city outside the capital, Rome. Italian is the proud creator of pasta. Although my dad’s side of the family is Italian we don’t have everything in common. Italy is a great a beautiful country with some pretty interesting facts. I can’t wait to learn more about the country of Italy.

Italy is one of the nations with the most significant economies in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US $ 2.25 trillion as in the year 2011. Italy is a developed and sophisticated market and immigrants from the United States have faced competition from the locals as well as from other European Union organizations in the entire market segments. The regulatory systems in Italy are sophisticated where commodities involving safety, health or environmental issues are most likely to be regulated more intensively. Small, family businesses characterize the dominant business entities in the economy. This paper attempts to address the cultural, political, business and legal issues that affect the entry of business in the Italian market

For instance: “Thus, U.S. managers often have relatively little difficulty doing business in England, because managers in both countries speak the same language, and a common framework exists for understanding both commercial and personal relationships”( DeNisi & Griffin, 2014, p. 56). However, this can open a can of worms if both the in house management and the business country are having issues with the foreign country such as Canada or India; to name a few. These differences can alter the direct business practices to stray from its original format, causing misunderstandings, personal norms, and certain customs to play a major role in the misfortune of the situation being evaluated. “As a result of these and myriad other cultural differences, then, managers may encounter unexpected complexities when doing business in countries where these sort of cultural differences exists” (DeNisi & Griffin, 2014, p. 56).

The five weeks of the Cultural aspects of international business course have been a truly enriching life experience for me. I must admit that I was a little skeptical about the value proposition of the course as I thought this was going to be one of those purely theoretical pro-diversity lectures with no potential for practical application. However, the fact that Professor Lane co-authored the textbook intrigued me so much (I have never had a Professor who actually wrote the textbook for the course) that I decided to give it a chance and sign-up for the course.

International businesses that are ill informed about the practices of another culture are unlikely to succeed in that culture. One way to develop cross-cultural literacy is to regularly rotate and transfer people internationally.

In today’s business world American business professionals must be ready to conduct effective, meaningful, and professional business with a multitude of cultures from around the world. As corporate business continues the push toward expanding globalization in business, professionals must not only recognize the need to understand the market they are trying to move into but also the culture of the country they want conduct business in. This report will highlight key information for multinational companies and managers doing business in Italy and will cover some of the Italian business markets, a comparison with the United States using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, and business practices and etiquette that are part of the Italian business culture.

When dealing with intercultural business a person should be well aware of the characteristics of the culture he is to be in contact with. He should be well prepared to face attitudes not common in his home country.

A business person is limited on time in exploring and negotiating the cultural differences. Exploring a new country is generally to discuss business weather its importing or exporting goods.