General Culture and Business Etiquette The culture in Singapore could be described as authoritarian, pragmatic and rational due to the types of cultures that reside there. Although the main business language is English, there are some important customs to take note of before traveling to, or doing business with, Singapore. The main cultural traditions in Singapore are linked to India, China, and Malaysia, and Singaporeans are known to be loyal business partners with a strong trade foundation in the competitive Asian market. (Kwintessential) Establishing relationships will be important in the success of a business in Singapore, and you may come across different cultural customs from each of the communities. Business meetings with Malay …show more content…
By showing respect through customs, you’re providing an example of your business etiquette. While this is just a short list of customs to take note of, further, more in depth- research should be piloted before confidently conducting foreign business. Political Situation The Republic of Singapore is governed by a parliamentary republic with The Constitution of Singapore as their supreme law. They have a nominated president as head of state, an appointed prime minister as head of government, and appointed cabinet positions which are responsible for government policies. (Factbook) Their power structure is highly centralized, featuring a top-down appointment style; rather than electing most offices. When the President gets elected by the people, the President appoints a Prime Minister, who then appoints the cabinet. The Prime Minister is the leader of the Parliament, which acts as the country’s legislature. The People’s Action Party has dominated politics in Singapore since their independence from Malaysia in 1965. (BBC) Currently the country’s political system has been in the news for evolving into more than one dominant political party. The 2006 elections included three main opposition parties: The Singapore Democratic Alliance, The Singapore Democratic Party, and the Worker’s Party. The Education Minister, Ong Ye Kung, recently stated that “a multi-party system [in Singapore] could slow down
It is also easy for many other companies to set up headquarter in Singapore as their starting point in Asia to make it possible to reach to its market point. In addition, Singapore is unique in different lifestyles and culture. It is also known for its capability of attracting sizable foreign investment, pro-business environment and entrepreneurs. Singapore focuses more on a knowledge based economy which can be seen in its education sysem. Furthermore, Singapore is located in the heart of Asia and it plays an important role in international
The first important custom to understand when conducting business with Japan is bowing. In Japan bowing represents respect and can be very instrumental in making a positive initial impression (Nevison, 2009). There are many incidents when bowing should be conducted and they are, introducing oneself, as a welcome, as a form of gratitude, and to express remorse (Custom of Bowing, n.d.). Japan’s business culture is very inclusive. According to Japanese Business Customs (2011, para.3) “group decision-making is important in Japan and has been generally described as a “bottom up” exercise rather than “top down.” The fact that Japan conducts business with this approach can make the process time consuming. It is important to be aware that developing connections with Japan will/do not happen overnight. Another custom of Japan is gift giving. According to Japanese Business Customs (2011, para.4) “gift giving is expected on many business occasions in Japan.” It is imperative to note that the value of the gift is not as important as the essence of the gift. Exchanging business cards are another very important aspect of conducting business with Japan. According to Nevison (2009, para.5), “business cards should be printed on both sides, with your first language on one side and the other party’s language on the other." Physical contact like hand shaking, hugging and even
How does a person manage to be named Sports Illustrated top-ten female race car drivers in the world and be Glamour Magazine’s "Eco Hero" at the same time? Well, our special guest Leilani Münter connects both her life passions in some unique ways and most importantly, you should “never underestimate a vegan hippie chick with a race car.”
As you plan your itinerary, it’s important to note that you can only serve yourself and your clients better by researching the local business customs. Even different cities in the same country can prove to have a unique work cultures. A quick Internet search will produce numerous articles on the culture of your host country or city. If you are embarking on an international business trip, it’s important to remember these tips to assist in the success of your endeavors:
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
I will first briefly explain about John Dunlop’s Model. Secondly, how the model enhance effective relations. Thirdly, I will breakdown and briefly discuss on the roles of the players in Singapore, Fourthly, namely a few examples of their input. At the end of my report, I will also give an overall conclusion.
3 4 11 FOREWORD INTRODUCTION - Getting to know Singapore OVERVIEW OF LEGAL ENVIRONMENT - Legal Framework - Handling Civil Disputes - Employment - Immigration - Competition Act - Singapore's Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) STARTING A BUSINESS BANKING RELATIONSHIP IN SINGAPORE - Introduction to the Financial Landscape in Singapore - Banking in Singapore - Business Credit Facilities - Business Protection TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS - Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships - Limited Liability Partnerships - Limited Partnerships - Companies - Joint Ventures - Foreign Companies - Representative Offices - Incorporating a Company - Annual Requirements for
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.
There are 4 main races mix in Singapore, also have 4 main languages in Singapore. Official language is English
Chapter I and II from Chinese Business Etiquette: A guide to protocol, manners, and culture in the people republic of China by Scott D. Seligman is a book explaining different situations that gives an insight about that complexities faced by the Westerners doing business and travelling to China. “Good manners is generally just good common sense anyways.” (Seligman 1998) This was written in his introduction where in he stated that situations, attitudes and practices are timeless. This being said, this book was written almost 17 years ago in which an issue of “advancement” and “adaptation” can be raised since it evolves and develops rapidly. In addition, the question raised about this book being the most suitable for Canadians to learn about Chinese etiquette is simply answered 17 years ago as well. Regardless of the time when it was written and published the book conveys what a westerner or any other culture can experience in China. Furthermore, Seligman started by telling the audience of the book of what to expect and continued with personal experience and situations that an individual in different situations can possibly encounter. He also included tips and recap from what the chapter is about. In addition, having a good insight it is very evident that the author integrated himself into the book. These two chapters evolved around business situations from Chinese learning Western technological advancement to having business relationships and their specification.
When developing relationships with coworkers from other countries than the United States of America, one strategy that can make developing those relations more comfortable for a foreign partner is to research and understand the business culture of his/her home nation.
South Korea’s interesting cultural background directly impacts their language and religion, and even their business etiquette. The various aspects in the Korean culture directly relate to doing business and give a better understanding as to how Koreans behave in a professional environment.
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.
Then, in 1987, to foster unity across Singapore’s three major ethnic groups, Chinese, Indian and Malay, English became the main method of instruction in all schools. Today, almost all instruction is in English except for a class in the student’s native tongue: Tamil and Malay for ethnic Indians and Malays, and Mandarin for ethnic Chinese.
Multiculturalism and multiracialism has become the proud hallmark of Singapore society today. However, the issues that come together with them still seem to plaque the community even after more than five decades. In retrospect, these issues are more protuberant in the implementation level than at the policy-making stage. The way Chua Beng Huat asserted in his paper titled Multiculturalism in Singapore: an instrument of social control, it seems as though multiculturalism and multiracialism are double-edged swords which can cut both ways.