Internationally, developed countries like the United States and Britain?and developing ones like China are considered by many to be too insular to be true Global Business Leaders. Britain, in particular, is considered insular by other leading member Countries of the EU and no longer the home of fair play. Many consider Britain to no longer be the major political force it once was and give it poor ratings as a Nation that contributes in a good way to other Nations in the world.
In the USA recent studies have shown that many Americans not only don?t know about other Countries and their Cultures but cannot tell you the location of many Countries or even States within the USA. We have seen this lately among Political figures, even some who are or were considering running for the Presidency of the USA.
This is compounded even more as countries once considered 3rd world are emerging as major economical powers and, at the same time, the USA has cut back on teaching foreign languages quite dramatically. Many foreign language departments lost resources and most high school students take some Spanish only because, at some stage, they have to take a 2nd language.
Each country has its? way of conducting business and use tools, etiquettes and methods that differ from other Nations and Regions. If you are open to learning these differences then international business opportunities exist in multiple international locations.
To be a member of the ?Global Village? and become a successful multinational company, you have to accept that no one Countries strategy is THE right one. The strategies used by American, European, Asian or Latin American companies can be very different and, often frustrating to others.
The emergence of China has created similar problems for Chinese businesspeople. Last year, The International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) held a dinner and conference on Global Leadership that included 30 CEO?s from top Chinese private companies. The lack of true Global Leadership skills was just as apparent in the Chinese businesspeople as it was in those from other countries.
The willingness and ability of Global Business Leaders to cooperate and participate in the most critical social and environmental challenges, among many important aspects of Global Business, is increasingly critical if we are to have true Globalization and an active and committed Global Village.
The web site acrossborders.org has a short article that refers to and sums up the ?they don?t do business our way? and the concept that ?we really need to educate them?? The fact is that it is the staff of the Company, whether America, British, Latin American, or Asian, that needs to learn the business etiquette and methods of the other Countries and Regions if they want to create a successful international business and become a real multinational corporation.
The term ?Global Village? has been credited to Marshall McLuhan who foresaw the effects of Globalization as far back as 1964.
Changing the way one does business when going international, requires losing the ?this is the way we?ve always carried out our business.? As the ?Global Village? has grown, aided by the constant advance in communication technology like the Internet, other Countries and Cultures have developed their own excellent methods of carrying out business in their Countries and Regions.
Of course, we know there are many languages spoken. Within many languages, there are lots of different language groups and dialects that can cause problems. While English is generally considered the language of business, it is now the 3rd most spoken in the world, slightly behind Spanish and both are well behind Chinese.
While Mandarin has been the ?official language? of China since 1913, there are seven (7) language groups and many dialects spoken within those groups. In Germany, while Standard German (Hoch Deutsch) is widely used, there are six (6) branches of the language and between 50 ? 250 dialects. These factors can make it difficult for people in those Countries to communicate, let alone a foreigner trying to do business.
Therefore, not everyone who visits your Web site speaks English so, as you expand, be sure your site offers some level of service, possibly a description of your Company & Product(s) in other major languages. If you don?t have International Channel Partners, your Customers will want to call Technical and Customer Support so, sans International Channel Partners, it means you will need to employ bilingual Technical and Customer Service staff.
As you can see, developing your business internationally is not a simple process and most companies require the services of an International Business Consultant to ensure their success and make them a true member of the ?Global Village.?
Just as it takes a Village to raise a child, so it requires a Village ? a Global one ? to raise your Company and guide it to maturity internationally.
For more information about International Business Development, contact the author: david.keenan@lafayette-consulting.com
http://lafayette-consulting.com
A list of books that may be useful:
?Breaking Through the Culture Shock ? Elisabeth Marks
The Global Business Leader ? J. Frank Brown
The Global Village ? Marshall McLuman & Bruce R. Powers
The World?s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them ? Barry Tomalin
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Europe ? Terri Morrison & Wayne A. Conaway?
Chinese Business Etiquette ? Stefan H. Verstappen
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