As the importance of implementing socially responsible programs continues to increase worldwide, it is important that companies develop social responsibility policies and programs and work in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner beneficial to shareholders, employees, and the general community. For these companies, marketing their sustainable behaviors will endear them to politicians, customers, and employees alike, giving them a leg up on the competition and driving their business forward.
The problems were resolved when the entrepreneur realized that the translations were not being done correctly and hired a new translator.
Equally important to the verbal language is the nonverbal or hidden language of the culture. This can be thought of in terms of several components-time, space, and business relationship. In most parts of the world, time is much more flexible than it is in the United States. For example, due to the variability in traffic and the possibility of significant congestion, it is difficult to set exact appointment times in Beijing or Hong Kong. “Irish time” means that a meeting usually starts anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes after the established posted time-which one U.S. professor at an Irish university found out when he was in the meeting room at the appointed staring time and no one showed up until 10 minutes later. The meeting actually started 15 minutes after that.
The second aspect of nonverbal language is space-in particular, how much room should exist between individuals when they talk. While Germans prefer more space than Americans, Arabic and Latin Americans like to stand closer when talking. Also, some cultures, like Hungarian, Russian, and hug and even kiss when greeting a known business partner regardless of gender.
The final aspect of nonverbal language, business relationships, is also critical for the entrepreneur to understand. In most countries, it is far more important to interact with a potential business is discussed. One entrepreneur in Australia met the president, the management team, and the family on different social occasions before any business was discussed.
Social Structure
Social structure and institutions are also aspects of the culture. While the family unit in the United States usually consists of parent(s) and children, in many cultures it is extended to include grandparents and other relatives. This, of course, radically affects lifestyles, living standards, and consumption patterns