. The training should provide US expatriates with the knowledge and skills in
building relationships with their Taiwan associates. US expatriates need to
understand the importance of family and friends to the Taiwanese. They need to
know the role of social relationships in business and learn how to build and
maintain good relationships with their Taiwanese associates.
. The training should include the knowledge and skills in interpersonal
communication. US expatriates need to understand that there are different
communication styles between cultures and know the communication patterns of
Taiwanese people. It is very important for them to know how to deal with
situations when communication problems occur between them and their
Taiwanese associates.
. The training should include Taiwan’s business protocol. This includes the way
business is usually conducted in Taiwan, how business meetings are usually
conducted, and the negotiation strategies used by Taiwanese business people.
. The training should include legal issues related to doing business in Taiwan. US
expatriates need to know about Taiwan’s legal system, the use of contracts in
Taiwan, business ethical standards in Taiwan, and Taiwan’s government
regulations for business.
. The training should provide US expatriates with information about living in
Taiwan. This includes the life styles of people in Taiwan, the food and dining
conditions, the commuting conditions, the housing conditions, and the schooling
conditions in Taiwan. The training should provide information about the social
support available to US expatriates in Taiwan and how to access it. The training
also should inform US expatriates about how to cope with natural disasters, such
as typhoons and earthquakes.
. US business expatriates need intercultural training. Companies working across
country borders should pay more attention to this training. In addition to
cultural-specific training, companies should provide cultural-general training for
their expatriates. They might also consider these concerns when selecting
employees; those with a good liberal arts background might well be expected to
bring some of these skills and knowledge with them to the job.