Different Business Protocuols - America & Europe.
The word 'Protocol' could simply be defined as meaning a way to do something. There are, are many of us are aware, different ways of doing business in different countries. One example would be that in China - and many other Asian countries - a simple transaction at the market is often achieved through bargaining. In the West, however, the price given is THE price. No bargaining occurs.
Differing cultures require differing protocols which do not, in the wide scheme of things affect most of us too greatly. In both business and politics however, a basic awareness of cultural differences becomes important.
Fortunately for us, the language of money talks a fairly universal language! Yet Western business protocols adhere to two basic distinctions – the American and Other. America ‘s geographical and historical separation from the Western & Continental world resulted in the growth of a separate culture. In our shrinking global world this distinction is not now so noticeably divisive as it once was. However, it helps to be aware of the basic cultural differences in a business setting which could affect outcomes.
The concept of the hard sell appeared in a new country where business opportunities abounded and were available to any person with the skills to take advantage. In the more conservative European/Continental setting a business class emerged which allowed those of a lower social standing to become upwardly mobile. The object was as much about social class as about money. Many entrepreneurs therefore needed to become aware of and to become accepted by a higher social class in order to succeed in business.
The newly developing democratic America, no longer bound by “ Old World” ideas of social class, were freer to develop their own, new strategies in the business world as in other aspects of society.
This may sound very long winded and unnecessary in a class which deals with Oral English. But no language can be understood without knowing a little about the culture behind it.
Most of to-days class is going to be about exploring some of those cultural differences which we will do via demonstration. But it is very important, for anyone who is going to be successful in global business. Such information is usually not included in English or Business text-books. Yet it can, at times, be the difference between negotiations which can make or break business negotiations.
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