Introduction

Great Britain, known for majestic castles, the Royal Family, Shakespeare, and the Beatles, may initially seem like an adventurous business opportunity. However, before jetting off, or taking on a virtual business opportunity – it is imperative to understand who the people of Great Britain are, and how to behave to be successful. Additionally, it will be important to understand the current political scene including information on Brexit, and the current impacts of other initiatives being undertaken by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Who is Great Britain

Great Britain is also often referred to as the United Kingdom (UK). However, both terms refer to a different land. Great Britain is specifically used to describe the island of Britain which includes Scotland, England, and Wales. The United Kingdom is a more encompassing term that refers to the island of Britain (Scotland, England, and Wales), as well as Northern Ireland. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 523) state, “Although English is the principal language, secondary languages or dialects such as Welsh, Scottish, and Irish are spoken in various regions”. Great Britain is home to English, Welsh, Scotts, and Irish, as well as an influx of individuals Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 524) describes as “affluent Middle Easterners”.

Business Etiquette

Britain is similar to the United States in that we expect timeliness, and meeting times to be respected. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 524) go on to share the typical workday is from 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. unless you work in a government office. Moreover, Great Britain is generally regarded as a society that behaves with more formality. For example, Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 525) share, “British leaders or more formal, and value privacy”. A trend I found throughout much of my research, was that Great Britain employees tend to put in fewer hours of work a week. Gillett (2018, para. 22) quotes Mark Abadi stating, “work hours are creeping upwards in the UK, according to a recent estimate, full-time employees in the UK work an average of 42.7 hours a week, which is still fewer than the American average of 47 hours.” However, even with fewer hours punched on the clock – those hours tend to be more productive than in the United States.

Brexit

Finally, Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 523) share a current issue within Great Britain is the ongoing exit from the European Union (EU). The New York Times (2021, para. 6)  shares that Brexit is, “shorthand for the proposal that Britain leaves the European Union and change its relationship with the bloc on trade, security, and migration”. Important changes this has caused include the inability to move freely in the EU, and new visa rules. Additionally, trade is now subject to new paperwork requirements to move goods, which once occurred more freely throughout the EU. This exit caused a storm of other issues as well, including Northern Ireland and Scotland’s rejection to sever its relationships with the EU. As a global leader, it is important to look into current issues surrounding Brexit before entering into Business negotiations in Great Britain. The New York Times article does a great job explaining at length the ongoing issues, certainly worth reading through.

Conclusion

To conclude, when doing business in Great Britain it is important to first understand where you are. Are you within Great Britain, or would it be true that you are located within the United Kingdom? Additionally, it will be important to understand that promptness, formality, and privacy are of utmost importance. Finally, it is always important to have an understanding of current issues, in terms of Great Britain, one should be aware of the ongoing changes due to Brexit.

Citations:

Abramson, N. R., & Moran, R. T. (2018). Managing Cultural Differences Global Leadership for the 21st Century (10th ed.). Routledge.

Gillett, R. (2018, January 29). 6 major differences between how Americans and Brits work. Business Insider. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/difference-between-american-and-british-work-styles-2018-1#british-people-tend-to-put-in-fewer-hours-3.

Mueller, B., & Robins, P. (2020, December 24). What is Brexit? and how is it going? The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/article/brexit-uk-eu-explained.html.

Introduction

You are a Global Leader who has just been tasked to complete a business project with fellow colleagues in Brazil. Whether you plan on being physically in the country or communicating through various forms of technology – it will be imperative to have a clear picture of the country, and the approximate 211 million people that call it home. According to National Encyclopedia (2021, para 1) some of the top industries you may find yourself working in or within Brazil include, “iron and steel production, automobile assembly, petroleum processing, chemicals production, and cement making”.

Where in the World is Brazil

If you were not already aware, Brazil is part of Latin America. Latin America includes South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands.  Of those, Brazil, located in South America, is one of the largest in both population and land area.  A key geographical feature of Brazil, and an integral part of business, is the Amazon rainforest. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 421) share, “Brazil’s 3.3 million square miles of Amazon rainforest, 40 percent of its national territory, is a world resource in need of careful management”. It will be imperative for one to be sensitive to the impacts a business project or negotiation can have on this natural resource and its indigenous peoples.

The People

To begin, as stated earlier, the population of Brazil is made up of about 211 million people. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 421 – 422) share the people of Brazil “are very young”, “50 percent of its total population are under 20 years of age”.  The population exist in varying wealth/poverty levels. The upper-class typically have access to “first-world” living conditions. In contrast, in the shadow of the advanced industrious skyscrapers are the shanties – the homes of some “four million people” that have little to no basic services (Abramson & Moran, 2018, p. 421).

Additionally, the people of Brazil value family. The families of Brazil are extensive and include individuals beyond the immediate family. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 422) state families, “consist of hundreds of people, and it provides the foundation of the individual’s social structure”. These family structures include members from both the mother and fathers’ side of the family and are typically male-dominated.

Greetings and Mannerisms

When greeting your colleagues in Brazil a handshake is an appropriate “hello”, this is also true between men and women. Hugging is less common and is not a typical gesture amongst non-married encounters.  However, it is common to give a good old’ “pat on the back”, or touch another’s shoulder during social interactions. When saying hello, it would also be a good practice to announce your preferred name – typically in Brazil, that is a less formal title and is usually a first name. Outside of common greeting mannerisms, other gestures in Brazil should be noted. For example, Bazerman and Moran (2018, p. 427) state, “the “OK” sign used in the US is considered extremely vulgar, especially when the three extended fingers are held parallel to the ground, close to the chest, with the palm up”.

Conclusions

While working in or with Brazil, as a Global Leader, I need to be aware of many factors. The Amazon rainforest is an important commodity to the people, and my business practices need to be mindful of this importance. When saying hello, even as a female, I should share my preferred name and shake hands. If my counterpart is not timely, this is not a sign of carelessness or disrespect, it could be – they are finishing up an important meal or event with the most important part of their being – their family – being flexible is a key quality. While I may not function exactly like a colleague in Brazil, we can find commonalities when respecting one another and can successfully partake in business together.

Citations:

Abramson, N. R., & Moran, R. T. (2018). Managing Cultural Differences Global Leadership for the 21st Century (10th ed.). Routledge.

Brazil – industry. Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Brazil-INDUSTRY.html.

Brazil POPULATION2021 DATA: 2022 forecast: 1960-2020 historical: Chart: News. Brazil Population | 2021 Data | 2022 Forecast | 1960-2020 Historical | Chart | News. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://tradingeconomics.com/brazil/population.

Introduction

You work for a global organization, and you have just been asked to partake in a business negotiation with your counterparts in Turkey, now what? First, you should understand where Turkey is. Abramson and More (2018, p. 384) state, “Turkey is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia”.  Turkey is much smaller than the United States and even smaller than some US states. Turkey is not landlocked and has coastal communities among the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and Sea of Marmara.  Additionally, Turkey has both plateaus and mountainous areas.

People, Religion, and Social Life of Turkey

Nations Online (2021) shares in 2020 Turkey had a population of approximately 83.2 million people in 2020. Abramson and More (2018, p. 384) share that Turkey has not established state religion.  However, within Turkey, both Islamic and Western customs and thoughts are carried out in daily routines. Abramson and More focus on Turkey being primarily secular in nature. However, in 2018 Tayyip Erdogan was elected president and has been working towards reviving Islam in Turkey. As president, he has been dedicating a good deal of cash flow to rebuilding religious education in Turkey.  Butler (2018) states,

“Reviving Imam Hatip, or Imam and Preacher, schools is part of Erdogan’s drive to put religion at the heart of national life after decades of secular dominance, and his old school is just one beneficiary of a government programme to pump billions of dollars into religious education.”

Without getting carried away in the many developments Tayyip Erdogan is pushing for his country, it is important to understand the drive to revive Islam that is currently ongoing, and the effects it may have if you are being tasked to begin business negotiations in Turkey,

Social life in Turkey ranges from modernization to traditional Turkish values, interwoven with the changing political drive towards Islam. On a high level Abramson and More (2018, p. 385) review social norms one should respect in and around Turkey including;

• Not wearing shoes inside the home
• Using Mr. or Miss to address elders
• Not using first names with those you do not have a close relationship with
• Use a head nod when men and women are greeting one another
• Be sensitive when providing criticism to Turks

Conducting Business in Turkey

Now that we understand where Turkey is, what to expect as far is religious and social norms, we can tie this into how traditional business should be carried out at a high level. Abramson and More (2018, p. 385) state, “Turks are commonly relationship-oriented in their business dealings”. This may mean that when you are negotiating in Turkey patience is key. It is extremely important in Turkey to first have a foundation of a strong trusting relationship.

Additionally, it is important to note, that Turks also behave in a collectivist manner. In Turkey, the group is more important than the individual.  Hofstede-insights.com (n.d.) states, “This means that the “We” is important, people belong to in-groups (families, clans or organisations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty”.  The collectivist way of life lends itself to the importance of relationships to a Turk.  If you can form a trusted, sincere relationship with a Turk, you will then likely become accepted by the “in-group”.

Conclusions

Turkey is located in between Europe and Asia. Turkey is not landlocked, and therefore, has several ports. Turkey is secular in nature, but in recent years a revival of Islam is being pushed to the forefront. Turks greet one another formally, typically not using the first name and using “Mr”. or “Miss”. Turkey believes in strong foundational relationships and tends to behave in a collectivist manner. In the sense of a Global World, this is an extremely brief overview of important aspects to be mindful of when being tasked to negotiate or do business in Turkey.  With the ever-changing global environment, this is a snapshot in time.  It is important in Business when being tasked to do business in other countries to always educate yourself on the norms within that society.

Citations

Abramson, N. R., & Moran, R. T. (2018). Managing Cultural Differences Global Leadership for the 21st Century (10th ed.). Routledge.

Butler, D. (2018, January 25). With more Islamic schooling, Erdogan aims to reshape Turkey. Reuters. Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/turkey-erdogan-education/.

Turkey – A country profile . A Country Profile – Destination Turkey – Nations Online Project. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/turkey.htm.

What About Turkey. Hofstede Insights. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/turkey/.

Introduction
Communication is a complex activity that is a constant factor in our daily activities. Dr. Rios (n.d., para. 9), states, “at its most basic level, communication is about the exchange of information between individuals”. As a linear activity, communication begins with a sender encoding – or forming a message, and then communicating the message. Next, a receiver interprets the received communication – or what is called decoding. After the receiver decodes the message, the receiver then becomes the sender to provide feedback. While this high-level explanation seems fairly straightforward, one factor that impacts communication, and information processing is personality.

Extroversion and Introversion
To elaborate, the Jungian Model of Personality is one reference point to further explain how personality and communication are correlated. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 61) state, ‘the Jungian model of personality types is an information-processing model based on three bipolar scales”. The model first classifies two-character attitudes including introversion and extroversion. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 61) describe extroversion as being “oriented outward”, and introversion as being “oriented inward”. While individuals are typically dominant in one area, the latter becoming an auxiliary personality, it is crucial effective communicators can function in both extroversion and introversion categories.

To illustrate, at one point or another, we have been labeled or labeled ourselves as an introvert or extrovert. I will be the first to raise my hand and say I am a proud…not so loud…introvert. Although, when I tell others this, they are sometimes taken aback and respond with you are so outgoing and communicate well. When others see my extroverted communication skills when working on a team or large project – they are seeing my auxiliary personality.

Perceivers and Judgers
Diving deeper into personality, another layer Jung identifies is how individuals gather and evaluate information within two functions. Abramson and Moran (2018, p. 62) state “relevant information needed to be perceived, and then its value needed to be assessed before useful communication (extraverted) or problem-solving (introverted) could be initiated”. Within this concept, Jung then identified two categories including perceivers and judgers. Perceivers and judgers then break off into two functions including perceivers as sensing and iNtuiting; and judgers functions as thinking and feeling.

At this point, the Jungian Model of Personality results in eight personality types. This becomes imperative for business leaders to understand and recognize. The Jungian Model of Personality has been used to identify the character of a nation. For example, I often work one on one with a Sales Manager from Germany. It is important to recognize that it is likely we are both within the Te Personality. We will both view communications as impersonal and likely analytical. What I may need to put more effort into is making sure I understand his space preferences, time preferences, and body language to avoid communication errors.

Final Thoughts
Communication may be simple to define at a surface level. However, in a globally diverse business world, we must recognize and understand communications vary from nation to nation. One way to better communicate nationally is to understand the national character of others. To avoid pitfalls, it is also imperative to know that the national character we have identified through concepts such as the Jungian Model of Personality should not become the stereotype on which we rely. We should use that as a starting point and as we gather and engage with others correct course where needed.

Citations
Abramson, N. R., & Moran, R. T. (2018). Managing Cultural Differences Global Leadership for the 21st Century (10th ed.). Routledge.
The Pennsylvania State University. (2021). Leadership in the Global Context: OLEAD 410 [Online course lesson]. Retrieved from: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/canvas/fa21/22181–16619/content/03_lesson/printlesson.html

Hello Everyone,

My name is Jennifer, and this is my last undergrad class – after a minor COVID setback in the fall. I am currently a Customer Experience Manager for a small organization in the trucking industry, a mom of three wild boys, and a wife. Our organization does have a small global market, and I am looking forward to incorporating this class into my work.

I grew up in New Jersey but now reside in Pennsylvania with my family. Outside of work we are an active family, this summer we took a road trip from our home in Chambersburg, PA, to Cooperstown, NY, then up into Maine, and then Boston before coming home. We are also on the go with baseball, piano, and soccer with our boys.