Reference no: EM132214386

In a meeting between businesses of different cultures, awareness of the other’s differences is key. There are many societal norms and beliefs that can cause a cultural collision and tank any business dealing. Because Americans have a deal-focused culture while the Chinese prefer a relationship-focused culture, Americans should not rush into a meeting with a contract (Sullivan et al., 2017, p. 30). The Chinese place much more value in information not directly related to conducting business than Americans, as they seek to build a trusting relationship. Trust is essential to honoring contracts, so that means slow negotiation and what Americans think of as ‘wasting time’. There can also be many differences in what is considered polite conduct. Chinese society is more formal, so researching differences in social conduct is important. For example, there is a stricter hierarchy in China, where people with higher status should be respected in certain ways. Making jokes is something Americans should avoid, as even if it was a casual remark, it can be taken seriously by Chinese business people. Reference Daniels, J., Radebaugh, L., & Sullivan, D. (2017). International Business: Environments & Operations (16th ed.). S.l.: Prentice Hall.