Intercultural communication differences: reconciliating disparities through recognition

You represent a Mauritian hardware company which is negotiating to buy hardware from a manufacturer in Korea. In your first meeting, you make it clear that your company intends to follow closely the production and quality of the product.

The manufacturer's representative softly voices out, "perhaps that will be difficult". However, you urge for agreement and to demonstrate your enthusiasm to buy, you produce the prepared contract that you have brought with you.

Contrary to your expectations, the manufacturer does not display any interest in the deal.

(a) Elaborate on the disparities that exist in the cultures of countries across the world.

(b) What are the means to overcome intercultural communication barriers?

(c) What strategies would you have used to deal and establish fruitful communication with your Japanese counterpart?