THE INFLUENCES OF CULTURE IN CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND INDIA

University Degree Business and Administrative studies

The Middle East Overview

Situated between Asia, Africa and Europe, the Middle East is a cultural and ethnic mosaic of linguistic and racial diversity. The region consists of a large number of ancient civilizations stretching back some 3000 years. During this time, people crossed the region through trade and invasion routes and brought with them a plethora of traditions, cultures and religion which still exist today. Middle eastern countries each have their own unique identity and culture, but also share many fundamental beliefs and traditions. The Middle Eastern region consists of Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The region has a population of 200,000,000 with various dialects of Arabic and Persian. The region also speaks English as well as French in Lebanon.

Religion

Three of the world’s major religions originated from the Middle East. These religions include Islam, Judaism and Christianity with the majority of the people in the region practicing Islam. Judaism and Christianity while minor to Islam are mainly practiced in Israel and Lebanon. In this region, Islam is a way of life and governs politics, moral values and various aspects of behavior such as how one should dress. Islam impacts the daily lives of people differently depending on what country they are in.

Communication

Communication in this region is relatively indirect and relies on nonverbal cues and figurative forms of speech. Saving face and respecting an individual’s honor are key drivers in the this indirect communication style and is prevalent throughout the Middle East. When communicating with individuals, a direct “no” should be avoided, and you should be prepared to interpret seemingly indefinite comments and gestures. Directly criticizing a Middle Eastern counterpart is considered impolite and brings shame to that person’s honor.

The Middle East region has been characterized by civil unrest and violence among ethnic and religious groups, with much of the ...

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Communication

The Middle East region has been characterized by civil unrest and violence among ethnic and religious groups, with much of the region struggling with political turmoil and conflict among differing ideologies, progressive steps marked by peace treaties and international assistance have helped to stabilize parts of the Middle East. The written language, Arabic and Hebrew, is written right to left.

The working week in the region tends to begin on Sunday and end on Thursday, with some countries beginning on Saturday and ending on Wednesday. Friday is the Muslim holy day and is considered part of the weekend. In Israel, the Sabbath is on Saturdays and many businesses will be closed. People in this region have a more flexible attitude towards time and do not always start or finish at the scheduled time. Punctuality will be expected of foreigners, although local nationals may not be as punctual. The region is predominantly Muslim and time must be allocated during the workday to allow for prayer, which may interrupt the daily business schedule. When Muslim’s are at prayer, they should not be interrupted. Individuals should remember that it is rude to eat or drink inform of Muslims during Ramadan due to fasting, do not use your left hand, particularly when eating, because it is considered unclean in parts of the Middle East. Individuals should never cross their legs, nor should they display the soles of the foot towards some. Orthodox Muslims do not eat pork, nor do they drink alcohol or discus female members of their family.

India Overview

The official name of India is the Republic of India. India is a creative blend of cultures, religions, races and languages. The nations identity and social structure remain protected by a rich cultural heritage that dates back at least 5000 years, making India one of the oldest civilizations in the world. An understanding of the traditions and ways of communicating with others is vital to the success of any business organization. This forms the basis of India’s society. India has 21 official languages including Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri as well as English.

Religion

Religion is a way of life in India, and must be respected in order to maintain successful business relationships. Although the traditional cast system has been eliminated, attitudes still remain and both aspects of Indian culture still influence the hierarchical structure of business practices in India today. The elimination of the cast system was a direct outcome of Hinduism.

Fatalism is a concept that stems from one of the most characteristic traits of Indian culture, spirituality. The notion of karma and that everything happens for a reason is still significant in the decision making process of many Indians. It also influences the concept of time in India and as a consequence business negotiation’s may take longer and are never rushed. India has a greater acceptance of hierarchical settings, this is due to a strong sense of community and group defined orientation. This is a region where several generations often live together under one roof, creating a noticeable lack of privacy and a smaller concept of personal spa

References

Doing Business in the Middle East/ Middle Eastern Social and Business Culture, retrieved on 14 Aug 2011 from;

Global Perspectives in Real Estate 2nd qtr 2003, retrieved on 14 Aug 2011 from;

Doing Business in India / Indian Social business Culture, retrieved on 15 Aug 2011 from;

The role of Culture in Business Relationships with Indians – A Case Study, retrieved on 15 Aug 2011 from; http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/the-role-of-culture.asp