1 / 25

American Business Culture

American Business Culture. The American Experience and Value System Personal Qualities Communication Protocol Mores and Morality The Business Climate. American Business Culture. Political Correctness Employer-Employee Relations Salary and Benefits Socializing Negotiations.

JasminFlorian
Télécharger la présentation

American Business Culture

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. American Business Culture • The American Experience and Value System • Personal Qualities • Communication • Protocol • Mores and Morality • The Business Climate

  2. American Business Culture • Political Correctness • Employer-Employee Relations • Salary and Benefits • Socializing • Negotiations

  3. The American Experience • Searching for the American Dream • Dislikeofcentralized systems which limited personal development • The importanceofsuccess • Material success as a measureof personal development: U.S. consumerdebt: $14 trillion • Success is individual—individualism vs. feudalism • The emphasisoninitiative vs. govtintervention

  4. Indvidualism: Positives and Negatives • Creates a need to performbecausepeopleareevaluated & rewardedonindividualperformance. • Make youcustomer a performer—”youwill save yourcompany X $ and increaseitslatteralcommunication.” • Rememberthestrain and worrythat Americans are under.

  5. Indvidualism: Positives and Negatives • Self-improvementmania—Americans want to be better so show themhowyourproductwill make themseembetter. • The negatives includethefeelingthatfailure is individualinspiteofthefactthatoften it is theresultofcircumstances—especiallytoday.

  6. Positive Thinking • Positive thoughtsarerewarded and negative thoughtsoftenpenalized. • Americans canfail to seethesituation in a criticallight and over-estimatewhattheyarecapableof—especiallysinceindividualperformance is the basis oftheirsurvival. • Analysis/criticismcan be viewed as negativism. Thus self-deceptioncanresult.

  7. Positive Thinking • A contradiction given the present situation • The American economy is in shanbles, 7 million jobs have been lost and Americans areworriedabout losing theirjob. • Yettheyareexpected to be positive, whichmayhelpthemkeeptheirjobs, whiletheirsituation is theopposite.

  8. Positive Aspects of American Business • Relatively limited government regulation—pro business orientation • Favorable tax structure • Access to venture capital—pro risk • Can-do spirit which encourages entrepreneurship • Huge consumption-oriented market

  9. The Mood in the U.S. • Main St. • Desparation: loss of jobs, homes, homelessness • The greatest fear: loss of job, home and health insurance • Rising anger against Wall St. • Nickle and Dimed • A state of denial

  10. Negative Aspectsof American Business Culture • Tremendous pressure • Job insecurity • Highly competitive—”Swim with the Sharks without being eaten alive” • Short term thinking • Hype • Wall St. mentality—quick profits, little responsibility, gambling, moral hazard.

  11. Personal Qualities • Assertiveness • Loyalty—in spite of job insecurity—Corporate downsizers fire 1/3 of staff • Team player--informative • Outgoing—sociable & enthusiastic • Confidence • Toughness, drive & dedication

  12. Communication Style • Informal • First names and nick names • Joking and bantering (one-upsmanship) • Extrovert behavior (highly respected) • Uncomfortable with silence—the Japanese weapon • Time is money--be brief • Conflict and confrontation accepted • Exhibit confidence—hype?

  13. Protocol • Dress--formal in business, informal socially • Time--punctual in business, 20 minute rule socially • Limited gift giving (Christmas) • Achievement based respect, not seniority • Not as rigid rules as Asia and perhaps Europe

  14. Mores and Morality • The importance of religious affiliation • 2/3 go to church regularly • Churches and civic organizations are meeting places for making connections • Puritan tradition-- Sexual modesty (at least publicly) is a must • You must appear to be moral, but morality does not always extend to business dealings--i.e. Enron, Tyco, etc.

  15. Morality? • Stock options and huge salaries • 300 times the average worker-$12 million is the average for C.E.O.s in Fortune 500 • In order to justify these, C.E.O.’s are tempted to cook the books. • 1970-2000 over 700 companies were caught doing this aided by auditors. • Billions of $ have been stolen from the public—employees and stockholders

  16. The New Religion • Positive thinking and attactions • Masschurcheswherethecongregation is motivatedratherthanpreachedthe gospel. • The message is thinkingpositively and God willrewardyou. • ”I believe God wants to giveusnicethings.” • ”Think like God. Thinkbig. Thinkincrease. Thinkabundance. Think more thanenough.” • Corporate religion, religiouscorporations.

  17. Political Correctness • Conservative and distrust of social democracy • Life is a jungle, creates initiative • Best not to tout the value of social democracy • Harassment is the kiss of death • Avoid discussing politics • Labor relations--union membership is frowned upon: Walmart

  18. Salaries and Benefits • Paid vacations--2-3 weeks • 50 hour week not uncommon • Unpaid overtime for managers • Meritocracy, not seniority • Never ask about one’s salary • Health insurance--must be negotiated • Most benefits must be negotiated--no free lunch

  19. Socializing • Voluntary organizations are often meeting places • Americans are joiners--Rotary Club, etc. • Gentleman sports--tennis, squash, golf, hunting, alpine skiing are meeting places • Smoking is frowned upon • Expected to adapt to American values

  20. TopicsofConversation • Sports—know thesituationofthelocal teams. TV programs • American accomplishments • Both as a nation and theaccomplishmentsofthecompanywithwhichyou’re dealing • Findcommoninterests—hobbies • Getthemtalkingaboutwhattheyare in to • Taxes in Norway—they’ll love it

  21. TopicsofConversation • AvoidmentioningtheNorwegiansocialwelfare system and thatNorway is #1 onthe UN human developmentindex and thatthe U.S. is #13. • Avoidmentioninghealthcare reform and howpopularObama is in Europe • In fact just avoidpoliticalissues, regulation& collective governmental responsibility.

  22. Negotiating • Tough negotiators • High/Low balling is common • Keep your bottom line a secret • Your opponent will be looking for it • Americans may promise more than they can deliver • A result of high expectations • Hype is common

  23. Employer--Employee Relations • Short-term thinking • The quarterly report • The basis of fat bonuses for execs • Layoffs and firings • Increases stock value • Creates a loyalty dilemma • No job security, no loyalty • It’s a jungle out there • Informality does not mean concern

  24. E-E Relations Continued • Teamworking is important • Requires good communication skills and information sharing • Bosses can be tough and demanding, but performance is rewarded • You must showcase yourself to be promoted • Teamworking and competition for promotion--a contradiction?

  25. Norwegians’ (Europeans’?) Perception of Americans • Loud • Naïve—Optimism vs. skepticism? • Assertive/boastful • Open • Friendly • Superficial/uniformed

More Related