Case Analysis - Bwa

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Case Analysis – BWA Discovers the Indonesian Way As our society moves forward and advances in technology occur at an ever-increasing pace, the business community continues to progress toward a global economy. In order to maintain relations, as well as bolster business, it is imperative to study and understand both the similarities and differences between varying cultures. As such, developing cross-cultural communication skills is integral to the success of corporations who wish to compete on a multi-national scale. Dealing with different cultures goes beyond simply learning foreign languages. Fundamental beliefs and actions that seem simple and essential to some cultures are completely alien to others. Fully understanding another culture requires an in-depth knowledge of their customs in order to prevent inadvertent misunderstandings and to facilitate effective communication and negotiation. Indeed, noted anthropologist and social theorist Clyde Kluckhohn stated that “Culture consists of patterned ways of thinking, feeling and reacting, acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievement of human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and attached values” (Ballow). In “Negotiations – BWA Discovers the Indonesian Way” (Allard & Harvey) we are provided with a good example of the pitfalls that may arise when attempting to do business on a cross-cultural level (Harvey & Allard). Reference Page Ballow, D. G. . (2004). Globalization and cross-cultural issues in project management. Retrieved from http://www.asapm.org/asapmag/articles/GlobalizPM.pdf Harvey, Carol P., and M. June. Allard. Understanding and Managing Diversity: Readings, Cases, and Exercises. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.

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