Cultural
Differences:
Asian
Business Customs
Asia
consists of many ancient cultures with diverse religions, beliefs and life philosophies.
Despite
their many unique attributes, there are some broad
similarities among these interesting peoples that carry (more or less)
throughout the Asia region.
Just
as simplistically, broad generalizations are also created of the region comprising
the distinct countries of Europe and North America (the west). Despite
their many differences, there are also some clear similarities.
Human beings in both the east and west share
a lot more similarities than differences. However, the
differences are important to understand because not only are they
very interesting but they can have tremendous impact on how
business is done and social life enjoyed. Some of the more noticeable
of these from a business perspective are listed below.
Difference
1:
Giving Instructions
Westerners - try to be direct and clear in their instructions and comments to
others.
Asians - often suggest their ideas and directives with subtle inferences and non-verbal clues
that are commonly used within their country.
Difference
2:
Asking Questions
Westerners - underlings are expected to ask questions that are explicit and even challenging of their superior’s instructions and
purposes.
Asians
- subordinates often feel intimidated about posing clarifying questions because
they might be seen to be challenging an authority
figure’s command of a situation and risks loss-of-face.
Difference
3:
Dealing with Challenges
Westerners - think it is best to solve problems directly and quickly with as little emotional fuss as
possible even if it means disrupting the feelings of others.
Asians
- understand that the emotional states of others are of great importance and spend a
lot of time seeming to talk in circles about problems while working to
find a consensual solution that does not offend anyone.
Difference
4:
Authority
Westerners managers
- often consider themselves part of the team but just happen to be the
ones in charge because of specialized skills and greater experience.
(Note: Management styles can vary tremendously among individuals.)
Traditional Asian managers
- consider themselves a secondary father figures to their employees.
They give guidance and personal support to employees and expect strong loyalty
and obedience in return.
Difference
5:
Office Relationships
Westerners - believe that professional relationships with colleagues at work should not become overly personal.
Asians - desire to form close relationships with people they work with and often feel offended if others do not reciprocate.
Difference
6:
Punctuality
Westerners - try to arrive at the designated time and start meetings without much delay.
Asians
- commonly arrive 5 minutes after a meeting is to begin and then desire
to spend another 5 to 10 minutes warming up to the others in the
meeting through non-business related conversation.
Difference
7:
Meaning of YES
Westerners - understand “YES” to mean there is an agreement between people or a commitment to do something.
Asians - often use the word “YES” to acknowledge that they are
listening to what is being said. It does not necessarily mean an
agreement has been made or something will get done.
Difference
8:
Hierarchies
Western society
- felt to have a more flattened socio-economic structure with fewer
hierarchical levels. Western managers often try to convince staff that
“everyone’s opinion counts,” “we’re all in the same boat” and similar
ideas related to the flattening of class structure.
Asian society
- felt to have a well defined class structure and everyone needs to
understand their place within the hierarchy so harmony can be
maintained. Foreigners are usually given a special and somewhat
exalted status and can get away with much more than locals.
Difference
9:
Reprimanding Staff
Western managers - feel there could be appropriate times when it is necessary to criticize an employee or supplier in public.
Asian managers - rarely scold their staff or people associated with their business in front of others.
Difference
10:
Privacy
Westerners - profess that information deemed confidential should remain so under most circumstances.
Asians - consider it rude and disrespectful if colleagues and friends have secrets that are not shared with the group.
Difference
11:
Accepting of Others
Westerners - often become distressed and angry if commitments are not upheld.
Asians - are generally more accepting of the imperfections of others -- including those of foreigners.
Difference
12:
Personal Status
Westerners
- publicly claim that worrying about one’s standing in the social
pecking order is akin to showing-off and is not important to them. That
said, they
seem to enjoy when their own high status is displayed.
Asians - recognize that one’s ranking on the socioeconomic ladder is critical to a person’s career and life advancement.
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Getting Ready For The
Deluge: Outsourcing in Philippines
by
Chalre Associates senior staff
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[PDF
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The
Economist Intelligence Unit of the Economist magazine
asked Chalre Associates' Chairman, Richard Mills,
to write a chapter about the Philippine outsourcing sector
in its annual Business Guide Book. The material
provides a Executive Briefing on the progress and major
issues facing this industry that is certainly one of most
significant growth stories in the world.
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Asia Pacific Mining
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[PDF
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The 7th Asia Pacific Mining Conference put on by the Asean
Federation of Mining Associations was perhaps the largest
such event in the region. Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates
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people who presented.
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The
State of BPO in Philippines: Dan Reyes Speaks
by
Chalre Associates senior staff
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[PDF
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Richard
Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates,
interviewed Dan Reyes of Sitel for ComputerWorld (US) recently to get
his views on the state of the BPO industry in Philippines. Dan
presented US readers with compelling information to support his view
that Philippines is currently seen as the "Number 1" option by global
companies sending BPO work to offshore destinations.
Dan Reyes is easily one of most experienced Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) managers in the Asia Pacific region and the world. He
is head of the extremely successful Philippine operations of Sitel, the
world's largest call center organization. Among other things, he is a
founder and former president of the Business Processing Association of
the Philippines. more
