Hodge, Author, Global Smarts: the art of communicating and deal making anywhere in the world, Seattle, Washington USA“Access to Asia is…bursting with authentic information.”
ACCESS to ASIA
YOUR MULTICULTURAL GUIDE TO BUILDING TRUST, INSPIRING RESPECT, AND CREATING LONG-LASTING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
SHARON SCHWEITZER, J.D.
LIZ ALEXANDER, Ph.D.
Cover Design: Wiley
Cover Photograph: World Map © iStock.com/sorendls
Copyright © 2015 by Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section~107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom.
For general information about our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the United States at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Schweitzer, Sharon
Access to Asia: your multicultural guide to building trust, inspiring respect, and creating long-lasting business relationships / Sharon Schweitzer, Liz Alexander.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-118-91901-9 (cloth); 978-1-118-91902-6 (epdf); 978-1-118-91904-0 (epub)
1. Business etiquette–Asia. 2. Corporate culture–Asia. 3. Management–Asia. 4. Management–Cross-cultural studies. 5. Intercultural communication. I. Alexander, Liz. II. Title.
HF5389.3.A78S39 2015
395.5'2095–dc23
2014039933
Foreword
As the Founder of itim International, which has been associated with the work of Professor Geert Hofstede for the past 30 years, we have long emphasized that when it comes to national cultural differences, culture only exists by comparison. We human beings have much in common, but we are also all unique. Culture, in this regard, describes the differences that exist between groups – be they nations, regions, or organizations.
When visiting the 10 Asian countries showcased in this book, as a potential business partner, or business colleague, or because you've been seconded abroad for a longer period of time, Sharon Schweitzer's Access to Asia will be of considerable benefit. Adopt the advice offered within these pages and it will empower you as a global professional by helping you understand the breadth and depth of successful intercultural relationships.
We are all busy people, often feeling that we have little time to focus on strategy when tactical matters are pressing. Sharon Schweitzer demonstrates that she understands this. Not only is Access to Asia packed full of information you may not have come across elsewhere, those nuggets are presented in a readily accessible way. Ms. Schweitzer comprehensively covers the building blocks needed in order to get a true sense of each of these 10 important Asian markets through the Country Basics sections. She has gone even further, however, by amassing considerable on-the-ground insights related to eight important questions.
In many books covering the differences between values patterns of different cultures, many of the most important dos and don'ts are overlooked. This is not the case with Access to Asia, which is why I highly recommend this book to everybody who truly desires to build trust, inspire respect, and create long-lasting business relationships in this important region of the world.
About the Authors
Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is an international business consultant focusing on intercultural communication and global etiquette for future and current international leaders within Global 2000 companies. Her practice, during earlier years as an employment attorney, involved cultural dynamics and communication within groups and between individuals. Sharon is a popular radio and TV guest, conference speaker, and columnist. She consults throughout the U.S., as well as in Asia, Europe, and the U.K. Sharon's website is www.sharonschweitzer.com
Liz Alexander, PhD, is the multiple award-winning author of 14 books, and co-founder of boutique consulting firm Leading Thought. She directs her gifts and passion to helping aspiring thought leaders harness strategically valuable, actionable insights to grow their businesses and boost revenue. Liz also acts as book strategist and consulting co-author to business leaders, entrepreneurs, and consultants worldwide. Please connect with her at [email protected].
Acknowledgments
The time I have spent writing and researching this book has been a personally fulfilling experience as well as a professionally beneficial one. Not least because of the rich, deep, wonderful relationships worldwide that I have been lucky enough to develop and will cherish for the rest of my life. Over 100 interviewees are mentioned individually in the Contributors section at the back of this book. While
