Access to Asia. Waisfisz Bob

      As the eighteenth-century French philosopher Voltaire said, “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” After interviewing over 100 international professionals for this book, we noticed a pattern emerging: eight core questions whose answers were essential in attracting and building the relationships upon which today's successful businesses depend. Having researched many of the models offered by cultural gurus such as Edward Hall, Florence Kluckhohn, Fred Strodtbeck, Geert Hofstede, Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner, George Simons, Janet Bennett, and Milton Bennett, we found these eight questions reflect topics vitally important for culturally aware businesspeople.

      Why These Asian Countries?

      To counter the desire to cover every country as if they were equally important to U.S. business interests, Sharon engaged the global intelligence firm Stratfor, asking them to produce a report on U.S. American business travel to Asia in order to identify the current and future top-ranking countries for U.S. investment and travel.2 Six countries – China, Hong Kong,3 Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan – accounted for over 70 percent of all U.S. business travel to Asia and represented the top U.S. regional trade partners, as well as key destinations for U.S. investment. According to Stratfor, business travel to these countries, with the possible exception of Taiwan, is not expected to decline significantly over the next two decades.

      However, we also wanted to include countries that were likely to emerge as increasingly important destinations for U.S. business travelers over the next 20 years. Among these top-ranking countries are Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Finally, it was Sharon's personal fascination with the mysterious Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, which led to our inclusion of that country here.

      How This Book Is Structured

      This book opens with an overview on culture, which explains why cultural awareness is important to establishing successful relationships, followed by an introduction to our eight-question framework. For all readers who seek an understanding of the United States, in addition to the 10 Asian countries, we have included a chapter on U.S. culture. U.S readers will gain a better self-awareness and understanding of their own culture. Overview of Concepts and Terms, offers an alphabetical collection of key concepts. Please contact Sharon at [email protected] with your suggestions and insights for improving this list.

      Each of the 10 country chapters that follow help expand your knowledge through the eight-question framework. Topics in these chapters include

      • A brief historical overview

      • The names of heroes and sports figures

      • An explanation of etiquette and protocol

      • Insider tips on socializing

      • Fiscal calendars and a list of important holidays

      There is also a quiz in each chapter together with a Self-Awareness Profile.

      Self-Awareness Profiles

      This simple exercise prompts you to self-identify where you currently stand on topics related to the eight-question framework. This visual comparison will help you discover your current mindset and behavior to help develop more robust business relationships in each country. You will find these graphics after the eight-questions section and the cultural summary within each country chapter. We suggest photocopying the graphics or using a pencil within the book so that you can see, over time, how you have adjusted your mindset.

      Here is an example, concerning formality within Japanese business:

       Example

      How formal do the Japanese tend to be in business? (Note: numbers set in bold indicate the prevailing cultural preference.)

      If you fall within the range of 5 or 6 on this continuum, you will likely easily adapt to Japanese formalities within business. If you are someone more comfortable with showing emotion in business dealings, expressing strongly held opinions, and acting assertively with others, you may need to consider seeking intercultural training.

      Business Is Relationships

      Regardless of home country, human beings share a common desire to relate. In their work identifying the universal attributes called strengths, the Gallup Organization found that out of the 34 personal themes described by the StrengthsFinder assessment tool, the top five were common internationally: Achiever, Learner, Relator, Responsibility, and Strategic. The placement of these themes in the top five differed slightly according to whether it is U.S. or international data, but whether we're from Baltimore or Bangalore, San Francisco or Shanghai, achieving, learning, and relating appear to be primary concerns for us all.

      Regardless of the industry, then, we are all in the relationship business. Understanding this is even more salient when operating abroad. As Professor Christine Uber Grosse points out: “Personal relationships matter in Asian business, in contrast to their lesser role in U.S. business. As a result, U.S. managers do not always understand the need to establish trust and build business relationships with Asian partners and clients.”4

      From Theory to Practice

      Prior to the launch of the inaugural Formula One U.S. Grand Prix at Austin's new Circuit of the Americas, Sharon was asked to write a series of articles and to conduct workshops on international protocol and etiquette, to help prepare Austin's business community for welcoming international visitors. While speaking privately with various attendees, Sharon shared the following story to illustrate how intercultural respect and courtesy play a huge role in establishing long-lasting business relationships:

      Some years ago, on a tour of American cities, a Chinese delegation visited Austin. On the final night of their stay, after attending well-organized business and government events around the city, the delegates were treated to a banquet featuring Texas BBQ at a real estate broker's private residence. Each delegate received individually-wrapped gifts of memorabilia unique to Texas. The organizers even supplied slippers so everyone could remove their shoes before entering the private residence, if desired. Everything went smoothly and the delegation traveled to the next stop on their national tour. Their next experience was quite different, however. On one occasion the Chinese delegation waited thirty minutes before someone realized they were in the wrong downtown high-rise – they'd ended up next door. The delegates were not as impressed as they had been in Austin. When the Chinese returned home, they invited the Austin real estate host to make presentations and talks in China. These opportunities have subsequently boosted her business internationally.

      While Robert Burns wrote in Scottish dialect, fellow Scot Liz has anglicized this quote from one of his poems to make it more understandable: “Oh, would some Power the gift to give us/to see ourselves as others see us!”5

      With that in mind, the chapters that follow help you learn about the values held by your Asian clients and partners, but they also encourage you to view U.S. cultural values in a new way. With a willingness to adapt, this material can help you develop strong, long-lasting business relationships for powerful, mutual benefit.

      Chapter 1

      A Question of Culture

      When

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