Culture is defined as a “system of values and norms that are shared among a group of people and that when taken together constitute a design for living” (Hill & Hult, 2016, p. 92). Culture can differ significantly from one country to another and from one people to another. A country’s location and geography can influence culture. A country’s or people’s culture involves language, customs, attitudes, manners, mannerisms, religion, personal communication, and aesthetics.
Business involves people, and people from different cultures respond differently to business situations. Culture affects the products sold in the country, how the country markets products to its people, human resource practices, hiring practices, and innovation. If we, or any company or organization, are to compete successfully in an international environment, we must develop market entry strategies and understand the culture of that particular country or countries where we wish to operate. We must develop a cultural literacy, identify the components of their culture, and understand how these components will impact international business.
In preparation for this assignment, watch the following videos:
·       What is your main takeaway point from each of the two videos?
·       Identify the country you researched in the unit 1 project, and provide a brief summary as to the location and demographics of this country.
·       Describe the country’s overall social culture, relative to business practices.
·       Ethical practices can vary greatly among countries and cultures. Locate an article about an ethical or unethical issue or situation that occurred in your country within the last two years. You may use the ECPI library or a credible news site. See * below.
o   Summarize the ethical situation.
o   Explain how the country’s or organization’s leadership dealt with the situation.
o   As an international business manager, how would you have handled the situation?
·       In summary, how does this situation impact the global business environment?