Factors to Consider for Business in Different Countries

The sole proprietor and employee of the newly established meals business Aye OZ Foods in Dubbo, NSW is Ms. Cooper, who wants now to operate the business in Thailand as the commodities will sell well there. The CEO is in dilemma about conducting a business with an older male, Mr. Thi Lee, who is also the Manager of Eatum Food Company.

Business Culture can be defined as the Culture that distinguishes the pattern of one business from that of the other including the basic attributes such as individual initiative, risk tolerance, direction, integration, management contact and conflict tolerance (Eunson, 2015). It determines how the business is going to be successfully operated and what positive outcomes will be resulted in the near future.

The foremost purpose of writing this essay is to analyse how the two different business owners differing from different countries, also within the cultures, traditions and attitudes can successfully carryout the plan of running the business and communicate with each other by not being based on the stereotype thinking.

Being a young lady, Ms. Cooper finds it difficult to start an initial conversation with the Manager who is an older male. Before starting the business in Thailand, Ms. Cooper should know what are the certain prospects to start up the business in Thailand? What can Ms Cooper do in order to flourish the business in Thailand. As the business operating procedures of Thailand is somehow different from that of Australia, before starting the business Ms. Cooper needs to know in brief about the difference of business protocols between Australia and Thailand. Business etiquette is the pattern of operating any kind of business by analysing the cultures, traditions as well as behaviour of the opposite country and its business executing procedures. In Thailand, while conducting any business, wearing black dress is not allowed as it is used to be worn in the funerals. So, the CEO should go as per the tradition of Thailand as the intention of Ms Cooper is to start up the business in Thailand. Starting any business in other country that varies in personality, attitude as well as culture is quite difficult as the CEO needs to understand thoroughly about the basic cultures and traditions of Thailand before starting the Business. the CEO should greet the Manager by bowing the head and raising the hand like as in the prayer as it is the culture of Thailand. As the Manager in first instance would like to build a personal relationship before starting the business talk, the CEO therefore, needs to describe in a short about herself as well as about her family background and only should continue the further discussions. the CEO should show an immense respect towards the Manager as he is older. As per the Thai culture, the CEO when proceeding for meeting should take any kind of small gift as it shows positive response towards the Manager. Also, whenever the CEO proceed to give the business card or any other present to the Manager it should be given by right hand as it is the way to show that the CEO knows about the Thai culture (Bhatia, 2015). Why is it necessary to have a good impression while conducting any meetings? Does it have any role in pursuing business effectively? These are some of the things that Ms. Cooper needs to get answered. No any business can be successful without having an impressive attitude within itself.  In order to make a favourable impression with the Manager in the first meeting the CEO needs to undergo some of the steps like: the CEO should make an effective early preparation about the topics that are going to be discussed in the further meeting about the stability of business with the Manager which will later makes easier to make any sort of decision. the CEO needs to be on time as it shows the respect and punctuality of Ms Cooper towards the business meeting with Mr. Thi Lee. the CEO should present appropriately about the goals of the business that is going to be started as well as should be open and confident with the Manager when describing about the core concept of the business so that the effectiveness of business startup can be seen clearly (Knight, 2016). As the CEO also wants to make the business meeting successful and also make the future arrangements for the business, the CEO needs to be clear about those things which can make the meeting effective and helps the CEO to make further business arrangement for the future with the Manager. A meeting can be described as a collaborative work process designed to answer the who, why , how and what of a particular objective and successful meetings are those which can boost productivity as well as employee morale and profits (Gilani, 2016).Without any plans and objectives no business can be successful. Some of the certain things the CEO needs to take care about are that to begin with the purpose about why the meeting has been held and what are its future outcomes. Ms Cooper needs to be clear about the business agendas while explaining to Mr. Thi Lee. the CEO should show the overall business plan and objectives of the business clearly to the Manager so that no any confusion would arise in the future regarding the business operation. What are some consequences through which miscommunication may arise? Does it affect in the communication process of Ms Cooper and Mr Thi Lee? Well, Communication should be effective in terms of making a productive business between the CEO and the Manager. Cross-cultural communication creates a huge impact in the business as it considers if the CEO can communicate properly with the Manager or not, as both of Ms Cooper and Mr Thi lee differs from one another in accordance with the culture and attitude. Ms Cooper must be able enough to communicate without any hesitation with Mr. Thi Lee. Professor Hofstede has conducted one of the most comprehensive studies of how values in the workplace are influenced by culture. As if concerning the Hofstede dimensions of Intercultural Communication, there are some reasonable factors that may lead to the intercultural miscommunication between the CEO with the Manager. There are basically five main dimensions regarding the Hofstede model, which are: Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism vs Collectivism, Masculinity vs Femininity and Long-term vs Short-term Orientation. Being based on these specific factors, which determines if the CEO will be able to properly carry out the business in Thailand or not, Ms Cooper must be determined enough to lesser the miscommunication. These are the factors which may lead towards the cross-cultural miscommunication between the CEO and the Manager. These are only the consequencing factors which can be eliminated if the CEO possess an efficient quality of determination and build up strong connection to carry out the business. Some of the factors can also be described, in accordance with the Power distance, in Thailand, they have the higher percentage of power distance (64%) relating that with Australian workforce (36%). In Thailand, the power seems to be mostly within the male people than the female ones, however, the Australian workplace is preferred to have equality among each other. So, Ms Cooper should be able to criticise this point of power and resemble that it is possible for female too to take the right decision and is able to take any kind of power accordingly. Otherwise, the possibility of operating business may be less. For instance, if the CEO can convince the Manager by providing the evidences of the past business records and its effective operation then the Manager may think well about doing business with the CEO. Thai culture has the high proportion of Feminism than that from the Australian culture so, it will be quite easier for Ms Cooper to work in that country where female have the most priority to do what is good for the business. Considering the Uncertainty Avoidance factor, the Thai workplace has high volume of this term than that of the Australia (64%, 51%) (Hofstede, 2018). Thai people believes that one should consist of the power to handle uncertain circumstances rather than avoiding it, So, if the CEO wants a better result for the business expansion it is necessary to has an effective power to cope up with the uncertainty and make any effective decision to plan out the further business efficiency. This will lead the Manager to be able to consider the determination of the CEO in making the successful business plan for the future progress also.

Furthermore, the CEO follow the business etiquette of Thailand and proceeds the meeting as per the rules of Thailand with Mr Thi lee to ensure a successful partnership for the startup of meal business. Following the certain steps, the CEO can be able to run the business effectively with the Manager. the CEO aims towards the impressive conduct of meeting by explaining every small detail to the Manager which will have a positive view regarding the operation of business. Hofstede model also shows that the CEO is doing the right thing properly because according to the culture of Thai workforce, the CEO possess an ability to conduct fruitful business.

Hence, the CEO can be able to run business successfully by operating and executing each and every plan effectively which helps to determine the profitable business in the upcoming future.

REFERENCES

• Bhatia, S., 2015. When East Met West: Thailand and Australia’s Cultural Differences. [Online]
  Available at: http://www.indusage.com.au/when-east-met-west-thailand-and-australias-cultural-differences/
• Eunson, B., 2015. Communicating in the 21st Century. In: Organisational culture and communication. 4th ed. Melbourne: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 532-533.
• Gilani, N., 2016. Definition of Effective Meetings. [Online]
  Available at: https://bizfluent.com/about-6821870-definition-effective-meetings.html
• Hofstede, 2018. Country Comparison- Hofstede Insights. [Online]
  Available at: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/australia,thailand/
• Knight, R., 2016. How to Make a Great First Impression. [Online]
  Available at: https://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-make-a-great-first-impression