Chapter 9
Business and Social Customs
Quesons
1. The U.S. handshake is rm; in France the handshake is light and quick.
2. Verbal expressions used in the United States that have li#le meaning when translated
3. Examples of variaons in the English language within regions of the U.S. include such
4. “Good day” in French is bonjour (bawn-JHOOR); in German, guten tag (GOO-tun TAHK);
5. In the United States, presentaons are o-en started with a joke or cartoon related to the
6. In the United States, women are considered equal to men in the workplace. Women are
7. People of the United States think that 13 is an unlucky number. Many U.S. persons will
8. Countries in which business dress is similar to that worn in the U.S. include Canada,
9. Countries in which business dress may be diKerent from that worn in the U.S. include
10. When women conduct business in other cultures, they should follow the rule of wearing
11. In the United States people are hired with the understanding that their retenon and
promoon on the job depend upon their performing the job sasfactorily and upon
12. Rules for appropriate behavior in public places in the United States include: keep to the
right when walking in malls or on the street; wait your turn when standing in line at the
13. Knowledge of holidays and holy days of other cultures is important so that telephone
14. U.S. foods considered unusual by people of other cultures include corn-on-the-cob, grits,
15. Consumpon taboos include: Hindus do not eat any beef; strict Muslims do not eat pork
Case 1
Hosng a party where people from diKerent parts of the world are present can be a
diOcult job because of diKerences in food preferences and consumpon taboos. One
Case 2
A businessperson traveling to a foreign country should know beforehand if there is a
conLict with a holiday in the host country. Further, it would be a good idea to set up
Case 3
The Japanese businessman did not understand the art of small talk. The businessman
needs to acquire the knack of small talk so that he can be a good conversaonalist at
Case 4
Ms. Van Buren did not understand the culture. Mr. Velasquez was being friendly and
needed to get to know her before he could do business. Ms. Van Buren responded as if
Case 5
Business dress in the United States has become increasingly casual since the decade of
Acvies
1. Possible sources for appropriate business and social dress informaon include:
2. Students may be a member of a U.S. subculture and would, therefore, have rst-hand
3. Instructors could provide an unusual or foreign food for students to try. Many mes
4. Refer students to the secon in the chapter related to ways of saying please, thank you,
5. Instructors may wish to suggest such references as Dresser’s Mulcultural Manners,
6. Instructors may wish to assign countries to avoid duplicaon. Instructors may also ask