BA 310 - Chapter 5
culture -
✔learned behavior; a way of life for one group of people living in a single, related,
and independent community
characteristics of culture -
✔1. culture is not inherited
2. it's nearly impossible to change an entire country's culture (ex: Stalin)
3. a global firm must ascertain the level of importance of various aspects of culture in
the foreign markets... it serves and recognizes these aspects when doing business
overseas
4. companies' operations need to recognize and adjust to the cultural environment in the
countries that the global company serves
verbal communication -
✔a message's actual contents intended to be conveyed to the receiver (what the
message ACTUALLY says)
religion affects: -
✔1. business operations
2. manufacturing and marketing of products (ex: kosher foods)
3. observance of holidays
4. working days and working hours (ex: Muslim weekend, Latin American siesta from 1-
4 PM)
values -
✔basic beliefs or philosophies that are pervasive in a society
attitudes -
✔feelings or opinions
manners and customs -
✔the usual way a society does things
material culture -
✔a direct result of technology; best demonstrated by economic, social, financial,
and marketing infrastructures of a society (ex: Google Docs, Skype)
aesthetics -
✔color, form, and music are the major components; what is perceived as taste and
beauty by a society
the ____________ of people in foreign countries is a major factor in explaining
economic growth -
✔level of education
