chapter 05 The role of culture（文化的作用）37P.ppt

5.3 weather conditions and geography It’s no secret that climate influences the tone of a nation’s culture. Hot, humid climates tend to produce gregarious, outgoing people; cold, pristine climes result in introspective, self-sufficient people; temperate zones are conducive to year-round labor and less subsistence-type people Activity Consider that you are in the role of a Marketing Assistant in the Sales Department of a company making medical diagnostic equipment sold to hospitals and clinics. Previously sales have been restricted to the national market only. However, a breakthrough new product has generated interest from a range of new international customers. Your Managing Director has arranged a meeting to plan for a number of new international clients to come to a series of demonstrations and seminars on the use of the equipment to be held at a local conference centre or hotel (yet to be decided). Your sales director has no international experience. You have been asked to write briefing notes for your Sales Director to prepare him/her for the meeting. Prepare these notes Language--- Not all visitors may fully understand English. Documentation may need to be translated. Interpreters may be needed at meetings. Religion --- Hotel and restaurants should be informed of any special dietary needs (e.g. Kosher, Halal, etc.). Values and attitudes --- Different cultures have different work patterns. Japanese technical staff tend to expect to work very long hours late into the evening. Such a schedule might not be so welcome with other cultures. Education --- Given visitors are trained, technical professionals are possibly not an issue Social organization: in the context possibly not an issue Technology and material culture --- Different cultures have different attitudes to technological change. However given these are technical visitors again probably not an issue. Law and politics --- Given increasing concern over terrorism care should be taken to assist visitors