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Business and Culture

In: Business and Management

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Unit 1 Discussion Board

American business holds up certain ethical standards as good business. When doing business with a variety of cultures, it is important to understand their perceptions will be affected by their culture. So what is culture? "Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply, as the learned and shared behavior of a community of interacting human beings" (Useem & Useem, p. 169). A person’s culture can include their education, religion, experiences, communication, and language. Each one of these factors can play an influential rule on a person’s conception of ethical practices. Bribery is a way of life in some countries and business would not be conducted without it. In America, bribery is not accepted as a normal business practice. So bribery is an example of an ethical standard that is acceptable in some cultures and not others. Culture can also affect rules of conduct, laws, commercial society, and one’s right to choice. (Armstrong & Sweeney, 1994) A person’s business behavior can definitely be swayed by ethical standards established by the culture. Businesses hours of operation would be an ethical standard shaped by culture. The business may only be able to operate during certain times or days of the week. Another example is positions that are stereotyped, in other words only a male or female may be able to hold a certain job title. (Armstrong & Sweeney, 1994) In today’s society the rules related to corruption are straightforward within the national boundaries but many companies operate outside those boundaries. Private corruption and public corruption behaviors are not tolerated and illegal in the United States. However, what we think is corrupt and illegal here in the U.S. may be tolerated in other countries. Corruption that involves employees and officials, in most countries, is illegal but can still be

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