Abstract
Literature relating to business culture focuses on a regional view rather than a situational one.
Business habits are considered to be driven by local culture. The researcher was motivated to question this assumption by considering the attitudes of business managers in starkly different environments but similar business constraints. Does a mid-sized business in USA think very differently from a mid-sized business in a developing country? Are the process and human resource management orientations similar or different? Developing countries are rife with low infrastructure capability, lack of government support and competitive market while developed countries can lobby for support in their bid to capture large markets. A democratic business owner in a fundamental environment will bow down to local needs at the time of recruitment but allow freedom within the workplace for ideas to flow. By the same token, a highly democratic country may have businesses that demand blind faith in the management among the employees. The researcher proceeded to conduct a survey of similar sized firms operating in USA and Iran.
One country stands for freedom of expression while the other is known for religious fundamental beliefs. A survey of managers was carried out in a bid to understand attitudes with respect to strategy, communication, technology and human resource management. The finding was that while local culture creates a certain competitive environment, the running of business is determined by the belief system of the business owner and manager style of functioning.
The business management style of open communication and employee engagement in business purpose was universally experienced, more so in Iran than America. The use of technology in developing countries is much lower than in the developed countries. Concepts of mutual loyalty and obedience